The inside guide to where to go and what to eat in Penang

Wat Chaya Mangkalaram

Wat Chaya Mangkalaram (or Reclining Buddha Temple)
This typical Buddhist temple of Thai architecture houses a huge goldpainted reclining Buddha measuring 35 metres, one of the longest in Asia. The temple is believed to have started in 1845.

Within the temple, in the niches behind the statue hold urns containing the ashes of devotees who have passed away.

Opening hours: morning to 5:30pm daily.
Location: Lorong Burma.

Where to eat Koay Teow Soup

Where to get Soup Noodles in Penang

Stalls or shops serving a variety of noodles in clear soup. Rice noodles (Koay teow, bi hoon etc) or wheat noodles are served with fishball, meatball, chicken, duck, etc, a combination or specific to one type. 

• Sin Hoe Peng, Lebuh King, road beside Great Eastern, lunch-time.
• Under The Tree (Chiu Chang Ka) Kopitiam, 64 Lorong Ipoh, Jelutong; Morning market hours (near Jelutong Market).
• Hai Oan Coffee Shop, Jalan Burma, near junction of Lorong Macalister, morning.
• Kek Seng Coffee Shop, Jalan Penang, from morning till late afternoon. George Town.
• Sri Weld Food Court, 21 Lebuh Pantai, George Town.
• Kedai Makanan dan Minuman Satu Satu Tiga (Duck Koay Teow) - 113, Malay Street, George Town. Time: 6.30am-3pm
• Pitt Street Koay Teow Thng (Eel fish ball soup) - 183 Lebuh Carnavon, George Town.
• Stall in front of Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop, Kimberly Street, evening
• Queen Hall (Chicken Koay Teow - Halal), Queensway Mall, Bayan Baru.
• Stall at One Corner Cafe, located at the corner of Bawasah Road, behind Penang Plaza, George Town. Morning to mid 3pm.

Rice Meals Malaysian-style

Thinking of eating rice in Penang? ... read on.

Rice is the staple food in Malaysia and Singapore. Most Malaysian take at least one or two rice meal daily. Plain white rice is cooked daily in almost every household. White rice is usually taken with a selection of dishes prepared with meat, fish or vegetables. (note: 'nasi' refers to cooked rice in Malay; 'beras' refers to uncooked rice)

Other than plain white rice, some unique rice meals you can order or buy at eating places or restaurants are:

Nasi Lemak - This is Malaysia's most popular breakfast rice meal. This is rice cooked in coconut milk, served with ikan billies (anchovies), egg, groundnuts and cooked sambal (chilli condiment). Sold usually at roadside stalls by all races in Malaysia (Origin: Malay).  This is a very popular lunch meal too.

Chicken rice is white rice cooked with chicken stock and served with roasted or boiled chicken. Of Chinese origin, stalls selling Chicken rice somtimes also serv roasted duck and pork. You may find Malay stalls (halal) also selling chicken rice or 'nasi ayam' but usually served with deep fried chicken.

Nasi kandar /nasi biryrani  - Nasi biryrani is rice cooked with spices and prepared by placing layers of the spiced rice with pieces of spiced-cooked lamb, mutton or chicken, then garnished with almonds and raisins. Nasi kandar often refers to plain rice or nasi biryani served with an assortment of curry. (available at Indian-Muslim or Malay stalls or restaurants)

Nasi daun pisang (banana leaf rice) - an Indian rice meal served on a banana leave. White rice is served on leaf with an assortment of vegetables, curried meat, fish or vegetables and papadum (crispy cracker made from flour with spices).

Nasi goreng is fried rice. You will find many styles of fried rice in Malaysia.  Rice is fried in various styles by the different communities in Malaysia.

Nasi kunyit - yellow rice, cooked from glutinous rice with coconut milk and turmeric; usualy served with chicken curry (Malay and Nyonya)....Nasi kunyit recipe

Nasi Ulam is often prepared by the Malays and Nyonya communities. It is cooked rice mixed with an assortment of herbs and vegetables, salted fish and dessicated coconut, etc. (similar to this is nasi kerabu)

Pulut inti - glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and served with grated coconut mixed wit palm sugar (brown sugar).

Rice is also popularly made into Malaysian kueh. Rice and glutonous rice are often wrapped in banana leaves or other palm leaves, then boiled, steam or toasted over charcoal fire.

Where to eat Penang Laksa

Penang Laksa
laksa is rice noodles garnish with vegetables and served in a spicy, sour fish flake light gravy.
Laksa is of Malay origin but the Nonyas have their own version - (Penang Laksa). This is certainly Malaysia's unique dish and the most popular noodle dish. It is rounded rice noodles (similar to but thinner than Japanese Odon noodles) served with gravy made from fish flakes and rich spices. The dish is garnished with vegetables and is certainly a healthy dish not cooked with oil.

Popular Penang Laksa............

•  Air Itam Market (beside fruit stalls), Air Itam
• Kedai Kopi Genting, Island Glades, Loring Delima 6, off Jalan Yap Choy Yee; morning and afternoon
• Balik Pulau Market
• Today Café, Lebuh Perak, near traffic light; afternoon
• Loke Pin Café, 72 Anson Road, George Town
• Joo Hooi Café, junction of Penang Road with Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town
• Nam Kuang coffee shop, Balik Pulau
• Stall at Hawker centre, Jalan Johor, beside Datuk Kramat Padang (Padang Brown). 
• Kek Seng, 384 Penang Road (opposite KOMTAR), George Town
• One Corner food court, laksa stall, behind Penang Plaza, George Town
• Assam Laksa Wan Li ; Stall next to Tua Pek Kong temple, Jawi town. Open noon-6pm.
• Stall at 6, Jalan Seri Aman 1, Pusat Perniagaan Seri Aman, SG. BAKAP

How to make Penang Laksa here......