Where to Find the World's Best Street Food

Filed in archive Dining on December 14, 2007

Penang, Malaysia is known for its colonial history and for being part of Malaysia's economic boom. It is most famous for something else, though. It's street food. In Penang, street food is more of a religion than an industry. Here's a synopsis of the city's best dishes.



Malaysia's diverse population is evident in its cuisine. The most well known dish in Penang, at least amongst locals, is Laksa. This spicy and sour stew is made hearty with thick noodles and tamarind based broth. Another traditional Malay dish is satay, skewered and barbecued meat.

Virtually every type of Chinese cuisine is also represented in Penang. Hokkien Mee is a mixture of rice and egg noodles and seafood. Hearty Indian curries and, of course, sweet tropical fruit based deserts join the list of choices.

Is it clean, you ask? At a street stall you can see what is being cooked and how clean the work area is. Have you ever seen a kitchen at a normal restaurant? Use good judgment when choosing where to eat (a place with lots of local customers is usually a good bet). Then forget about it an dig in.

Any main artery, Penang Road, Macalistar Road, Lorong Selamat, is a good place to start your street food adventures (map). Many stalls are within a few blocks of Penang's central bus station. There are also food courts, known as "hawker centers," in or around many of Penang's shopping malls.

If you love to eat, you'll love Penang.