Penang offers plenty of delicious and cheap Malaysian food, but is famed throughout the rest of the country for some specialities. Penang is an island of countless food stalls, a veritable "food paradise". It is known to many around Asia for its culinary originality and diversity. However, Penangites find good food in many places usually unknown (and even odd) to tourists. A good way to find good food is to ask the locals. Don't be surprised that some stalls that are set up beside a busy road are considered to serve very good food by the locals. Hygiene may be your primary concern but most of the food is clean, so there's really nothing much to worry about. The rule of thumb is to be adventurous with your tongue and to look at the condition of the stall and its surroundings. Generally, if a stall is being patronised by many locals, the food will be safe to eat. If there is a water tap nearby and if the food is served hot, you should not be worried. Don't be fooled by the names: Penang laksa or hokkien mee are quite different from what you'd get in, say, Kuala Lumpur. Topping the list are:

* Hokkien Mee - Two types of noodles in prawn and pork soup with slices of pork, prawns, hard boiled egg, vegetable, beans sprout and sprinkling of deep fried shallots. LHH recommends the stall at Gurney Drive Hawker Centre near the roundabout.

* Assam Laksa - a far cry from the sweet, coconutty Singaporean version, this noodle soup comes with sour broth flavored with tamarind (assam) with pureed fish, fruits, veggies and a generous helping of chili mixed in. Watch out, the combination is powerful and will have the uninitiated breathing fire! Famous assam laksa include Air Itam market, Gottlieb Road, Gurney Drive, etc.

* Penang Char Koay Teow (炒馃条) - a local interpretation of the ubiquitous stir-fried flat rice noodles, tossed with bean sprouts, cockles, and anything else the chef has handy. Eggs are additional and cockles can be opt out if preferred by the customer; request when placing order. Some said the best Char Koay Teow can be found at Lorong Selamat but it costs at least RM5 per plate and that only if you have the patience of a saint to wait for it. Another choice is Macalister Road Sister's Char Koay Teow and the Char Koay Teow in Bukit Emas Restaurant, Seberang Perai.

* Penang Nasi Kandar - white rice (nasi) with anything else that you want with it! Usually served with fried chicken, fried fish, prawns, squid, hardboiled eggs, various vegetables, and a curry (which is poured onto the rice). Be careful though! Taking too many of the 'side dishes' can be quite expensive. Can be found at various places around Georgetown.

* Koay Teow Th'ng - flat rice noodles in clear chicken soup with slices of chicken, pork and fish cake. Garnish with chopped spring onions. Some places have duck meat and other organ meats as extras. Some said the shop in Hutton Lane couple shops opposite Tandoori House is a good choice.

* Kaya (a type of jam) - which is a mixture of eggs and cocount milk to be spread over anything you want and according to some the best kaya is at a little coffee shop at the end of Madras Lane. To impress the locals, order some kaya toast and dip it in some half-boiled egg.

* Coconut tart - If you have eaten egg tart before then instead of the egg put in some coconut and voila! You get coconut tart and definitely the best is at Cintra Lane.

* Cendol - a mixture of blended ice with big mushy red beans with gula melaka (brown sugar) thrown in. This will satisfy anyone even if it is raining. Cendol can be found anywhere but the best is at Penang Road.

* Penang lobak - a mix of deep fried stuffs. One of it is actually called lobak (coarse minced pork and various vegs rolled in tofu skin). Other stuffs are usually stingray, tofu, tofu and shrimp in batter, etc ... (varies in different places) served with two types of dipping sauces (chillie and another type). Famous lorbak is at the coffee shop (junction of Sri Bahari Rd and Penang Rd)

* Penang Sar Hor Fun (炒河粉) - a local dish with koay teow (flat rice cakes) in a delicious broth of beaten eggs and seafood bits. Goes best with prickled green chillies.

* Seafood - As you might expect on an island, seafood is abundant. Head for the fishing village of Teluk Bahang in the north, or go to Batu Maung / Teluk Kumbar in the south for fresh fare at local prices. You can also get good seafood at Batu Ferringhi beach.

* Durian Fruit - Penang's durian is unique in the world. Best way to eat is at the stall. They open the durain for you. You pay what you eat. You don't have to worry about buying rotten durians. Stalls are usually located by the roadside next to durian plantations, like the along road from Teluk Bahang to Balik Pulau, and along the road from Air Itam to Relau. Within Georgetown, there is one at Jalan Anson, opposite Jalan Dunlop, and another along Jalan Macalister.


Breakfast

* Buckingham Street near KOMTAR
* Campbell Street near KOMTAR

Lunch

* Prangin Mall hawker center
* Wawasan Mutiara Nasi Kandar near KOMTAR bus station

Tea time

* New World Park near Chew Thean Yang Aquarium and Sheraton Hotel

Dinner

* Buckingham Street near KOMTAR
* Chulia Street near Kapitan Keling Mosque
* Gurney Drive Hawker Center beside the roundabout at Gurney Drive.
* New Lane near KOMTAR and Sunway Georgetown Hotel
* Pearl Hill near The Toy Museum and Copthorne Hotel
* Red Garden Food Paradise on Leith Street, next to the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion.

Supper

* Mamak stalls along Penang Road offers Indian food such as Roti Canai, Roti Helicopter, Roti Tissue, Mutabak etc.