Penang specialties captivate travelers to Malaysia

Coming to a culturally diverse country like Malaysia, travelers cannot miss the interesting culinary experiences here. George Town, Penang is famous as the culinary capital of Malaysia with the gathering of quintessence from many cultures such as India, China, Malaysia, and Italy. Let's take a look at some famous specialties of Penang that travelers should enjoy during their trip to Malaysia.

ASSAM LAKSA

Assam Laksa is the traditional sour noodle soup of Malaysia and is a typical dish of the Penang state. The main ingredients of Assam Laksa are usually rice noodles, mackerel, cucumber, onion, mint, and chopped vegetables. The broth of this dish is a combination of sweetness from meat, sour taste from tamarind, and spicy taste from lemongrass and chili. Assam Laksa is a famous street food of Penang, easy to eat, and popular with locals and international travelers.

Assam Laksa is the traditional sour noodle soup of Malaysia.

CURRY MEE

Curry Mee is a combination of rice noodles with curry and coconut. This is a dish inspired by Indian and Chinese cuisine, processed flexibly according to the recipes of each region. Curry Mee is popular not only in Malaysia but also in Indonesia and Singapore. Therefore, it can be said that Curry Mee is the quintessential dish of Southeast Asian cuisine.

Curry Mee is the quintessential dish of Southeast Asian cuisine.

CHAR KOAY TEOW

Char Koay Teow is one of the most typical street foods in Malaysia and Singapore. Char Koay Teow is usually made from flat rice noodles, stir-fried with shrimp, eggs, cockles and bean sprouts, chili, and chives. Travelers can find Char Koay Teow everywhere in Penang, from street food courts to luxury restaurants. In particular, this dish is often served on banana leaves or palm leaves to keep its inherent traditional features.

Char Koay Teow is one of the most typical street foods in Malaysia.

CENDOL

Cendol is a special traditional dessert in Southeast Asian countries with many different variations. Cendol is a mixture of many long thin colorful jelly fibers, served with sweet and fatty coconut. Variants of Cendol may add some ingredients such as red beans, jackfruit, or durian. This is a cool and perfect dessert for all travelers after a long day discovering Penang state.

Cendol is a perfect dessert for all travelers after a long day discovering Penang state.

KAYA TOAST

Kaya Toast is a popular breakfast for Malaysians. After baking, the bread is served with Kaya jam made from coconut with a slight sweetness. Starting your day with Kaya Toast bread with a cup of milk tea or hot coffee will be a memorable experience in your journey in this beautiful country.

Kaya Toast is served with cups of milk tea or hot coffee

ROTI CANAI

Roti Canai is based on traditional Indian pastry recipes and is made fresh by Malaysian chefs. Roti Canai is a pan-fried flatbread, made from flour, eggs, and fat. This dish is usually served in a round form with eggs, meat, curry sauce, cheese, or sweet sauce. Crispy crust, soft inside, combined with different sauces, create a traditional dish that every traveler wants to try when coming to Malaysia.

Roti Canai is usually served with many kinds of sauce

NASI KANDAR, NASI LEMAK

Nasi in Malaysian cuisine is a dish of rice, which can be used for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is the main dish introduced into Malaysian street food. Two variations of the rice dish are Nasi Kandar and Nasi Lemak. Each variation will be combined with different ingredients such as chicken, ribs, and anchovies, ... and always served with curry. Nasi Kandar and Nasi Lemak are familiar dishes in the culture and life of the Malaysian people, appearing everywhere in this country and in every meal.

Nasi Kandar and Nasi Lemak are familiar dishes in Malaysian culture and life.

MASALA DOSA

Masala Dosa is a traditional dish originating from southern India, with the main ingredients including tapioca flour and lentils. Some variations are combined with other ingredients like coconut, milk, or ginger to enhance the flavor. This cake is attractively sweet, garnished with grated coconut and chopped coriander. Masala Dosa is served at sweets stalls inside Little India in the center of George Town, it’s convenient for travelers to enjoy this cake along with many other specialties.

Masala Dosa is served at sweets stalls inside Little India in the center of George Town

There are countless interesting specialties in the culinary culture of Penang and Malaysia. Let’s plan your trip to Malaysia at the smart travel platform Travelner, to discover all of the beautiful landmarks and unique cuisine of a multicultural country like Malaysia.