Penang Food

Penang Laksa

Penang is famous for it's Assam Laksa. In fact it's taste is unique to Penang because of the pungent Hae Ko sauce made of fermented shrimp paste and the bite from the sour pineapples.Strangely enough I haven't had laksa in a long time so I don't have any pics yet, but I shall endeavour to eat some soon!Laksa is also a big cause for gastritis and diarrhoea(probably why penangites don't eat it that often!)...so beware of where you eat the laksa from. The ones in Gurney Drive are not bad but are catered more for tourists.

Good dollop of thick Hay Koo (Fermented Shrimp Paste) adds the zing to the Laksa. The laksa sauce is super thick and nice to the last drop. This one is the sour Penang Assam Laksa. What can I say, it's unique, the sweet and sour fish based soup really has a bite. Crunchy cucumber slices and tangy pineapple adds to the amazing texture of this simple, classic dish.

Penang Tau Sar Peah

Penang's tau sar peah is legendary and spoken of in the same breath as Kuala Kangsar's pau (dumpling) and Kampar's chicken biscuits. Indeed, conversations about Penang food inevitably turns to the celebrated Penang tau sar peah. For Penangites who work outside the state (and even those who live overseas) and return for periodic sojourns to their beloved hometown, the tau sar peah is invariably among the items that line their bags when they depart.

Traditionally, the tau sar actually refers to the red bean paste found in the cookies. The red beans are cooked with sugar until they become mushy and turn a shade of very dark magenta. But given the several varieties of peah (biscuit/cookie) on the market, the term tau sar is also confusingly used to describe the whitish green pea paste, or pek tau sar. Then there's the mung bean variety, or lek tau and also lotus bean paste. In Penang, tau sar peah is synonymous with Tambun peah as both are made from the same core ingredients, but differ slightly in shape. Either way, you are assured of cookies that are delightfully mouth-watering and delicious.

When buying tau sar peah, try and get a batch that's fresh out of the oven. Although the cookies retain their freshness for several days without refrigeration, it is when they are still warm that eating them becomes an incomparable experience. Although purists will tell you that the best tau sar peah is made with lard, there are equally tasty varieties made with vegetable oil. There is even a halal (permitted by Islam) variety for Muslims and a vegetable-based one for vegetarians.

Penang Char Koay Teoh

A classic Penang hawker food specialty. You have not tasted REAL char koay teoh until you have come to Penang. Penang CKT is the gold standard! You can see the bean sprouts and slightly charred flat noodles.
This is the signature hawker dish of Penang. A simple plate of stir fried flat noodles with seafood, egg, bean sprouts, chilly and soy sauce.Now anybody can fry noodles but it's that special combination of taste and spices that makes it so special.I like the CKT in Bee Hooi coffee shop at night in Pulau Tikus. The Sister's CKT in Macalister road is overated in my humble opinion.

Batu Feringgi, Penang

The beach is what Batu Feringgi is famous for. On a relative scale, the beach may not be as gorgeous as those found on some islands off Peninsular Malayisa, but you get a wide mix of conveniences and facilities that make staying in Batu Feringgi a highly-accessible and easy vacation. Also, the scenic backdrops of large granite boulders, fine sand, lush vegetation and calm waters make this the perfect place to enjoy the sea and surf.
Because Batu Feringgi is a very popular spot, it does get crowded, especially during the peak visitor seasons. The water can get slightly murky but it will still be overall warm and inviting to swim in, but just don't expect crystal-clear sights to the depths of the sea bed. The beach, however, is coated with lots of fine sand, making it a nice place to walk on and sun-bathe. It's also reasonably clean.

What gives Batu Feringgi its oomph is the atmosphere; scores of restaurants, watering holes, resorts and recreational places give the beach a party-like feel.
There are a few seafood and international restaurants that serve delicious food, while you mix and mingle around with locals and international visitors alike.

A lot of water sports such as jet-skiing, banana boating and parasailing goes on, and visitors can engage in such activities through the many vendors situated on the beach with their shaded stalls. However, visitors who just want to swim peacefully can be assured that floating buoys are placed strategically around swimming areas to cordon off all the water sport activity. Along the road fronting the beach, there are large numbers of shops that provide modern conveniences such as groceries, mobile phones and souvenirs. Annually in June, there is a large fiesta on the beach which features food promotions, beach activities, cultural parades, parties and inter-hotel competitions.

Snake Temple, Penang

The Snake temple in Penang is probably the only one of its kind in the world. Built in 1850, the Snake temple. Every year, thousands of devotees make a trip to the temple during the birthday celebrations of the resident deity, Chor Soo Kong which occurs thrice yearly, on the 6th days of the first, sixth and eleventh months of the lunar calendar respectively. Legend has it, that Chor Soo Kong a Chinese monk, who was also a healer, gave shelter to the snakes of jungle, after the completion of the temple, snakes appeared on their own accord.

Located at Sungai Kluang near Bayan Lepas airport in the Penang Island, the snake temple is a safe haven for pit vipers that are said to be the “servants” of the deity. Although pit vipers are known to be venomous and aggressive, those in the temple appear docile. These poisonous snakes, coiled round the pillars or beams around the temple are believed to be made drowsy by the smoke of the burning incense. However, today the snake population of the Temple of the Azure Cloud is very small, due to the urbanization of the area which disturbed the natural habitat of the snakes.

A corridor beside the temple houses several cages with fully grown vipers. Just next to these cages is a small altar bearing the Deity of Prosperity & Moral.
Admission is freeOpening Hours: 6am - 7pmDepending on traffic situations, a bus ride from Komtar to the snake temple should take about 30 minutes, a taxi will cost you around RM25.