If you meet a Penangite, you will quickly know how much pride they take for their food. It’s no wonder that Georgetown is dubbed the food capital in Malaysia!
Thanks to the multi-ethnicity influence in the state, the food scene is arguably one of the best in the world which is exactly why you need to try some of the best food in Georgetown, when you visit.
It is honestly very difficult to come up with only 12 local dishes when the options are endless, but to make your trip easier, we’ve listed our top recommendations of the best food in Georgetown.
Some of these dishes are also unique to the state which means you may not find anything more authentic elsewhere and you get to truly eat like a local! Are you ready to eat? I mean read!!
Must-Try Dishes in Georgetown: Eat Like a Local!
1. Char Koay Teow
‘Char’ is short for charred and kway teow basically means rice noodles. Together with soy sauce, sprouts, cockles, garlic and other ingredients, they make Char Koay Teow (CKT) which is extremely famous and synonymous to Georgetown.
You will find them fried in an extra large ‘wok’ and if you spot a line for them, then definitely join the queue. It is worth it, I promise.
Compared to having them anywhere else in Malaysia, I find the portions in Georgetown slightly smaller which is a good thing (so you have space for more food). It is also common to add duck egg in your char koay teow in Georgetown.
Where to find the best Char Koay Teow?
Places offering CKT are plenty but our top pick is the CKT stall within the Sin Guat Keong coffee shop located at Lebuh Kimberley.
The char koay teow here is still fried on a charcoal fire which adds to the aroma and flavour of the dish plus the outstanding batter fried mantis shrimp added to your plate (RM10). You will easily see how this is one of the best foods in Georgetown!
This stall is only open in the evening between 6 to 11pm, so do plan your day in advance before heading for your plate of char koay teow.
On the other hand, if you plan to have CKT in the morning or lunch, head to Cecil Market. Cecil Market is like a food court, so to get your CKT fix, head over to Barefoot Char Koay Teow.
The CKT is delicious and you get the wok hei flavour from here too. The upper hand here is you can request for duck eggs (RM5).
Address :
- Sin Guat Keong coffee shop : 86, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100
- Cecil Market : 24, Lebuh Cecil, George Town, 10300
2. Laksa
The important thing to note is that Laksa in Georgetown is not the same as everywhere else and it is definitely one of the best foods in Georgetown, hands down!
Generally, asam laksa is the more famous one, which features tamarind based broth with lemongrass, ginger flower, pineapple, mint leaves, and rice noodles. You will also find them served with a spoonful of shrimp paste.
If that sounds a little too much for your palate, then go for laksa lemak which is similar to a bowl of curry laksa. The curry broth is made with curry paste and coconut milk, far richer than asam laksa. It is usually served with condiments like cucumbers, mint, chilli flakes and pineapples, to name a few.
Where to find the best laksa?
Good news is both are available in Georgetown! For the best asam laksa, head to Taman Emas for Peng Hua Laksa. The asam laksa served here is tangy and vibrant with an added kick thanks to the spoonful of shrimp paste (RM6.50).
If you prefer curry laksa, then head over to Granny Q Lemak Laksa at Sin Yong Wah Coffee Shop. With over 4.9 stars on Google, some say this is the best bowl of laksa they’ve had in the world. We agree!
Granny Q’s lemak laksa has a rich and spicy broth that is made from coconut-milk infused fish broth that comes with the standard condiments but also the additional crayfish (RM8) which is totally different from the standard asam laksa and definitely worth it!
Address :
- Taman Emas Kopitiam : 1, Jalan Gottlieb, George Town, 10350
- Sin Yong Wah Coffee Shop : 24, Lebuh Cecil, George Town, 10300
3. Hokkien Mee
One of the best foods in Georgetown, don’t mistake this bowl of prawn broth for the dark, sticky, saucy noodles you might get from Kuala Lumpur!
In Georgetown, Hokkien Mee is actually prawn mee. The noodles are served with egg, small dried shrimps, ‘kangkung’ or water spinach and also rice noodles.
The broth on the other hand is usually made from prawn heads, shrimp and pork ribs, filled with umami flavour!
Where to find the best Hokkien Mee?
Similar to CKT, you will find plenty of stalls offering Hokkien mee, but we highly recommend Ah Kooi’s Hokkien mee (RM5) at Jalan Tavoy.
One of the best foods in Georgetown, what makes Ah Kooi’s noodles five star worthy is their prawn broth. It will be pretty obvious from your first spoonful that the broth is boiled with plenty of prawn head and pork ribs.
Address:
- Jalan Tavoy, George Town, 10050 George Town
4. Rojak
Another dish that is often confusing for non-northerners, rojak in Georgetown usually refers to small, cut fruits, served in a sticky sweet and sour sauce, topped with crushed peanuts.
If you’re looking for the savoury variant, they are usually called ‘pasembur’ in Georgetown.
Where to find the best rojak?
