THE BEST TO EAT IN GEORGE TOWN
MOHAMED BASYIR writes about delicious dishes in Penang’s heritage area
PENANG is a city of heritage with many murals and historical buildings. One can spend a few hours touring the George Town Heritage Site and taking Instagramable photos.
The state is also famous for its street food culture, which is a mix of traditional and modern dishes.
Here are our recommended places to eat in the heart of the heritage zone:
1. FRUITMADE
If you are looking not only to eat unique looking ice-cream but also to take gorgeous photos with it, then this is the place you should go.
Your favourite flavours of icecream are presented on top of local fruits to give a different fusion taste to pamper your taste buds.
The fruits used for the icecream change every two months.
For this month, they are offering chocolate banana with mint lassi. The price of the ice-cream is RM7.50. LOCATION: 6, Lebuh Cannon, 10200 George Town, Penang. OPERATING HOURS: Opens daily, 10am to 6pm.
2. RESTAURANT MAJ CAPATI
If you want to have breakfast or lunch, then this is the place you must go before starting your journey around the heritage zone.
The homemade capati, with the assortment of curries, is one you should start your day with.
However, one must have patience when in this shop as understandably, it is usually packed in the morning.
But all your wait is worth it once you tuck into the soft fluffy capati accompanied with mutton — a must. The price may be quite steep for some but worry not, it is worth every sen.
LOCATION: 30, Lebuh Ah Quee, 10300 George Town, Penang. OPERATING HOURS: Opens daily except Sundays, 7am to 7pm.
3. PENANG FAMOUS SAMOSA
Want something to eat while walking through the heritage zone? Then, the traditional snacks sold here are the answer.
Its samosa is made from dough, which is cut into small pieces and stuffed with a savoury spicy filling, including curry paste, potatoes and onions.
They also sell other traditional Indian delicacies, but the samosa is what people crave for most when they come to this streetside stall.
The basic samosa is filled with potatoes, but if you want to walk away with a full tummy then do try those with chicken and mutton fillings.
Definitely a satisfactory onthe-go snack, which starts from a mere 60 sen for the potato samosa. LOCATION: No. 45, Lebuh Queen, 10200 George Town, Penang. OPERATING HOURS: Opens daily, 8.30am to 8pm.
4. TEA KADAI
Yes, this is a tea shop, but it is not an ordinary tea shop. It is special and traditional — one must sit down and have a sip.
They offer traditional coffees as well, but all their teas and coffees come with additional flavours, including vanilla and hazelnut.
Just sit down, order a glass of tea and chit chat with your friends at this clean comfy shop, while helping yourself to other dishes.
LOCATION: 68, Lebuh Queen, 10200 George Town, Penang. OPERATING HOURS: Opens daily except the final Tuesday of the month, 10.30am to 10.30pm.
5. KAMBLI'S BUBUR CORNER
This is a traditional Indian-Muslim hot desserts shop, which has been run by a family over four generations using the same authentic recipe.
The interesting part of this stall is that it sells different porridge every day.
For Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, it serves peanut porridge. There is wheat porridge on Fridays and their hot selling black glutinous rice on Wednesdays.
Price starts at a mere RM1.50 if you want to eat there by the roadside, or just add another 20 sen if you want to take away.
LOCATION: Jalan Datuk Koyah, 10050 George Town, Penang. OPERATING HOURS: Opens daily except Saturday and Sunday, from 1.30pm to 6pm.
6. PENANG ‘AIS TINGKAP’
“Ais Tingkap”, or also known as Window Sherbet, is the best drink to have on a hot afternoon to cool oneself down.
This is just not an ordinary rose syrup, but shaved ice topped with basil seeds and coconut flesh.
These days, they even sell it with lychee and lemon toppings for those who want something different for a change.
It is an icy cold drink for any cool tourist to try on any sunny day!
LOCATION: 2, Lebuh Tamil, 10100 George Town, Penang.
OPERATING HOURS: Opens daily from 11am to 7pm.
7. APOM BALIK JALAN KUALA KANGSAR
A roadside stall with humble and friendly owners selling pancakes. It is as simple as that.
But why is this shop interesting, you may ask? This is one of a kind banana-filled pancakes (apom balik) sold for a mere RM1.80 per piece.
The apom balik is always served hot and crispy because they bake it fresh upon order. The fillings are quite generous.
Taste this one and you will come back for more, for sure. LOCATION: Jalan Kuala Kangsar, 10450 George Town, Penang. OPERATING HOURS: Monday to Friday, 7am to 10.30am, 2.15pm to 4.30pm, Saturday, 7am to 11am, closed on Sundays.
8. PENANG ROAD FAMOUS TEOCHEW CENDOL
Our list is never complete without this one, for sure. One will never ever ignore the craving to taste the all-time favourite, Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol.
The queue to order a cup of cendol is quite long, especially during school holidays, but fear not, their service is quite quick. So you will not have to stand too long under the sun.
Every cup is carefully filled with shaved ice, pandan jelly and also coconut milk, together with the main flavour, the gula melaka, of course.
So if you happen to be in George Town, head to Penang Road to get your cendol fix, to cool down after your heritage adventure.
LOCATION: Jalan Penang, 10450 George Town, Penang. OPERATING HOURS: Opens daily from 10.30am to 7pm.