Penang Food Tour Char Kway Teow — *Char Kway Teow is one of my favorite dishes to eat in Penang, or Malaysia as a whole*

Welcome my fellow foodies to the street food capital of Malaysia, Penang! Penang Island is famous for having some of the best street food in Malaysian from the Peranakan classics of Char Kway Teow and Penang Laksa, to Heritage Chinese Restaurants like Tek Sen, to beloved Teochew favorites like Chendul. You’d be forgiven if you feel overwhelmed, but never fear, I have a few suggestions for the best Penang food tours to help get you started!

In this blog post are 3 of the most delicious street food tours in Penang, I’ve been on some of these tours myself and I can guarantee that these food tours are high quality and give you lots of chances to EAT (the most important part). So I can assure you that these tours are ones that I wholeheartedly recommend.

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My YouTube Video on Penang Street Food

If you need convincing as to why Penang is the best place in Malaysia for food, you can watch my YouTube video on eating through George Town. Also, I have a few other videos on eating and traveling in Malaysia so check that out if you wish and if you enjoy the video how about subscribing to my YouTube Channel? ;)

Why Take a Food Tour in Penang?

George Town Penang Island Malaysia — *George Town is a melting pot of cultures, Chinese, Indian, Malay, etc…*

Penang Island is known as the street food capital of Malaysia and it is here where you can find a melting pot of foods that have been influenced by generations of immigrants and culture. Much of that street food is concentrated in George Town (check out my George Town Travel Guide), the capital of Penang Island.

For me, the reason to join a Penang food tour is that there are so many hawker stalls, night markets, generational family run restaurants, and kopitiams (coffee shops) scattered across George Town and beyond, and it’s incredibly easy to get lost due to so many options. That’s why I recommend joining a Penang Food Tour, so you can eat some of the best street food in Penang like iconic Peranakan dishes like Char Kway Teow, Roti Canai, Penang Laksa, and Chendul.

And since George Town is a city full of cultural influences from nations like China, India, and even Armenia, joining the best Penang food tours will also give you the opportunity to learn about the deep cultural background and history of the island, thanks to the many knowledgeable tour guides. And it might just be the nerd in me saying this, but the cooking techniques and ingredients behind some of the street food dishes tell a rather touching story about Malaysia’s history.

What to Look for in a Food Tour in Penang?

Penang Roti Bakar Hutton Lane — *A plate of Roti Canai with chicken curry for breakfast at Roti Bakar Hutton Lane*

You should spend some time to consider what Penang food tour is right for you. There are so many tours to choose from so it helps to know what to look for such as the types of foods, the tour group size, dietary restrictions, location, etc… Below, I’ll share some important details to consider when choosing a Penang food tour.

What Foods are Included in the Penang Food Tour?

Penang Tok Tok Mee egg Noodle Soup — *A soothing bowl of egg noodles at Tok Tok Mee*

Of course the most important aspect to consider when booking any Penang food tour is well… the foods that are on offer. A lot of the tours focus on the culinary highlights, like the aforementioned Char Kway Teow or Penang Laksa, and you’ll often have plenty of chances for tastings (15+ dishes). BUT, Penang isn’t a one trick pony, look for tours that offer a diverse array of dishes from different cultures like, Indian curries, Chinese stir fries, and classic Malay noodles. So one of the most important things for any Penang Food Tour is the variety of foods.

If you’re new to street food in Penang you can check out my guide for the best street food in Penang.

Another thing to consider is the location of your Penang food tour, George Town is a small enough city where you can traverse and sample all the main street foods in Penang within a day, but just north of the George Town is the Air Itam Suburb where you can find major tourist attractions like Penang Hill, the Kek Lok Si Temple, and must-eat Penang street food dishes like the famous Air Itam Assam Laksa. Unfortunately not a lot of tours go to this area, unless it is a customized private tour (which I’ll talk about later).

Dietary Concerns in These Penang Food Tours

penang street food lok lok — *Street side hotpot Lok Lok skewers are everywhere in Penang*

Of course if this applies to you, you’ll need to consider dietary restrictions when booking a food tour in Penang. You’ll be eating a lot of street food and that means that there is little room to accommodate all types of dietary restrictions. Many traditional dishes in Penang contain ingredients like shrimp paste, lard, or soy sauces, which can prove difficult for vegetarians, vegans, or those of you with seafood allergies for example.

Most (if not all) Penang food tours do NOT accommodate the following dietary needs:

Vegetarians or vegans
Pescatarians or no pork diets
Gluten free
Dairy free
Peanut allergies or any other severe food allergies

That said, some tours offer vegetarian-friendly alternatives like Penang laksa or roti canai with dhal. Every tour operator is different so be sure to double check with your tour guide about your dietary concerns, the local tour guides will accommodate your needs whenever possible. But in general, if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies and you go on these Penang food tours, you will miss out on a lot of tastings as local street food vendors often won’t have ingredient substitutions and aren’t willing to omit certain ingredients as that can severely affect the flavor.