Nestled in Esplanade Food Court, 101 rojak (RM5) or also known as Ho Wei Jeng, serves possibly the best bowl of rojak you will ever find.
Their formula is rather simple, slice all the fruits to avoid the fruits from holding too much moisture and making the whole dish soggy. The sauce here is also slightly sweeter than savoury compared to other rojak sauces.
Best part is, you can take the sauce home as they are sold separately, should you want to take a piece of Georgetown home!
Address:
- Esplanade food court: Jalan Padang Kota Lama, George Town, 10450
5. Nasi Kandar
You can’t leave Georgetown without having Nasi Kandar. The birth town of Nasi Kandar, they are synonymous to the Indian-Muslim community in Penang and throughout Malaysia.
The dishes are hearty as it’s made up of a mix of various curries or also called ‘kuah’, along with a mountain of rice, vegetables and meat of your choice.
When in Georgetown however, it is essential you only have nasi kandar at locally known places as the flavours can vary greatly from one place to the other.
Prices on the other hand for anyone who’s not familiar, is calculated based on what you have opted for on your plate but we would estimate around RM10+ per plate which includes meat.
Where to get the best Nasi Kandar?
An iconic place that has existed since 1907, Hameediyah on Lebuh Campbell is known to put out some of the best food in Georgetown, thanks to their messy plate of delicious nasi kandar.
They are very famous for their fish head curry, fried squid and ‘rendang’, so don’t miss out from trying these dishes.
Another extremely famous place is Nasi Kandar Deens Maju which also has been around for no less than 50 years on Gurdwara Road. They boast plenty of choices when it comes to meats and veggies but the must try is their ‘ayam masak merah’!
Address:
- Hameediyah : 164 A, Lebuh Campbell street, 10100 George Town
- Nasi Kandar Deens Maju : 170, Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town
6. Lor bak
Lor bak is widely known in Penang and is often eaten for breakfast, although people do have them as snacks or dinner.
Made up of tofu (beancurd), minced pork, shrimp fritters and chinese sausage, this mix of deep fried goodness is often served with slices of cucumber and a sticky sauce made with five-spice powder.
Where to get the best Lor Bak?
Tan Jetty Prawn Fritters and Loh Bak is a simple street stall offering the best lor bak you will find in Georgetown.
Offering just 3 items; lor bak, tofu (fried beancurd) and prawn fritters (RM1.20+), they are often served together with a side of spicy chilli sauce as dip. Perfectly fried, this handmade plate of lor bak is definitely worth the try, although the only thing missing from this stall is the five spiced sauce.
To make sure you do get to try lor bak with the five-spiced sauce, head over to Khen Ping cafe where they have been serving lor bak for over 40 years.
Here, you will get a few more varieties that include fish rolls and meat rolls plus of course, the tangy five spiced sauce. Price of each item ranges around RM1 or so per piece and you can pick and choose what you want, but we highly suggest mixing everything on a plate.
Address:
- Khen Ping Cafe: 80, Jln Penang, 10000 George Town
- Tan Jetty Prawn Fritters and Loh Bak : 90-A, Pengkalan Weld,10300, George Town
7. Cendol
Moving to the sweeter side of things, cendol is definitely one of the best foods in Georgetown, hands down!
Cendol is made up of shaved ice, with multiple toppings like coconut milk, gula Melaka, green rice jelly, red beans and sometimes creamed corn too.
Where to get the best Cendol?
Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol needs no introduction to locals and tourists alike. You will find long queues here and after your first sip, you will immediately know why!
Each bowl (RM4.50) of goodness comes with the standard toppings you can expect for a cendol but all the fun is in having them while standing under the hot sun right away.
You also will not miss all the chaos happening right opposite this stall as they too serve cendol! Known as Penang Road Famous Cendol (sans the ‘Teochew’) we’ve heard rumours that their cendol is better than their neighbours.
Honestly speaking, we can’t tell, so we’ll let you be the judge! Why not try a bowl from both sides?
Address:
- Both stalls are on: Lebuh Keng Kwee, 10100, George Town
8. Classic Egg and Toast (Roti Bakar)
Your visit will be incomplete if you don’t stop by for some egg and toast at a traditional kopitiam in Georgetown.
This dish is made up of soft boiled eggs which are usually served with toasted bread, that is slathered with butter and kaya (coconut or pandan based jam).
It is definitely one of the best foods in Georgetown that you can start your day with, especially if you’re looking for something light!
Where to get the best Roti Bakar?
Toh Soon Cafe will very well be packed when you arrive so we recommend going weekdays or going slightly early around 8 am when they open to beat the crowd.
Squeezed between two alleys, they still use a charcoal stove to ‘bakar’ or toast their bread which requires an eye all the time! But perhaps that’s what makes it so good?
You can have steamed and toasted bread (RM3.40) and some other types of breakfast too like nasi lemak bungkus (RM1.50) or karipap to go with your morning tea or coffee.
