Top Street Food to try in Penang

Penang is widely considered a food capital and has been named the number 1 food destination in 2014 by Lonely Planet. From Char Kway Teow to Hokkien Mee to Asam Laksa, Penang food has a strong presence of local Malay, Chinese, Peranakan and Indian influences. You can locate most of the good finds in the State Capital, Georgetown, which together with Malacca, is one of the World Heritage sites.

In my recent trip to Penang, I have researched 50+ food choices, received 10+ recommendations from friends and relatives and added another 10+ more along the way. Out of these, I have managed to try from about 40 stalls and eateries over the 3.5 days. I have wanted to taste more, but there were some that were difficult to find, resulting loss of time. There were others that were not opened, despite me checking the opening hours from various websites. And of course, it was just the limit of my stomach capacity that restricts me from gobbling down some more food.

Nevertheless, I would say I have experienced a wide variety of food that are good representation o f Penang food. I may not have all the "best" ones, but the ones list below (in order of alphabetical order) are definitely worth a try.

Apom
Location: Jalan Burma, outside Kedai Kopi New Cathay
GPS Coordinates: 5.432245, 100.310164

Asam Laksa

Name: Famous Pinang Rd Famous Laksa
Location: Lebuh Keng Kwee
GPS Coordinates: 5.417001, 100.330862

Cendol

Name: Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol

Location: Lebuh Keng Kwee, off Penang Road, outside Joo Hooi Cafe
GPS Coordinates: 5.417169, 100.330666

Char Kway Teow

Location: Lebuh Kimberly, at Sin Guat Keong
GPS Coordinates: 5.4163525,100.3327265

Char Siew

Name: Sin Nam Huat

Location: Jalan Macalister
GPS Coordinates: 5.419222, 100.317976

Curry Mee

Name: Keong Curry Mee

Location: Jalan Burma, at Kedai Kopi New Cathay
GPS Coordinates: 5.432245, 100.310164

Hokkien Mee

Name: Lean Huat Hockkean Mee
Location: Jalan Burmah, at Kedai Kopi Swee Kong
GPS Coordinates: 5.430486, 100.312699

Kway Chap

Name: Kimberly Street Duck Porridge Kway Chap
Location: Lehub Kimberly, outside Restoran Kimberly
GPS Coordinates: 5.416325, 100.332718

Mang Chang Kuih

Name: Pancake Corner

Location: 336-G1 Lintang Slim, off Jalan Perak, outside Restoran Joo Huat
GPS Coordinates: 5.398379, 100.314783

Roti Canai

Name: Special Famous Roti Canai
Location: 56, Jalan Transfer
GPS Coordinates: 5.420828, 100.330670

Yong Tau Foo

Name: Kimberley Road Yong Tau Foo
Location: Lehub Kimberly, outside Sin Guat Keong
GPS Coordinates: 5.416398, 100.332730

There are many more that I want to try, such as Tua Pui Curry Mee, Seafood Popiah at Padang Brown, Ah Leng Char Kway Teow, dessert at Tradtional Home of Dessert. I will definitely make a return trip at some point in time.

Tell me what are your favourite ones!

Restoran Ah Meng (阿明家乡小炒)

Many may have heard of San Lou Bee Hoon (三楼炒米粉), one of the popular Cze Char dishes in Johor Bahru. How many of you know that this is not from San Lou Restaurant? Better still, where can you find San Lou Bee Hoon that is better than the version at Restoran Ah Kaw, the originator of San Lou Bee Hoon?

WHAT TO ORDER: 
What else other than San Lou Bee Hoon, a dish ordered at every table? Also like the fresh Chye Poh Steamed Fish, which is less commonly found in Singapore nowadays. Don't forget to try the traditional Teochew desset Or Nee. The pictures of the shop's 20 recommended dishes are displayed on the wall.

WHAT SO GOOD:
Interestingly, the San Lou Bee Hoon is served in a flattened shape. This is the outcome of the outer layer of the already fried bee hoon given another searing to create fragrant charred taste. Eat with the accompanying strong sambal chilli, you will find the taste of the bee hoon further lifted by another few levels.

NOT SO GOOD:
I find most of the other dishes pretty normal by my standard. The Curry Pork Ribs which has received rave review on the Internet, is not cooked in the curry style I prefer.

MY RATING:
8.25 / 10 (San Lou Bee Hoon)
7.25 / 10 (overall)

East & West Rendezvous - Malacca

The shop may look unassuming from outside, but inside you can find hidden gems - excellent Nyonya Chang, one of the best I ever have so far. This place is so famous for its Nyonya Chang that it is highly advisable to place your order first before you turn up to avoid disappointment. And this was what happened to me. The person in front of me bought all the cooked Nyonya Chang!

The glutinous rice is coloured with the blue concentrated juice from the flowers of Cliterio ternatea, also commonly known as butterfly-pea or blue-pea. You can find this colouring in kuih ketan, or pulut tai tai as well. This makes the Nyonya Chang look visually appealing and interesting.

The best part is the fillings which is very generous in portion. Made up of minced meat, mushrooms and wintermelon, special spice is added to create that magical combination of fragrance and sweetness.

If you buy the uncooked Nyonya Chang like me (the best alternative if they have sold out the cooked ones), what you need to do is to boil a pot of water, add some salt, immerse the Nyonya Chang in the water and continue to boil for another 1hr 45min. That was what the owner Grace Tan taught me. Once cooked, you can keep the Nyonya Chang in the freezer up to 3 weeks, but I bet it will be not long before ending up in your stomach.

Not forgetting to mention, this place serves nice cendol as well.

Budget : $

Rating : 9.25 / 10