Knowledgeable and English Speaking Tour Guides

penang street food kimberley street food night market braised duck kway chap noodles — *A large pot of braised meats at Kimberley Street Food Night Market*

All of my recommended Penang food tours below have English speaking guides, and that very knowledgeable ones at that. Because eating is only half the experience, the other half is learning about the history and culture that shaped the dish to become what it is today. A good tour guide should be able to explain the cultural roots behind each dish, share local food customs, and even tell personal stories about the vendors and neighborhoods.

On one of my Penang food tours for example, we were eating some Hokkien Mee (rich prawn broth noodle soup) and the guide explained to us the deep roots of this dish relating to the Chinese Hokkien immigrants that came to Penang from the Fujian province of China during the late 19th century. Little stories like this really enhances the eating experience and makes you appreciate the dishes even more.

Morning vs. Evening Food Tours in Penang

penang street food morning kopi roti bakar hutton lane — *Nothing beats a nice cup of Kopi in the morning*

Another consideration is the time of these food tours in Penang, as you’ll see below I’ve provided a morning and evening food tour. This difference dictates what kind of foods you’ll be tasting. Morning tours often focus on local breakfast favorites like Kopi (coffee), Kaya Toast, Dim sum, and dishes like Roti Canai that locals love to start their day with, such as the highly popular Roti Bakar Hutton Lane. Though note that you’ll also be able to sample heartier dishes come lunch time.

Evening food tours in Penang, on the other hand, focus more on the night markets like Kimberley Street and its vibrant hawker food stalls. So plenty of hearty and greasy dishes like Char Kway Teow, or Duck Kway Chap Noodles. You won’t have the chance to sample morning breakfast Kopitiam culture but this is often replaced with dessert options.

In my opinion, if you want a slower paced environment and the chance to learn about daily life in the locals in Penang, the morning Penang food tours are what you should be looking for. For straight up eating and a more fast paced atmosphere, the evening food tours are for you.

Private vs. Group Penang Food Tours

George town penang armenian street turkish coffee — *Armenian Street in George Town showcases Penang’s multi-cultural atmosphere*

Finally we’ve come to the discussion of private vs group food tours in Penang. Most if not all of these tours are limited to 8 people. It’s just not possible to bring a larger group around to try one street food vendor, too much hassle and chaos.

I’ll start with group tours, this can be a fun way to meet fellow foodies but they are also often accompanied by a slower pace, longer waiter times, and less chance for personalized interactions from the tour guides, this can be troublesome if you have dietary needs for example as group tours don’t usually accommodate everyone’s needs.

Private Penang food tours give you more flexibility and a personalized experience. You can customize your routes or specifically ask the guide where or what you want to eat. Private tours also offer more chances to interact directly with hawkers and to explore lesser known area. While private tours are often more expensive, I feel like the experience is worth it and that’s why I always recommend a private tour. It’s just more enjoyable in my opinion.

Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings

This Penang Plates Food Tour with 15 Tastings is a solid 4 hour-ish walking tour that brings you all around George Town to try some of the best street food in Penang. The tour starts at around the late afternoon (4PM or 5PM, your choice) and ends at night, this is however a private tour/small group tour limited to only 8 people, which for me is perfect because you can take the tour at your own pace and can more fully enjoy the Penang street foods

As the name suggests, you’ll get a chance to sample over 15 different Penang street food dishes and snacks, often at locations that are off the beaten path or less frequent by tourists. Expect local Peranakan favorites like: Hokkien Char (smokey stir fried noodles with shrimp), Lok Lok (street side hot pot basically), Nyonya Kueh (traditional sweets and cakes), and even taste some Indian cuisines like curries and Banana Leaf Thalis (Indian curries and bread served on a banana leaf).

One thing I really appreciated about this Penang food tour was the tour guide, as I said before he or she could make or break the tour. Fortunately, my guide, Ms. Grace, was super! Very friendly and knowledgeable about the history behind the dishes I got to try. And despite a lot of these Penang Food Tours not accommodating dietary restrictions, Ms. Grace was very caring towards that issue.

Also not to mention that water is provided, a must for a walking tour such as this one.

Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings Price and Value

The price is very reasonable at around $48 USD per adult, considering the amount of food that you’ll be eating, combined with the knowledge and know how of your guide, this Penang Food Tour is well worth it in my eyes. 15+ dishes for $48? That’s maximum $3 per dish, plus a tour guide, great value.

Book the Penang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings now!

Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings

While the previous Penang Food Tour was during the evening, the street food scene in Penang is completely different during the morning and you’ll get to experience that with this Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings. I believe that this tour is operated by the same company as the one above, but despite that similarity, the foods you’ll get to try are completely different. This is a 4 hour Penang Food Tour that starts at 9AM to 10AM (your choice) and ends in the afternoon. Same deal, small group or private tour up to 8 people.

Now the interesting part, the food. Instead of curries and heavy stir fries, you’ll be sampling Penang’s breakfast and lunch culture. So dishes like Thick Kaya Toast (toast lathered with coconut pandan jam), Dim Sum (yes it’s a big thing in Penang), Kopi (Malaysian coffee), Chendul (shaved Ice, check out Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul for the best one), Penang Laksa (rice noodles in either curry or mackerel soup), and many many more morning delights.

Like the Penang Food Tour above, you’ll be exploring hidden street food gems or stalls that are only known by locals, and that’s the best part about going on guided street food tours like this, the ability to explore deeper into a city’s food culture.

Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings Price and Value

The Good Morning Penang Food Tour is similar in pricing to the above tour, $45 USD per adult and again for 15+ dishes, the value is substantial. However one little thing to note (if you are really technical) is that these morning Penang Street Food dishes are lighter on your stomach, like a piece of kaya toast compared to a plate of Hokkien Char, to me these are two different eating experiences and I still think it’s worth it for the price.

Book the Good Morning Penang Food Tour with 15+ Tastings now!

Penang Cooking Class with PenangChiak

penang food tour Penang Cooking Class by PenangChiak — *Learn how to make delicious Penang street food so that you can make it back home for your family!*

Ok, shifting gears to something different, if you want to go even deeper into Penang’s street food scene and eating the best street food in Penang isn’t enough for you, then the Penang Cooking Class by PenangChiak is something you might be interested in.

Firstly, you have the option between 4 classes tackling different types of cuisines and each class differs in what dishes you’ll be cooking: Peranakan/Nyonya, Chinese Hakwer, Indian, and Malay.

Then there are 2 time slots for this Penang Cooking Class, morning and afternoon, with the morning class, you’ll be able to visit a local market with your class to buy FRESH ingredients like vegetables, spices, and meats. Also a breakfast is included as well as a hotel pickup. Morning classes are 5 hours, while afternoon classes are 4 hours.

In terms of what you’ll be cooking, it’s some of the best street food in Penang. Here are some sample menu items offered by the Penang Chiak Cooking Class: Nyonya Kuih Pai Tee (crispy cup with savory fillings), Char Koay Teow (wok fried noodles), Roti Canai (flatbread with curry), Masala Chicken (spiced chicken curry), Penang Hokkien Mee (stir fried seafood noodles), Fish Head Curry (a spicy curry with fish heads), and many more…

Penang Cooking Class with PenangChiak Price and Value

At around $95 USD, It’s a well priced cooking class considering you also get fun visit to the morning market as well as an included breakfast and hotel pickup. The afternoon classes, however is a bit less of a good value considering the price is the same but you don’t get the market experience.

Also I think the most valuable thing of all is the fact that you get to bring this knowledge back home so that you can cook up some Master Chef (well depending on your skill) level Penang street food for your family.

Book The Penang Cooking Class with PenangChiak Now!

Tips for Eating Street Food in Penang

george town kimberley street chicken noodle soup street food — *Street food vendors preparing a bowl of chicken noodle soup*

If this is your first time trying street food in Penang here are some useful tips to help you prepare and make your Penang food tour experience more enjoyable

Come hungry and pace yourself: Try small portions at several stalls to experience more flavors without getting too full.
Cash only: Most hawkers and street food vendors don’t accept credit cards or mobile payments, so bring enough cash, small denominations is preferable as some vendors won’t have change.
Bring hand sanitizer and tissues: In Penang, public restrooms can be hard to find, and tissues or napkins are even harder to find, so these come in handy when you need to clean your hands or use the toilet.
Be adventurous: I know my first time trying street food in Penang, I’ve encountered some strange flavors I’ve never had before, but don’t be afraid, be adventurous and try new things! You might find a new favorite dish.
Wear comfy shoes: There will be a lot of walking
Stay cool and hydrated: Penang is hot at all times of the year, wear light clothing, bring some water, and maybe those portable electric fans that is popular in Asia nowadays.

Looking for Things to Do in Penang?

TOP Penang - 249 meter tall observation point atop Komtar Tower, tallest in George Town
Entopia Butterfly Farm - A large farm with over 15,000 butterflies and 200 plant species
ESCAPE Penang - Water park with the world record for Longest Tube Water Slide at 1,111 meters
Discounted Tickets - Browse a variety of attractions, tours, and transports all for a great price

Useful Resources for Traveling in Malaysia

Tourism Information - All the information you need when travelling in Malaysia
Private Airport Transfers - Private transfer from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to the city
KLIA Ekspress Ticket - Ticket for the KLIA transfer via express train