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Penang is a sanctuary for foodies when it comes to street cuisine. Penang provides a broad variety of delectable foods that are full of flavour and steeped in history thanks to its thriving culinary scene. The street food in Penang is a culinary journey that you don’t want to miss, with dishes ranging from flavorful noodles to cool sweets. In this post, we’ll take you on a tour of Penang’s top 10 street foods, each of which will provide you with a memorable culinary experience.
1. Char Kway Teow
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One of the most famous street food dishes in Penang is Char Kway Teow. This stir-fried noodle dish is a delightful combination of flat rice noodles, shrimp, cockles, bean sprouts, and Chinese sausage, all cooked in a fragrant soy sauce. The smoky flavors from the wok hei (breath of the wok) add a distinctive touch to the dish, making it irresistible to locals and tourists alike.
2. Assam Laksa
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Assam Laksa is another Penang street cuisine that you must taste. Rice noodles, mackerel fish, tamarind, and a savoury broth packed with fragrant herbs and spices are the main ingredients in this acidic and hot noodle soup. You’ll want more of it because of the harmonious combination of flavours, which includes the spiciness of the chilli paste and the sourness of the tamarind.
3. Hokkien Mee
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Hokkien Mee is a popular dish in Penang that combines yellow noodles and rice vermicelli in a fragrant prawn broth. The noodles are stir-fried with prawns, pork slices, bean sprouts, and cabbage, then served with sambal chili paste on the side. The rich flavors and the combination of textures make Hokkien Mee a beloved choice among locals and visitors.
4. Penang Rojak
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Penang Rojak is a tasty and refreshing snack. Various fruits and vegetables, including cucumber, pineapple, jicama, and bean sprouts, are combined in this classic salad and tossed in a tangy prawn paste sauce. Your taste senses will be tantalised by the harmonic balance of sweet, sour, and spicy flavours.
5. Curry Mee
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Curry Mee is a popular breakfast dish in Penang. This hearty soup combines yellow noodles and rice vermicelli in a flavorful coconut-based curry broth. Topped with ingredients like prawns, tofu puffs, cockles, and bean sprouts, Curry Mee offers a burst of flavors and textures that will awaken your senses.
6. Nasi Kandar
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Nasi Kandar is a culinary delight that originated in Penang. It is a meal consisting of steamed rice served with an array of flavorful curries, fried chicken, fish, or beef, and a variety of side dishes. The aromatic spices and the combination of different curries create a symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more.
7. Apam Balik
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In Penang, apam Balik is a well-liked street dish. This sweet pancake, sometimes referred to as a ‘turnover pancake’, is stuffed with crushed peanuts, sweet corn and sugar. The pancake offers a great tactile contrast with its crispy outside and soft inside. It is the ideal treat to sate your craving for sweets.
8. Mee Goreng
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Mee Goreng is a flavorful stir-fried noodle dish that combines yellow noodles with a variety of ingredients such as shrimp, chicken, bean sprouts, and vegetables. The noodles are cooked in a tangy and spicy sauce, resulting in a dish that is packed with robust flavors and a hint of smokiness. Mee Goreng is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
9. Cendol
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No trip to Penang is complete without trying Cendol, a refreshing dessert that will cool you down on a hot day. This dessert consists of pandan-flavored rice flour jelly, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, and kidney beans. The combination of creamy coconut milk and the sweet and fragrant palm sugar syrup creates a delightful treat that is both refreshing and indulgent.
10. Ice Kacang
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Last but not least, indulge in a bowl of Ice Kacang, a colorful and delightful dessert that will satisfy your cravings. Ice Kacang is a shaved ice dessert topped with various ingredients such as sweet corn, red beans, grass jelly, and flavored syrups. It is a perfect combination of textures and flavors, making it a favorite among locals and tourists.