Top 10 Penang Dishes You Must Try!

** No cats were harmed in the making of this **

I revisited Penang from 30 Aug - 2 Sep 2015.

There's only one thing to do when you're in Penang. That's to basically eat everything awesome that you can find and get to. During the 4 days and 3 nights that I was in Penang, we had like 10 dishes/meals on average. 15 on a good day. I am surprised I didn't suffer from indigestion and puked at the end of every night. Here is a list of my top 10 favourites things that I ate, in no particular order.

1. The Alley Cafe

Located in literally a nice little alley

Address: 5, Lorong Stewart, George Town, 10200 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Website: https://www.facebook.com/thealleypenang/
Telephone: +604-2613879
Opening Hours: 12pm - 12am

cool wall art

This is a nice cozy little cafe that I heard sold cronuts. YES CRONUTS! A cronut is when a crossiant and a doughnut make love and produce this little round ball of happiness. The cronut will have the layers of flaky, buttery crossiant layers but in the shape of a doughnut. It's genius basically.

This is what they call battery water

They sold take away coffee in this cool bottle and they call this battery water. Hey, they aren't wrong about that! As it was late in the evening, we didn't have coffee because we were afraid we couldn't sleep.

churro and cronut!

Finally, the long awaited churros and cronut has arrived!! We ordered the large serving of the churros (RM9) (no regrets) and one portion of the cronut (RM9) together with a hot chai and a pot of hot fruit tea.

Honestly, the churros is way better than the cronut. The churros is crunchy and crispy on the outside and soft on the outside. It went exceptionally well with the salted caramel and cinnamon sugar.

2. Tuai Pui Curry Mee

Tuai Pui Curry Mee

Address: Address: 23, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9am to 5.30pm. Closed on Wednesdays.

You have no idea how happy I was to be back. I am not a fan of curry mees or spicy stuff. This curry mee changed my mine. This stall is situated along Lorong Kimberly about 200m from the main road. Once you walk in, you'll see a small push cart type of stall just located outside a shop house. Order the food, and proceed into the shop house to wait for your bowl of goodness.

big bowl of heaven

The curry mee consists of a large serving of yellow noodles, coagulated pork blood (seriously damn delicious), pork intestines, fish cake, taupok, cuttlefish, beansprouts and more! Why this dish is so fantastic is because the gravy is actually drinkable! It's not too thick and flavoured with a complex mixture of curries and broth.

3. Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul

Address: Jalan Penang, 10450 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Telephone:+60 4-262 6002

Opening Hours:10:30 am – 7:00 pm

CHENDOL!!

Do not be deceived by the long snaking queue to this stall. The queue may be long, but it moves pretty fast as well. We waited roughly 10-15mins before we were next in line. The orders are pretty standard: having here or takeaway & how many bowls. If you're slow to decide or order you might get reprimanded by the stall operator.

waiting in line

Because they're moving the queue so fast, they have to prepare many bowls at once. This results in most of the ice melting into the coconut milk. Other than that minor thing, the bowl is generous for RM2.50, lots of chendol and red bean and decent Gula Melaka to flavour the entire bowl.

big bowl!

Once you've paid and got your own bowl, you have to look for a spot to either stand or sit along the roadside to savour the chendol. We found a nice shady area next to a longkang (drain) and finished the entire bowl within minutes.

so happy me!

4. Seafood Popiah at Gerai Gerai Padang Brown

uncle creating his art

This popiah stall is located towards the end of the food court. You won't miss it as this stall sells only popiah with the longest queue. Thankfully the uncle has a system going. You order, take a queue number and wait.

GLORIOUS POPIAH

I know, you may be thinking why is the popiah drenched in gravy and it will make the popiah skin soggy! It was done intentionally and I must say it was EXTREMELY GOOD. This was the best dish I had during this Penang trip!!!

The radish is cooked in seafood broth and then folded together with fried egg, lettuce and crab meat! The gravy is heavy and laden with prawn/crab/seafood flavour. It was so damn rich, we actually pour all the gravy onto our spoon and drank it. NOT TO WASTE ANY DROP OF THIS AWESOME GRAVY!

5. Three Road 888 Hokkien Prawn Mee

hokkien prawn mee

Address: 67, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

hokkien prawn mee

Now, when you think of Hokkien Mee (or even fried prawn mee) in Singapore, you think of the plate of white stir-fried yellow noodles & beehoon. In Penang, Hokkien Mee basically is a bowl of pipping hot prawn noodles in soup. Now, for this bowl of Hokkien Prawn Mee, you can choose additional ingredients you want to add such as pork intestines, pork belly or even pork ribs.

6. BEST. CHAR. KUAY. TEOW. @ Siam Road

We just couldn't find the best Char Kuay Teow in Penang during our stay. We've had many plates of Char Kuay Teow, but all of which (even after adding duck egg) felt like it was missing something. I remembered a friend who had visited Penang and claimed that this Char Kuay Teow at Siam Road was the best of all the famous Char Kuay Teow stalls in Penang, even better than the red hat auntie with a feisty attitude. 

Yes, we went three days in a row. First two days were closed and we came back on the third day and it was finally opened!! YES! *rejoice*

This may look like a plate of measly white coloured, stir fried plate of CKT. It is not. It was the most fragrant plate of CKT I ever put in my mouth. The prawns were fresh and juicy, the noodles cooked just right and the whole flavours of CKT just exploded in my mouth. I think what made this plate of CKT so special was that it was cooked over charcoal fire.

I just had to finish the ENTIRE PLATE!

stamp of approval

Trust me, it was that good.

7. Kafe Kheng Pin Lor bak

Address: 20, 16, Jalan Penang, George Town, 10050 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

So, Kheng Pin Kafe is located about 8 mins from the hotel at this junction. It's certainly quite hard to miss it.

lor bak

Basically, its's just chunks of deep fried meat with tau pok, century egg, prawns and fishball and you dunk it in the special thick sauce.

8. Toh Soon Cafe 

Address: Lebuh Campbell, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Phone:+60 4-261 3754

I would consider Kaya Loti, half-boiled eggs and coffee or tea to be a local breakfast staple for both Singapore and Malaysia. The loti (bread) is so damn soft and they toast it just right so it is really crispy on the outside. Order the Kaya toast as it's much tastier as compared to the butter-sugar counterpart. There is a menu for you to choose your kind of toast such as chocolate bread or even peanut-butter toast. Eggs are boiled to perfection too!

9. Sin Nam Huat Roasted Chicken & Duck Rice

Address: Jalan Macalister, George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

The trick to this restaurant is to go early! We went at around 3.30pm (they close at about 4.30-5pm) and all we had were roasted chicken! No more duck. But since we were there already, we ordered a plate of roasted chicken anyway.

Now, I'm never a fan of roasted chicken. I ALWAYS eat steamed white chicken because it is always juicier. This plate of roasted chicken changed my perception! The chicken were juicy and soft. Being doused in fragrant soy/sesame sauce adds to the flavour of the entire dish! The skin was crisp and partly caramelized as it was roasted. 

The next day, while I was having a spa session, my friends went back and bought the duck drumstick for each of us. Pardon my really greedy face, but it was so damn good. I've never sucked on a bone looking desperately for scraps before.

10. Assam Laksa @ Penang Road

We went back for a second bowl of Cendol and we had cravings for Assam Laksa. As it turns out, this particular stall is famed as well! The broth was not too fishy or sour, unlike the others we've had. The sardines were just right and the onions... yumz!

Even though we visited on a weekday afternoon, the shop was crowded with people having a bowl of cendol or assam laksa or even char kuay teow.

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Click here to find out what else you can do in Penang!

A little old, a little new.

Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang Review!

E&O Hotel Lobby

Address: 10, Lebuh Farquhar 10200 Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +(6) 04 222 2000
Website: http://www.eohotels.com/
Email: luxury@eohotels.com

Dates of stay: 20th - 22nd June
Category: Deluxe Suite - Heritage Wing
Description: Sea view; choice of king size bed or twin beds; separate living area & luxurious bathroom
Size: 58 Sq./m
Price: I enjoyed hotelier's rates
Includes: 2 Adult breakfast, Wifi, Butler service, Complimentary two pieces of pressing

E&O Exterior

E&O hotel has been around since 1885, presumably when the British Colony was still around. I did a bit of research and also asked the staff about the history of the building, but it was just built as a hotel to the Starkies Brothers and it remained standing even after two World Wars.

Very cool bellman contrasting with our modern day beach wear

The entire hotel (including guest rooms and restaurants) are located within the colonial building, and it has this charm that all colonial buildings have. The hotel really retained the theme of the 1880s era, from the decoration, furnishing to the uniforms of the service staff.

Old school elevator

If you're lucky and be nice to the receptionist, you get to ride in the old school elevator too! Yes! It is a functioning elevator, very much like the ones you'd see in period movies.

Reception desk of Heritage Wing

We booked a total of four rooms, with two rooms in the Victory Wing (new wing). There are different check in counters for both Wings, which is nice because they separate the guests and you do not really feel overcrowded during peak periods.

Large, spacious lobby of the Heritage Wing

Also, if you stay at the 100 room Heritage Wing, all guests will get to enjoy the 24-hours butler service. However, I felt that the butlers were only present during check in and check out (they're all really nice mind you), they don't really attempt to get to know you better, find out your plans, and try to personalize your stay. Yes, they're 24-hours, but normal front desk agents are available 24-hours too? What's so special than? Butlers or Front Desk Agent? Or is that some fancy name the hotel gives to the FD agents?

Or am I asking for too much, because they have to take care of 100 guests? I'm generally fuss free, but after staying for 3 days, a little pop in and a hello would be nice from a butler. If not, don't confuse us and call them butlers!

Mango mocktail and cold towels

My friends drove up from Singapore to Penang, but G & I decided to just fly straight to Penang to save on time (and leaves). We checked in at about 8pm, and were welcomed with this lovely Mango Mocktail & cold towels. The lady butler who checked us in, also waited patiently by the side until I finished my drink (actually G was rushing me because he saw her waiting for us by the side), not too intrusive and with a beautiful smile always. I'm sorry, I didn't get your name.

BEDROOM

She brought us to our room, and guess what. SURPRISE!

Romantic Set Up!

During the email correspondence with reservation, I casually mentioned that I would really appreciate a great seaview because we were celebrating our anniversary. Though the reservations team did not give me a definite answer regarding the seaview, nor ask anything else about our anniversary, they pulled through, and with this surprise, I was really shocked and happy! I really wasn't expecting this.

Cake!

The lady butler than told us that they wanted to sing us a song (hahaha), but they didn't know what time we would be arriving. I think it would have been really awkward because G and I are not really the type to get strangers to sing us a song. So, we told her it was totally not necessary and we're happy enough.

But I'm curious, what song would they sing? Not like it's the generic Happy Birthday Song.

Happy Anniversary To You, in the Happy Birthday tune?



However, I did give my flight details to the reservation team, but I didn't arrange any transportation with the hotel, so I guess it would be a little difficult because they were unable to anticipate my arrival.

After she left, G was a bit speechless, he definitely wasn't expecting this either, or maybe because when we do get married in the future, how is he going to triumph this. OR maybe he doesn't want to marry me and the cake gave him cold feet. HAHAHA.

(I know this is a really simple setup, but I'd tell you guys stories about how we're such a simple couple. Another story for another time. Or maybe there'd be no stories, cos we're boring and simple.)

Sitting Area

There's also a separate sitting area where you can have guests over and lounge and watch TV. That is where they placed the cake and fruit amenity (mango and banana, my favorite fruits). I really like this area, because you can be out the whole day and after coming back from all the food feast, you'd want to lounge and rest and not dirty the bed. And also, continue eating with food you've brought back too! I don't really like the idea of eating in bed and sleep with all the crumbs.

Our seaview weren't fantastic (but, I'm not complaining) because we got the corner room (332), and to our extreme left was the jetty, and a tree was in the middle. We were not in the room much anyway, and the view from Victory Wing's pool is way nicer.

Seaview, blocked by a tree!

You should have seen our friend's room  (328). They got the corner room as well, down the corridor, and their view was partially blocked by a pillar that was extending out from the building. Of course, a jetty and a tree anytime over a pillar. If you stay in the Heritage Wing, try to request for a room that is in the middle. I think the view would have been fantastic.

BATHROOM

Spacious bathroom

I love hotel bathrooms (nice ones only please), and I feel that the bathrooms says a lot about the hotel and their standard. There're his and hers sink, and at first you wouldn't know which was his or hers. If you look closely, HIS sink will have shaving kit, electrical shaver outlet plug, etc. HER sink will have tissue box, more bath amenities, nail file, shower cap, etc. 

And upon CLOSER inspection, I found a box of the sanitary bag on the HIS sink. First, I was so impressed, and than I just laughed. So much for attention to detail. If you're gonna argue that there's no more space on HER sink, than perhaps you can swap the shower cap with the sanitary bag. 

I'm sorry, it was extremely obvious to me. 

Also, I like those mirrors you can pull out, and it's enhanced so you can see every single pore on your face. The suites in the Heritage Wing is lacking that, and I was just telling G that I couldn't really see the mirror when I put on my contacts. I had to really lean forward and sometimes my shirt would get wet from the puddles I've created around the sink. Yes, I am that blind. 

And yes, the Victory Wing has the pull out mirrors, I asked my friends.

Too beautiful

Now, the tub is really big and beautiful. I guess it's really how they designed the whole bathroom. However,  there is no raised ledge around the tub and when you slosh around the tub, water just spills over. I understand that if you place a shower curtain in, it is totally not aesthetically appealing, but at least get a tub design that will prevent water from sloshing over the edge. G, being the engineer he is, started going on an on about the design flaw and how the water isn't draining well from the bathroom floor as well. As for me, I shut my ears and enjoyed my bubble bath. 

Oh, if you're lucky to get the rose shower gel, it is HEAVENLY. LOVE THE SMELL! I guess they gave it to us, and not our friends, because we were celebrating our anniversary. They were jealous so I saved them a bottle.

POOL

Zen by the pool

 I can't even begin to describe how beautiful the pool at Victory Wing is. It's an infinity pool, over looking the sea, and not a single ship is in sight. We went to the pool after we came back from the beach, and had time to kill.

Beautiful sunset

It is really a nice place to lounge and chill for the whole afternoon. There are indoor and outdoor deck chairs, and the pool attendant will even bring you a glass of ice water and a pool bar menu just in case you get hungry. I really love it when hotels serve water by the pool.

Victory Wing Infinity Pool at Level 6

OVERALL

If you have breakfast included in your room package, please try the Char Kuay Teow in the morning. It is really good! They also have a fruit smoothie/juice bar at the side so you get freshly squeezed juices everyday! 

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at E&O, despite the minor hiccups. I'm only sensitive to such things because I've stayed and work at luxury properties, and sometimes I feel it's not a good thing. Nonetheless, the staff were all friendly and very very welcoming with all the questions my friends and I had. 

It still felt very luxurious and intimate. It is also walking distance to a lot of Penang's street food and sights, so location is good as well. I will defiantly be back!