In this series, Expedia highlights the best food to try in each city, as recommended by locals who have lived & tasted it. Read on to find out\u00a0the most popular local dishes and the best places you should go to try them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Find Out\u00a0More About\u00a0Asia’s Greatest Food Cities<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Jump to Cities: \u00a0\u00a0Bangkok<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Hanoi<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Hong Kong<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Osaka<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Penang<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Seoul<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Singapore<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Taipei<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Laksa mania.\u00a0Home of the nonya dishes by the Straits-Chinese in Malaysia, featuring\u00a0beautiful fusion Asian flavours<\/em><\/p>\n Aromatic white rice with curry ladled over it, and lots of ingredients on the side.\u00a0Nasi<\/em>\u00a0means rice, and\u00a0kandar<\/em>\u00a0means balance \u2013 a reference to the old days when hawkers would balance a pole over their shoulders, with containers at either end holding rice meals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n (Photo CC2.0;\u00a0Krista<\/a>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Penang is famous for the full flavours of the hearty Nasi Kandar, which has Indian roots. Deep-fried chicken, sliced beef, fish roe, vegetables in sauce, brinjal, okra (ladies\u2019 finger) are some of the usual suspects you will have with your rice. You should heap this onto the rice for\u00a0banjir<\/em>\u00a0(flooding). Flooding your rice is how you get a nice rich flavor and a good mix of your favourite ingredients.<\/p>\n When you get to Penang, make a beeline for\u00a0Merlin Nasi Kandar<\/strong>\u00a0in George Town. It\u2019s a standalone Nasi Kandar restaurant in the coffeeshop of Merlin Hotel, at the corner of Union Street and Penang Street. The locals love it, so you know it\u2019s the real deal.<\/p>\n The usual fish, beef and chicken curries deliver the promise of spiciness. The only tasty exception is the hard-boiled egg curry, which is a little sweet. Try those and toss in some brinjal and other vegetables. Have some icy cold drinks ready to wash down the heat dancing on your tongue.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n (Photo CC2.0:\u00a0amrufm<\/a>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Alternatively,\u00a0head to one of the oldest Nasi Kandar stalls.\u00a0Line Clear Nasi Kandar<\/strong>\u00a0is an authentic Malaysian-style street stall, located near Chulia Street. It runs 24 hours a day.<\/p>\n Merlin Nasi Kandar<\/strong><\/em> Nasi Kandar Line Clear<\/em><\/strong> Oh Laksa. One of the shining stars of food in Southeast Asia. Penang Laksa is a sour, fish-based variation, quite different from the laksa you would find in Singapore. Penang\u2019s\u00a0asam<\/em>\u00a0(sour) laksa \u00a0involves spicy soup, noodles and a mix of Chinese-Malayan ingredients. Hollywood actor Mel Gibson once named Laksa as his favourite food in the world.<\/p>\n There is a certain home-cooked goodness to laksa, particularly at the street stalls and humble family-run restaurants in Penang. Shrimp, shallots, garlic are some of the staples that go with the fish broth.<\/p>\n Air Itam Asam Laksa <\/p>\n An iconic street food in Penang, its name literally means \u201cstir-fried rice cake strips\u201d. This flat rice noodle dish is accompanied with shrimps, assorted seafood and duck eggs. No char koay teow is complete without deep-fried, crispy pork lard.<\/p>\n An authentic char koay teow is fried skilfully in pork fat and soy sauce, chili and belachan (fermented shrimp paste) on charcoal stoves skillfully to create a distinctive \u2018wok-hei\u2019 taste – with a hint of smoky and caramelised flavour. In Penang, it\u2019s not uncommon to find your char koay teow served on a piece of banana leaf.<\/p>\n A household name for serving some of the most famous char koay teows in Penang, opt for Duck Egg when you at Ah Leng Char Koay Teow<\/strong>. It has a special creaminess in the duck yolks that cannot be replicated anywhere else. Prawns are served generously, and each plate is fried individually so the \u2018wok hei\u2019 aroma is not scrimped.