Top 5 Must-Try Street Foods in Penang!
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Penang, Malaysia, is renowned for its vibrant street food scene, reflecting a blend of Malay, Chinese, and Indian culinary traditions. Here are the top 5 street foods you must try in Penang:
### 1. **Char Kway Teow**
Char Kway Teow is one of Penang’s most famous dishes. This stir-fried flat noodle dish is typically cooked over high heat with shrimp, bloody cockles, Chinese lap cheong (sausage), bean sprouts, eggs, and chives, all in a smoky soy sauce. The intense heat of the wok, known as “wok hei,” gives the noodles a distinct, charred flavor that is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
### 2. **Assam Laksa**
Penang Assam Laksa is a tangy, spicy noodle soup with a tamarind-based broth, which gives it a distinctive sour taste. The soup is made with mackerel fish, lemongrass, chilies, and shrimp paste. It’s typically served with thick rice noodles, cucumber, pineapple, onions, mint leaves, and a spoonful of thick prawn paste (har ko) on top, adding a sweet and savory depth to the soup.
### 3. **Hokkien Mee**
Also known as Prawn Mee, Hokkien Mee is a flavorful noodle soup made with a rich, aromatic broth derived from slow-cooked prawn heads and shells. It is usually served with a combination of yellow egg noodles and rice vermicelli, topped with prawns, pork slices, fish cakes, bean sprouts, boiled eggs, and fried shallots. Some vendors also add pork ribs or intestines for added richness.
### 4. **Char Koay Kak**
Char Koay Kak is a savory dish made from radish cake, stir-fried with eggs, bean sprouts, chives, and preserved radish in a dark soy sauce. It’s similar to Char Kway Teow but uses cubed rice cakes instead of flat noodles, giving it a unique texture and flavor profile. It’s a popular choice for breakfast or a quick snack.
### 5. **Nasi Kandar**
Originating from Penang’s Indian Muslim community, Nasi Kandar is a mixed rice dish served with a variety of side dishes such as fried chicken, beef rendang, fish curry, fried prawns, and okra, among others. The highlight of Nasi Kandar is the “banjir” style, where the rice is flooded with a mixture of different curries, creating a rich and flavorful meal.
These street foods are a must-try for anyone visiting Penang, offering a delicious insight into the island’s diverse culinary heritage.
