What are the Must-Try Street Food and Local Dishes in Penang, Malaysia

Ranked among Malaysia's top beach holiday destinations, Penang is also a dream come true for foodies the world over. Offering tourists a taste of regional Malaysia, Penang's street food scene is the envy of most beach towns in the country due to the sheer variety of treats on offer. From crispy Apom Manis and classic noodle dishes including Hokkien Mee to Roti Canai made the conventional way, here's a roundup of local treats every visitor should sample during a stay in Penang.

Curry Mee

This special curry that's unique to Penang differs from most Malay curries for a number of reasons. As a dish that includes such diverse ingredients as cockles, cuttlefish, taufu pok and coconut milk, this curry, which is usually served alongside steamed rice, is not for the faint of heart. Spicy and accompanied by a dollop of chilli paste, the best Curry Mee in Penang is served by Sister Curry Mee- Ayer Itam, which has been a veritable institution that's served up this classic dish since the restaurant first opened its doors in the 1980s.

Assam Laksa

Fans of Laksa based at Citadines Prai Penang or any of the other Bukit Mertajam apartments will find that Assam Laksa is the only dish to cure this craving. As a meal that's ubiquitous at the Ayer Itam Market, what makes Assam Laksa a popular street food dish in Penang is the use of mackerel in its spicy broth. The spicy and tangy flavour of the broth is also unmistakably fishy as poached mackerel fish and tamarind juice are stewed to create this soup. The shrimp paste and lemongrass used during the cooking process also add to the robust taste of Assam Laksa, which is filling thanks to the rice noodles that are tossed into the soupy mixture before serving.

Char Koay Teow

This classic Malaysian rice noodle dish is especially delicious when consumed at Penang's street food hotspot Tiger Char Koay Teow. Using duck eggs instead of the more common chicken eggs to enhance this dish bamboo clams are also added to Tiger Char Koay Teow's signature stir-fried rice noodles before being garnished with prawns, cockles, bean sprouts and sweet black sauce. Considered one of the top sellers among street food items in Penang, the fragrance that exudes from the dish is called Wok Hei by local diners owing to how distinct it is from other Wok-fried noodles.

Roti Canai

While Roti Canai may be a dish of Indian origin, it has become a staple in Penang's street food culture that's revered by locals and expats alike. The soft flatbread that comes in both square and circular shapes is usually enjoyed with a great deal of curry sauce. Grilled to perfection, the bread that's also called 'The flying bread' by locals is tossed into the air to achieve the desired shape at venues such as the Transfer Road Roti Canai restaurant.

Apom Manis

Comparable to Sri Lankan hoppers and Indian Appam, Apom Manis is a crispy crepe-like dish that's usually enjoyed during breakfast time. Made using a batter that includes coconut milk, sugar, eggs, and flour, what makes Apom Manis a big hit with diners is its inherent crunchiness. Lebuh Chulia Apom is one of the best venues in Penang to order this dish, which also has an eggy variation where a sunny-side-up egg is placed at the centre of the Apom.

Hokkien Mee

Prawn-fried noodle dishes in Penang don't get any better than Hokkien Mee. This hearty meal, which includes an aromatic broth, is topped off with fish cakes, chicken pieces and squid while water spinach is also added as a garnish. A hot favourite among seafood lovers, this dish is both savoury and sour with a hint of sweetness.