1. Char Koay Teow 炒粿條
Char Koay Teow is a national favourite in Malaysia and Singapore. Of Course, Penang has their fair share of famous char koay teow stalls with their own signature taste. What I appreciated most from Penang-style Char Koay Teow is the flavor of ‘wok hei’, and the freshness of the ingredients. Also, going for the duck eggs option did give a richer taste to each mouthful of noodles.
Recommended stalls:
Tiger Char Koay Teow @ Kafe Ping Hooi: 181 Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10450 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Char Koay Teow @ Yi Garden 怡园茶室: 150-152, Jalan Macalister, George Town, 10300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Ah Leng Char Teow @ Restoran Tong Hooi: Jalan Dato Keramat, Kampung Makam, 10150 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
2. Penang Assam Laksa
Assam laksa is a rich and spicy, fish-based soup noodle broth of tamarind juice, chilli paste, lemongrass, topped with prawn paste and mackerel/sardine flakes. It has a tangy, wholesome flavor from the tamarind which some may find it too overpowering.
They are normally served with either white or yellow noodles, while some stalls have a choice of thick or thin bee hoon.
Recommended stalls:
Laksalicious: 123 Hutton Lane, 10050 Penang George Town, Malaysia
Air Itam Laksa: Jalan Pasar, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia (Beside Air Itam Market, Closed on Tuesdays)
Jelutong Food truck: 93, Lorong Ipoh, Taman Jelutong, 11600 Pulau Pinang Malaysia (A food truck behind the Jelutong Post Office)
3. Penang Rojak
Rojak is considered a colloquial representation of variety and mixture. Commonly found in Malaysia and Singapore, it is a salad of bean curds, fritters (you tiao), bean sprouts, cuttlefish and assortment of fruits covered in a thick syrupy peanut sauce. Freshly tossed with pineapple slices so sweet you would widen your eyes in surprise.
Recommended stall:
Tan Swee Hoe Rojak (Stall #52) & G.P. Soon (Stall #39) @ Gurney Drive Hawker Centre: 172, Solok Gurney 1, Georgetown, 10250 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
4. Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol
The ‘famous’ in this stall’s name isn’t just there for show – everyone who goes to Penang with cendol in mind goes to this store. The stall operates from a humble pushcart just off Penang Street. Thankfully, there is now a store with air-conditioning that you can enjoy the cendol in.
Cendol is a bowl of shaved ice with cendol (pandan-flavoured ‘noodles’), gulau melaka, and coconut milk. Occasionally, it has toppings like kidney beans. It’s a sweet, icy dessert that’s a great way to beat the heat.
Address: 27 & 29 Lebuh Keng Kwee, 10100 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 10.30 am - 7 pm / Sat & Sun 10 am - 7.30 pm
Website: http://www.chendul.my/
5. Air Itam Sister Curry Mee
.jpg)
Sister Curry Mee has been selling more than 70 years.It received so much love from the Penangites, especially those who live in Air Itam area. So, if you are looking for true Penang street food, Sister Curry Mee is definitely for you.
Address: 612 T, Jalan Air Itam, Pekan Ayer Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Operating hour: 7:30AM-1PM (closed on Tuesday)
6. Wanton Mee
Penang-style Wanton mee tends to use a firmer, springier egg noodle and is tossed in a cleaner tasting sweet-savoury dark sauce. The mee is then topped off with lean char siew slices and boiled pork wantons. You can order this in a soup variant as well, but I’d recommend the dry version to truly savour the intricacies of each stall’s sauce recipe.
The selling point between each stall is really how well the noodles are made and cooked, how much flavour is packed in the sauce and the quality of wantons.
Recommended Stalls:
Wanton Mee @ Tai Wah Coffee House: 86, Jalan Argyll, 10050, Georgetown, Penang
Wanton Mee @ Sin Yin Nam Cafe 新映南餐室: Jalan Macalister (New Lane/ Lorong Baru), 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia