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!

UFM 100.3 Survey: Best Kway Chap

Every Tuesday morning, UFM 100.3 has a segment (美食大PK) whereby a local dish will be announced and the listeners will vote what they think is the best via sms.

This week, it is Kway Chap.

The top 3 go to:

1. Blanco Court Kway Chap at Old Airport Road Food Centre
2. Garden Street Kway Chap at Serangoon Garden Market
3. Lucky Kway Chap at Tampines Round Food Centre

More food choices for me!

To support your favourite choice, make sure you tune in to UFM100.3. The voting, I think, closes at 8am.

Lao San Kway Chap - Ang Mo Kio

I have been to Mellben Seafood a couple of times, but never once realized that Lao San Kway Chap (老三棵汁。猪什汤) is actually in the same block. When eating kway chap, the kway typically does not get much attention as compared to the braised pig's parts and accompanying side dishes. However, at Lao San, I was in fact quite impressed by the kway. The warm kway is translucent and silky, with the thin broth well enhanced by bits of fried garlic and garlic oil. The braising sauce used for the combination of the pig intestines, pig skin and tau pok, is having the right balance of savouriness and saltiness.

Lao San is fighting its way to be among my top favourite kwap chap stalls.

Budget : $

Rating : 9 / 10