Penang Food Finds: Classic Eateries and Hidden Gems

Hey foodies! It's time for another food adventure (BUTTERWORTH FOOD ADVENTURE), and this time we've landed on Penang Island. This place is a true food paradise (MALACCA TRIALS) with so many options to choose from. Even though I've been to Penang Island 8 times already, there's always a new eatery waiting to be discovered. Here are the spots I've tried so far (KOTA KINABALU FOOD SPOTTING), and I'm excited to share them with all of you.

Paal Sangam Café (Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town)

Paal Sangam Café did not disappoint! Their vegetarian banana leaf lunch was fantastic. The Tofu Sambal, Stir Fried Beansprout, Potato Podimas, Chutney, and Curries all tasted truly authentic. It's definitely some of the best vegetarian food around. I loved it, although the Kesari (Indian Semolina Cake) was a bit dry. The service was a bit slow due to peak lunch hour, but it was worth the wait.

Red Garden Food Paradise (Lebuh Leith, George Town) 
True to its name, Red Garden Food Paradise is a real food paradise. With such a huge selection of all sorts of food, making a decision can be tough. You just won't know where to start or what to order! This is my third time here, and everything I've tried so far, including the Chinese pork stew, fruit rojak, and prawn mee, has been delicious. There's also a live band performance, and the place is buzzing with loads of people, including tourists.

Kedai Kopi Bee Hong (Jalan Magazine, George Town) 
Easily located along the main road where the hotels are, Kedai Kopi Bee Hong offers a nostalgic coffee shop experience. The ambiance is basic, but the food is a winner with plenty of choices. The prices are reasonable, and the Fried Kuey Teow and Lam Mee were delightful, though the Salted Egg Pau was not at its best. There's just something special about dining in this coffee shop and enjoying your meal.

New Lane Street Food Stalls (Macalister Road, George Town)

The New Lane Street Food Stalls spoil you for choice with a huge variety of hawker food. Among the many options, we chose Fried Kuey Teow, Leng Chee Kang, Chee Cheong Fun, White Curry Laksa, Red Bean Dessert, and Popiah. Everything was delicious. The open-area concept with unassuming stalls creates a fun, food carnival-like environment where you can order, tuck in, and enjoy the vibe.

Dehappy Seafood Restaurant (Macalister Road, George Town) 
At around 8:00 pm, we visited Dehappy Seafood Restaurant. We were the only group of six customers and were attended to almost immediately. Their menu has ample choices, and we opted for Stir Fried 4 Types of Beans, Egg Bitter Gourd, Lotus Root Stir Fried, Seafood Tom Yam Soup, and Chilli Chicken. While the meal was decent, there wasn't anything particularly standout to rave about.

Bite N Eat Dindigul Biriyani (Lebuh Penang, George Town) 
No regrets here! We randomly spotted Bite N Eat Dindigul Biriyani, and it was a delightful find. The star of the menu is the biryani, with hearty portions of Chicken and Mutton Biriyani cooked with a variety of spices, served with raita and curry, and payasam for dessert. The Madurai Fish Curry we ordered later was a major revelation of deliciousness. Also worth mentioning are their Madras Bru Coffee, Masala Tea, and Chukkumalli Coffee.

My Own Café (Cannon Street, George Town)

This homey and cozy café serves an Asam Laksa that is truly a winner. Spicy and tangy, it's my kind of Asam Laksa, perfectly paired with a barley drink. As an Asam Laksa fan who's tasted it countless times, I can vouch that this one is top-tier.

Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul (Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town)

Be prepared to stand in a long queue, but trust me, it's worth the wait and the sweat. This Chendul is in a class of its own - not overly sweet, with generous amounts of chendul and red beans atop shaved ice and Gula Melaka syrup. You should definitely try Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul. I wish I had room for the Ice Kacang/ABC, which was highly recommended by the person standing next to me.

Thali-NR Sweets Café (Lebuh Penang, George Town) 
Another worthy  random food discovery! Breakfast at Thali-NR Sweets Café was delightful. We started with Upma, a savory semolina dish, and Paper Ghee Tosai. Both were excellent. The home-style food had big, bold Indian aromas and flavors. The Upma was paired with sambar and two types of chutney, and the thin, crispy tosai had the same pairings. There's also something magical about the coffee and tea in Indian eateries like this.

Bangkok Lane’s Mee Goreng (Jalan Burma, George Town) 
This place caught me by surprise. The Mee Rebus Sotong Telur and Mee Goreng Sotong Telur were absolute delights, even though I'm not usually a fan of mee goreng. The flavors were fantastic, cooked to near perfection, and the thick, vibrant gravy for the mee rebus was divine. The spicy and tangy gravy instantly woke up my taste buds. Also, the Roti Bakar (Bread Toast with Kaya and Butter) from this Chinese coffee shop was a great addition to the meal.

Penang Island continues to impress with its diverse and delicious food options. Each visit brings new culinary discoveries that delight the taste buds. However, the renowned eateries and street food stalls, cherished by both locals and tourists, remain staples. These classic spots have earned their reputation and are often the top choices for visitors. 

Penang Island is truly a food paradise, much like other states in Malaysia. Its diverse and delicious food options never fail to impress. Stay tuned! I have more eateries to introduce in my next article. In the meantime, check out the eateries mentioned here. If you haven't visited them yet, you might want to give them a try.