Now that international travel is pretty much back to normal – and sans the hassle of pre-departure testing or having to quarantine yourself upon arrival – long weekend escapes to neighbouring cities are picking up in popularity again. If you consider yourself a foodie and are pondering your next destination, we suggest booking a flight to Penang.
The vibrant Malaysian city is known for its veritable feast of scrumptious street eats, alongside hole-in-the-wall bars and upscale cuisine. While there are countless places to choose from, here are a few notable joints – selling everything from smoky char kway teow and slurp-worthy kway chap to tangy laska and crispy roti prata – that you can use as a starting point to plan your culinary adventures.
One thing to note for these establishments – and other popular street food stalls in general – is that the opening hours you’ll find online aren’t exactly reliable. Vendors often tend to sell out well before the stated closing time, so get there early to avoid disappointment. Quite a few spots also open in the early morning and close after lunchtime.