Penang, the pearl of the Orient, is a vibrant tapestry of culinary delights, and after six long years, I returned with a desire to savour its offerings at a leisurely pace. My focus was not on cramming every meal into a short visit, but rather, on appreciating the essence of Penang’s food culture. With stays at the Marriott Hotel Penang and The Prestige Hotel, I was perfectly situated to explore the best food the island has to offer.
Where to Stay
My journey began with the comfort and convenience provided by the Marriott Hotel Penang and The Prestige. These two hotels were not just places to rest but strategic starting points for my culinary adventures. The Marriott offered a blend of luxury and accessibility, situated near the bustling heart of Penang. Meanwhile, The Prestige, with its modern, chic design and prime location, made it a breeze to get around. Both hotels put me within arm’s reach of the island’s famed food establishments, with only a 10-minute drive away from most.
The Prestige Hotel
Inspired by the movie “The Prestige”, The Prestige Hotel was designed with the founder’s love for the movie in mind. The exterior, with its colonial architecture, pays homage to Penang’s historical charm, while the interior is a striking contrast of modern design and opulence, drawing heavy references from the movie itself. Nearby various famous eating establishments such as Lorong Selamat and Carnarvon Street, The Prestige boasts a strategic location for those who would like to be within a short drive’s reach from places on their foodie checklist. Dining options can be found in the form of their semi-buffet at The Glasshouse, Michelin guide feature fine dining restaurant, Gēn 根, or even Norm Micro Roastery, which is right opposite, for a cup of local coffee or café food.
Marriott Hotel Penang
Situated in the quieter side of Georgetown, Penang, Marriott Hotel Penang is a great place to stay when one would like to escape the hustle and bustle of the main city centre crowd, but enjoy convenience at the same time.
The hotel’s has an array of dining options include Kucina, an Italian restaurant, which focus on Italian classics and grilled meats. We tried dishes such as the burrata, pasta, grilled prawns and steak.
For cocktails, The Great Bar, which focuses on classic cocktails including number of creative twists. Lava Java, their in-house café which boasts an array of pastries bread and drinks has a special omakase menu, a unique offering on the island. Eating establishments nearby include GreenHouse Prawn Noodles, and it is also a 10-minute drive from Lorong Selamat.
Must Visit Eats
Fames for hawker food, it goes without saying that one’s visit would have been incomplete without indulging in some of the best hawker food Malaysia has to offer. I narrowed down my choices to four places, believing this list to be truly the places you must visit if you had only limited time at the Island. To me, these iconic spots truly represent the essence of Penang and are worth a visit no matter if this is your first time, or 100th time.
OO White Coffee Cafe (Carnarvon Street)
OO White Coffee Cafe on Carnarvon Street was my first stop. Known for its aromatic white coffee and diverse food offerings, this cafe is a beloved institution, with multiple branches available in Georgetown itself. But to me, the original location is definitely the one worth visiting. Notable foods to order were their duck egg char kuey teow, which was made fragrant with the use if duck eggs and enough wok hei; crispy o-jien (oyster omelette) which was an interesting twist to the usual starchy and soft omelette we were used to. The beef noodles were also very flavourful, something I have not yet encountered in Kuala Lumpur. The broth itself was very well flavoured, suggesting that the broth had been well cooked for many hours, the meat was tender and everything came together well.
Red Hat Aunty/Goggles Uncle Char Kuey Teow (Lorong Selamat)
Next, I made my way to Lorong Selamat for its famous Char Kuey Teow. This dish is synonymous with Penang, and Lorong Selamat is famed for serving one of the best versions. There are two stores that serve Char Kuey Teow, both famous with their own following of fans. You have the iconic Red Hat Auntie Char Kuey Teow, recognizable with her red beret hat, while down the street is the famous Goggles Uncle Char Kuey Teow. Both stores cook their Char Kuey Teow over a roaring charcoal fire, giving it a distinct smoky flavor and both also give very huge prawns which they are famous for. Personal preference however, goes to the Red Hat Auntie Char Kuey Teow. Each bite was a delightful combination of silky noodles, fresh prawns, and crispy bean sprouts, all coated in a savoury sauce It was definitely more smoky and flavourful to the Goggles Uncle version in my opinion. But don’t worry, if you wish to visit the Goggles Uncle store, you can also try out the Ojien in their store. To me it was an extremely good one with a reasonable price. So good that I went back for seconds.
GreenHouse Prawn Noodle
A famous discussion among Malaysians is the term “Prawn Noodle” or “Har Mee” in Cantonense. In Kuala Lumpur, we call prawn noodles “Har Mee”, while in Penang, it gets called “Hokkein Mee”, something which is a total different dish in Kuala Lumpur. Known as the place to go to for prawn noodles, Green House has 2 stores, 1 in a row of shop lots and 1 as a hawker stall. Both serve very good prawn noodles and the portions are not too big. The broth itself is very flavourful and does not taste as sweet as the ones in Kuala Lumpur. Options for add ons include pork ribs, duck blood and even pork belly. As it opens until 1am in the morning, this place is frequently visited for suppers.
Thum Kee Char Hor Fun (Lebuh Presgrave)
Thum Kee might not be on a wide number of lists like the other establishments in this guide, but they do have local favourites. I personally felt the mushroom jien was an interesting take. Essentially the well-loved oyster omelette but using various types of mushrooms such as enoki and shimeji, this off spin of an oyster omelette surprised me with how flavourful and how good it was. Thei fames Char Hor Fun is also a definitely must try, with its savoury and thick sauce coating each strand of flat rice noodles, it’s a warm and hearty dish, great for late nights.
Fine Casual Dining at Communal Table by Gēn (根)
While Penang is renowned for its street food, its fine casual dining scene is equally impressive. I had the pleasure of dining at Communal Table by Gēn, an establishment that takes Penang’s culinary heritage to new heights. The restaurant’s philosophy is to create communal dining experiences with a modern twist on traditional flavours.
The evening at Communal Table was a symphony of taste and presentation. Each course was a testament to the chef’s creativity, featuring locally-sourced ingredients transformed into artful dishes. From the delicate starters to the sumptuous main courses, every bite was an exploration of flavours that honoured Penang’s rich culinary traditions while pushing the boundaries of contemporary cuisine. The ambiance, with its elegant yet relaxed setting, provided the perfect backdrop for a memorable dining experience. Strong recommendations for the Bidor Duck done 2 ways, Pork Shoulder and Stuffed Chicken Wings.
Returning to Penang after six years was not just a trip down memory lane but a renewed appreciation of its culinary diversity. Staying at the Marriott Hotel Penang and The Prestige allowed me to explore the island’s food scene with ease and comfort. From the unpretentious, mouthwatering hawker food at OO White Coffee Cafe and Lorong Selamat Char Kuey Teow to the sophisticated dining experience at Communal Table by Gen, every meal was a celebration of Penang’s unique flavours. Starting off, I admit I did not have much expectations for Penang. In this day and age, I would think everything could be found in Kuala Lumpur. But I was definitely proven wrong, and happily so.
Do you have interesting Travel Tales to share? Submit to us for consideration.