Just mention the city, ‘Penang’ and you should be thinking of the food as it is one of the great spots to try some delicious dishes. While you could sample some of them as simple street food, you may want to head into a café and enjoy them being handed to you while you sit at a table. You may even want to make a checklist of some of those dishes so you do not miss out on something that previous visitors have raved about. To find some of the best cafes in Penang, look to Tabi Together.
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Oyster Omelet
Should you enjoy your omelets then be sure to try an Oyster Omelette when you head to Penang. Of course, as with many egg-based dishes, there are several ways of preparing an Oyster Omelette. In Penang, this dish is typically served thick, soft, and not too overcooked or rubbery.
For anyone a bit squeamish about seafood, let alone oysters, they may be converted by this dish alone. When cooked in a thick and buttery soft omelette, it could prove to be a revelation. Be prepared to pay extra for it in cafés and when it is served as street food compared to other dishes.
Hokkien Prawn Mee
Seek out a serving of Hokkien Prawn Mee if you enjoy a tasty, rich, and aromatic broth. The dish can be found in several heritage houses that line Beach Street in Penang. The prawn noodle soup has a base in the flavorful and spicy broth that can be created from chili paste and shrimp heads.
Once ready to serve, expect to find full pieces of shrimp as well as lean pork meat, and a few quarters of hard-boiled eggs. In the broth itself, you should find some vermicelli noodles, and a few bean sprouts too so it should be pretty filling. You may even be offered some fried shallot crisps for a topping that offers some great texture to the dish.
Asam Laksa
The term ‘Asam’ means sour in Malay so you should be prepared to get your taste buds in gear. For the dish, that means combining the savory notes of flaked Mackerel with the sourness of Tamarind paste to create a spell-binding dish. Asam Laksa will be served in a bowl full of that delicious broth and topped with a few slices of red chili. Though it should be spicy, it is the sourness that it is most renowned for.
Wantan Mee
You can typically find servings of Wantan Mee across Asia yet it is best served in Penang. This is a relatively simple noodle dish that can be served dry or as a soup. If dry, the noodles will arrive covered in an extra dark sauce and then you have the soup served separately in its own bowl. Most who try the dish believe that the sauce in the dry version is exceptionally decadent and likely to come with more calories than the soup version.
Nasi Lemak
There is a lot to enjoy about a serving of Nasi Lemak. Perhaps it is the delicious nutty flavor from how the rice is cooked in pandan leaves and rich coconut milk. It could be the optional extras that bring a host of flavor like fried peanuts, fried chicken, and Ikan Bilis (anchovies), not to mention the boiled eggs, cucumber slices, and Sambal chili to add some heat. The dish translates to ‘fat rice’ in Malay and is typically served at breakfast which could be a great start to your day.
If you get to a café early enough, you may see a raft of bankers tucking into their own servings before they head to work. A good place to see this is on Beach Street though you can head there a bit later and try your own variety. That could mean a serving with prawns, squid, or salted fish.
Summary
When you do head to Penang, you may want to be guided by your senses. Your sight to show you where the locals are going, your smell to check out which dishes you may enjoy, and, ultimately your sense of taste. The sheer range of delicious dishes that are available to try in Penang is enough to send your taste buds into a frenzy so it may be worth doing your research beforehand. Find out which dishes you like the sound of and which flavours you enjoy then try to find the ones that best match that description, and a few that take your fancy too.