Address :
- Toh Soon Cafe : Lebuh Campbell, George Town, 10450
9. Char Koay Kak
Unique to Georgetown and often overlooked is Char Koay Kak, sister of the famous CKT!
What sets them apart is that Koay Kak is made from radish and does not involve any noodles. It is, however, fried with similar ingredients like beans sprouts, soy sauce, and eggs in a large wok to give it the smoky and spicy flavour.
Where to get the best Char Koay Kak?
Sister’s Char Koay Kak is one of the best in town. You can find them at Lorong Macalister being run by three sisters who have since taken over from their dad who started the stall in 1963!
Their koay kak (RM5) is fried to perfection with just the right amount of char, not to mention the sweet radish cakes which go so well with all the other ingredients. It is only open till 12pm so you can only eat this for breakfast or early lunch.
Address:
- Sister’s Char Koay Kak: 96, Lorong Macalister, 11400, George Town
10. Tau Sar Piah
One of the best foods in Georgetown and perhaps the most famed ‘buah tangan’ (souvenir) is the Tau Sar Piah.
It is a humble local pastry, filled with mung bean paste or sometimes even savoury filling. The locals love this so much thanks to the flaky skin and the smooth filling which makes it oh so delicious.
Pro tip: Put the whole thing in your mouth, if you have gotten the baby version of tau sar piah (Tambun biscuits). Don’t try to bite it to avoid the mess that ensues or have a plate ready!
Where to get the best Tau Sar Piah?
As one of the pioneers in the state, Him Heang has been putting out some fine tar sau piah for the past 70 years.
With no added preservatives and no middlemen to sell their goodies, you can directly purchase them from their outlet (address below). Good news is, they also make other pastries, so you have some options that are not limited to Tau Sar Piah.
Address:
- Him Heang Sdn Bhd: 162A, Jalan Burma, 10050, George Town
11. Mee Sotong
Another plate of noodles which we consider as some of the best foods in Georgetown, Mee Sotong!
You cannot miss this one as there are hardly any other stalls that offer mee sotong except in Georgetown.
Yellow noodles are fried but with a lot more sauce, so the texture is pretty wet and saucy. It is then served with a generous amount of sambal sotong (spicy squid) to be had together!
Pro tip : They can be spicy! So have a cold drink on hand to go with your plate of mee sotong!
Where to get the best Mee Sotong?
The OG is Hameed Pata Mee Sotong (RM6). Situated at Fort Cornwallis, you will recognize them instantly thanks to the long lines in front of the stall. Aside from frying their mee sotong, it also comes in a boiled version or ‘rebus’. Just ask the staff there if you’re not sure which to go for.
They also offer some good coconut shake too, which goes refreshingly well with their spicy mee sotong.
Address:
- Hameed Pata Mee Sotong: 5, Esplanade Park, Lebuh Light, 10300 George Town
12. Duck blood Curry Mee
You shouldn’t leave Georgetown before having their duck blood curry mee! One of the best foods in Georgetown, duck blood curry mee is a bowl of noodles served in a coconut-based broth. Various toppings are added, such as tofu puffs, cockles, and, of course, the star of the dish, duck blood.
You will also get a spoonful of curry paste, which you mix into the coconut broth to reveal a rich curry broth that goes so well with all the ingredients.
Where to get the best Duck blood Curry Mee?
The shop itself is named after the dish and is located on Jalan Burma. They do offer a few other dishes, but their Duck blood Curry Mee (RM7.50) is no doubt the most authentic to Georgetown.
Although some might flinch at the thought of duck blood, fret not, they are actually quite delicious and have a cubed, jelly like shape and texture, not a bloody massacre, don’t worry! The curry paste and all the fresh ingredients along with the duck blood, truly is delicious.
It’s no wonder that they are listed in the Michelin Bib Gourmand!
Address:
- Duck Blood curry Mee: 23B, Jalan Burma, 10050 George Town
Tips and Essentials
Timing is important
A lot of stalls in Georgetown are still mom and pop stores. So, they are frequently closed on some weekdays or even after they are sold out. Be prepared to plan your day in advance if you want to visit some of these popular places!
Cash is still King
Although many places in Georgetown have gone cashless or digitised their transactions, a large part of smaller stalls still only accept cash. We recommend that you carry cash and some loose change so that you won’t be stuck anywhere, unable to pay!
Keep an open mind to dining etiquette
Dining locally means adapting to the local etiquettes too. You will quickly realise that locals usually clean up after themselves so that others can occupy the same tables. When ordering food, it is also common to pay for them upfront. Though they may be little details, we believe this will make your trip a smoother one!
Conclusion
It’s no doubt that the food options in Georgetown are endless, unique and also authentic! For food lovers, this is a paradise!
Keeping all this in mind, remember that to make sure your journey is smooth, plan carefully and ensure that you have enough ‘ringgit’ in hand. If eating alone is not on your agenda, check out this guide to see what else you can do in Georgetown! Adios for now!