<\/p>\n Ah Leng Char Koay Teow <\/p>\n While Singapore has our own rendition of Fried Oyster Omelette, Penang\u2019s oh chien<\/em> is still one of a kind. The dish is made with potato starch fried with eggs and oysters that produces a lighter and crispier finish. The oh chien<\/em> is accompanied either with spicy chilli sauce or chilli garlic sauce. This is one guilty pleasure you cannot miss when you are in Penang.<\/p>\n Kedai Kopi Lam Ah<\/strong>\u2019s oh chien are decidedly crispier than most. The generous portions of fresh oysters adds to the texture of this street side dish!<\/p>\n Kedai Kopi Lam Ah <\/p>\n You can\u2019t complete a Penang food trail without sampling Penang\u2019s signature dessert. Cendol is a mishmash of green jelly \u2018noodles\u2019 in shaved ice mixed with coconut milk, gula melaka, and red beans. It could sometimes also include glutinous rice, grass jelly, and creamed corn.<\/p>\n This family-run business attracts both locals and tourists alike throughout their opening hours. Because it is a small makeshift stall, customers are willing to even stand around the stall just to have a taste of this cold, milky and caramelised chendol.<\/p>\n Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul <\/p>\n Made just for foodies, Expedia’s travel deals now helps you\u00a0travel to Asia’s Greatest Food Cities<\/a>\u00a0for less. Save on flights and hotels when you travel to any of these 8 cities before May 2015.\u00a0Check out the latest deals to carve your own food trail through Asia. Happy belly, happy traveller.<\/p>\n
\n
\nBest Food in Penang, Malaysia<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/h3>\n
Must Eat in Penang #1: Nasi Kandar<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"nasi-kandar-penang-food\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/nasi-kandar-penang-food.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBest Nasi Kandar in Penang:<\/h4>\n
![\"Nasi](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/nasi-kandar-penang.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nMerlin Hotel, 10200 Pulau Pinang<\/em>
\nMerlin Hotel, Lebuh Union<\/em>
\n+60 4-264 2826<\/em><\/p>\n
\nJalan Penang, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia<\/em>
\n+60 4-261 4440<\/em><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
Must Eat in Penang #2<\/strong>: Asam Laksa<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Penang](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/penang-asam-laksa.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBest Asam Laksa in Penang:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n<\/em><\/strong>Air Itam Market Pasar Road\u00a0 (Beside the Air Itam Market)<\/em>
\n11500 Air Itam Penang<\/em><\/p>\nMust Eat in Penang #3:\u00a0<\/strong>Char Koay Teow<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/iStock-653823346-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBest Char Koay Teow\u00a0in Penang:<\/h4>\n
\n<\/strong><\/em>Jalan Dato Keramat, Kampung Makam, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia<\/em>
\n +60 12-498 3962<\/em><\/p>\nMust Eat in Penang #4:\u00a0<\/strong>Fried Oyster Omelette (Oh Chien)<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/iStock-653822810-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBest Oh Chien in Penang: Kedai Kopi Lam Ah<\/h4>\n
\n<\/strong><\/em>194, Lebuh Pantai, Off Chulia Street, 10300, George Town, Penang<\/em>
\n10:30am-4:30pm, closed on Sundays<\/em><\/p>\nMust Eat in Penang #5:\u00a0<\/strong>Cendol<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/iStock-533721134-scaled.jpg\")
<\/h4>\nBest Oh Chien in Penang: Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul<\/h4>\n
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/a>27 & 29 Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10100<\/em>
\n+60 4-262 6002
\nMon-Fri – 10:30am – 7pm | Sat-Sun – 10am – 7:30pm<\/em><\/p>\n
\nReady to Eat?<\/h2>\n
![\"Exp_Asias-Greatest-Cities_532x299\"](\"https:\/\/www.expedia.com.sg\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Exp_Asias-Greatest-Cities_532x299.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n