Penang Food Guide 2025: The Ultimate Hawker Trail

Iconic stir-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, cockles, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, and egg, cooked over high heat to achieve the coveted 'wok hei' (breath of the wok) smoky flavor.

Tangy and spicy fish-based noodle soup made with mackerel, tamarind, torch ginger flower, and garnished with mint, pineapple, and thick shrimp paste (petis). A UNESCO-recognized dish.

Rich prawn noodle soup with thick yellow noodles and vermicelli in a savory broth made from prawn heads and pork bones. Served with kangkung, hard-boiled egg, and crispy shallots.

Steamed rice served with a variety of curries, fried chicken, vegetables, and sambal. A Penang icon born from Indian Muslim traders carrying rice on shoulder poles (kandar).

Refreshing shaved ice dessert with green rice flour jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup (gula melaka), and red beans. The perfect sweet treat on a hot day.

Indian-Muslim salad with fried fritters, tofu, potatoes, turnip, prawn fritters, cuttlefish, and cucumber, all smothered in sweet spicy peanut sauce.

Spicy coconut curry noodle soup with yellow noodles, vermicelli, cockles, shrimp, tofu puffs, and a spoonful of chili paste. Often served with pig blood cubes.

Five-spice marinated pork wrapped in bean curd skin and deep-fried until crispy. Served with sweet chili sauce and pickled vegetables.

Fresh oysters fried with egg and starch batter until crispy on the edges, served with chili sauce. A Teochew specialty popular at night markets.

Penang's most famous seafront hawker centre, perfect for sunset dining with a sea breeze. Features over 50 stalls serving iconic Penang dishes. A must-visit for first-timers.

Popular night-time hawker street in the heart of George Town. Famous for char kway teow, satay, and economy rice. A local favorite with excellent variety.

Historic street food haven famous for its Teochew dishes. Best known for koay chiap (duck noodle soup), char kway kak, and late-night dim sum.

Large morning market and hawker centre near Kek Lok Si Temple. Famous for its curry mee, assam laksa, and fresh produce. Authentic local experience.

Historic wet market in the heart of George Town. The upstairs food court serves traditional breakfast items like apom, curry mee, and koay teow thng.

Historic Hokkien enclave famous for its prawn mee soup. Home to several generations-old hawker stalls serving authentic Penang classics.

A hidden gem street food area between Lebuh Chulia and Lebuh Campbell. Known for its traditional kopitiams and wan tan mee stalls.

Main commercial street in George Town with several famous food spots including the iconic Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol.