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Malaysia is a destination with a unique history that is reflected in its food. Malaysian street food is not only a source of pride for locals but is also recognized globally for its quality. Notably, in September this year, the British magazine TimeOut published a blog naming Penang, Malaysia, as Asia’s best street food city.
The article praised George Town in Penang as a cultural mix of Malay, Chinese, Peranakan, and Indian influences, with the food scene faithfully reflecting these unique attributes.
Malaysian street food reflects a rich mix of cultures
The writer also recommended visitors try Malaysian street food such as char kuey teow (a stir-fried noodle dish), assam laksa (a sour style of laksa), roti canai (Indian flatbread), and hokkien mee (a prawn noodle soup).
This listing also mentions that if you ask locals where the best place to try food in Malaysia is, you will get different answers. This is to show that Malaysian preferences are rather diverse. Some eateries recommended in the article include Goggles Man Char Kuey Teow and Left-handed Char Koay Teow.
Like the other food of Southeast Asia, Malaysian street food is often considered among the world’s best because of its incredible variety, shaped by the country’s long history of cultural mixing.
Malaysia Airlines marks Malaysia Day 2021 with crew in colorful traditional dress
Food in Malaysia combines elements of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and European cooking, resulting in dishes such as nasi lemak, laksa, and roti canai with roots in different cooking styles.
Food in Malaysia offers bold and punchy flavors, combining spicy, sweet, sour, and umami in a single dish. This combination of tastes radiates an exotic “authentic Asian food” vibe that attracts non-Asian visitors to try it and explore the many options Malaysian street food has to offer.
The best food in Penang can be found in its hawker centers, which bring dozens of Malaysian street food stalls together, allowing visitors to do a Penang food tour with ease. In terms of language barriers, compared to other Asian street food destinations, Penang, with the convenience of English being widely spoken, makes ordering far less stressful for foreign tourists.
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Malaysia food tour made easy with hawker centers
In terms of dietary options, Malaysian street food offers halal, vegetarian, and even Indian or Western food alongside local dishes. This helps international visitors feel welcome, with the reassurance that there is truly “something for everyone.”
If you want to do a Penang food tour, it’s important to know exactly where to find the best Malaysian food. The city center of George Town in Penang is the most abundant area, offering a wide variety of options. Here you’ll find everything from street food to classy Michelin-starred restaurants, omakase dining, and charming French cafés. This is also where Komtar Tower, heritage streets, and major food courts are located.
Duck soup at Cecil Street Market is a highlight for any Malaysia food tour
Cecil Street Market, near Komtar, is famous for its duck kway teow soup. The broth is consistently praised as rich, sweet, and smooth, with tender duck meat and silky noodles. You’ll also find other stalls serving char kway teow, curry mee, Penang laksa, poh piah, pasembur, and pig blood curd (chue huet) that are well worth trying too.
It’s worth noting that Cecil Street Market has the best Malaysian food for breakfast and lunch, with stalls closing by late afternoon and very little open at dinner time. The famous char kway teow stall there can also have long queues, sometimes over 30 minutes.
Make sure to grab some cendol during your Malaysia food tour
Penang Road is another well-known spot for finding the best food in Penang, especially for its famous cendol. New Lane Food Court also offers a wide variety of Malaysian street food and is open daily except Wednesdays, usually from 4 pm to 11 pm. It’s best to visit in the early evening (around 5-7 pm) before the queues and crowds peak. There’s also Carnarvon Street with plenty of authentic local food options worth exploring.
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In Pulau Tikus, located northwest of George Town in Penang, especially in the Gurney area near Gurney Plaza and Paragon Mall, you’ll find many of the best Malaysian food options ever. Pulau Tikus Market is a great place for duck meat koay teow th’ng and lok lok, while Gurney Drive Hawker Centre is famous for its seafront hawker stalls. There are also cafes and malls in the area if you prefer something lighter and more refined.
Many come to Pulau Tikus Market for its lok lok
About 15 to 20 minutes southwest of George Town is Air Itam, a suburban area that is home to attractions such as Kek Lok Si Temple and Penang Hill. The Air Itam Market here is known for its duck rice and especially for its asam laksa, which is regarded as one of the most famous spots for the dish.
Several other cities in Southeast Asia also made the list, and each one is worth including in your Southeast Asia tour. After Malaysia’s Penang, Hanoi came in second, with specialties such as barbecue pork banh mi, northern-style pho, banh cuon, and Hanoian bun cha.
Hanoian bun cha is a well-loved Southeast Asian street food
Singapore placed third, with its street food recognized as part of UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. The city’s Hainanese chicken rice, which has Chinese origins, remains unmatched in the hearts of food lovers.
Thailand is also a strong player when it comes to Southeast Asia street food, with Chiang Mai ranked fifth and Bangkok eighth. Chiang Mai is known for its distinct Lanna cuisine, with a love for chili and bold flavors, while Bangkok is famous for mango sticky rice, arguably one of the world’s best desserts.
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No trip to Bangkok is complete without mango sticky rice
Cambodia’s Phnom Penh placed ninth on the list. An undoubtedly underrated Southeast Asia food destination, Phnom Penh’s sidewalk scene offers more than just fried tarantulas and scorpions. It also brings delicious classics like num banh chok, fish amok, and samlor machu to the table.
Malaysian street food is most certainly a must-try if you’re planning a Southeast Asia tour. And it’s not only Malaysia, the food of Southeast Asia in general is worth making a trip for. So get ready to contact our team at Asia King Travel for a custom-made itinerary and pack your bags for the foodie adventure of a lifetime!
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