About This Tour

What makes Penang the "food capital" of Malaysia? Simply Enak will guide you through the cultural fusion that created dishes you'll only find here. At Chowrasta Market, we'll dare you to try kopitiam "Ngor Ka Sai".

Penang is known in Malaysia as the food capital and what better way than to eat your way through the street food this island has to offer? As we walk past the monuments of Penang we take a step back to the time when Penang was formed as a settlement.

Great For

✓ First-time visitors to Penang

✓ Food lovers who have heard about Penang's food capital status

✓ Families — suitable for all ages

✓ Solo travellers — small groups make it easy

✓ Anyone who wants to eat their way through Penang

Your Tour Itinerary

Meet at Mydin Penang Road

Meet your guide at Mydin supermarket on Penang Road, a short walk from George Town's main heritage attractions. From here we head toward the historic Chowrasta Market.

Mydin is a Malaysian hypermarket chain, but this particular branch sits at the crossroads of old and new Penang — steps away from the island's oldest market.

Chowrasta Market — Penang's Food Soul

Walk through Chowrasta Market, Penang's oldest market, where vendors have been selling fresh produce, spices, seafood and local specialities since the 1800s. Watch master craftsmen handcraft popiah skin and sample exotic fruits.

Taste: popiah, local tropical fruits, ngor ka sai (signature nutmeg pickles)

Chowrasta Market opened in 1890 and has been the heart of Penang's food scene ever since. The name 'Chowrasta' means 'four roads' in Hindi, referring to its original crossroad location.

Kopitiam Breakfast — Roti and Kopi

Sit down at a traditional kopitiam for a proper Penang breakfast. Watch the roti master stretch and flip roti Chennai paper-thin, and wash it down with a strong cup of kopi-O.

Taste: Roti Chennai, kopi-O, ngor ka sai

The kopitiam culture in Penang is uniquely Peranakan — a fusion of Chinese, Malay and Nyonya influences that you won't find anywhere else in Malaysia.

Penang Street Food Walk — Laksa and Nasi Lemak

Walk through the streets of George Town stopping at legendary hawker stalls. Taste Penang Laksa with its tangy tamarind-based broth, alongside creamy Nasi Lemak and other local favourites.

Taste: Penang Laksa, Nasi Lemak, curry mee

Penang Laksa — also called Asam Laksa — uses mackerel fish broth flavoured with tamarind, lemongrass and torch ginger. It's a dish that polarises visitors: you either love it or it takes some getting used to.

Heritage Walk — Monuments and Stories

Walk past the monuments and colonial buildings of George Town as your guide shares the stories of how Penang was formed as a settlement. Learn about the Peranakan culture and its influence on the island's food.

George Town was founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company. The city's UNESCO World Heritage status protects its unique blend of Asian and colonial architecture.

Kuih Tasting and Farewell

End the tour with a tasting of colourful Peranakan kuey — sweet, coconut-based desserts that are as beautiful as they are tasty. Your guide shares tips for the rest of your time in Penang.

Taste: kuey lapis, ondeh-ondeh, pulut inti

Nyonya kuih — traditional Peranakan sweets — are made from ingredients like coconut milk, pandan leaves, glutinous rice and gula Melaka (palm sugar). Each kuih tells a story of cultural adaptation.