I planned a two-day Penang food itinerary for my chef friend, and these are the restaurants that impressed him most. (Left image by @david_dsym. Right image by @jerriexlim.)
Recently, a chef friend came to Penang for a food trip after completing a culinary course in Kuala Lumpur. Before heading home to Korea, he wanted to experience more of Malaysia through its food. Having worked in multiple restaurants overseas, he was someone clearly passionate about cooking and eager to discover authentic local flavours.
Leading up to his trip, we carefully planned the best combination of Penang food spots we could realistically fit into two days, amounting to six memorable meals. These are the three restaurants and eateries that impressed him the most, and why they stood out to him as both a professional chef and an expat experiencing Penang’s food culture.
Wufoo Hokkien Prawn Noodle
Charcoal-cooked broth worth seeking out
Ask any Penangite, and they will have a favourite Hokkien Prawn Noodle place which they stay fiercely loyal to. Mine happens to be Wufoo on Lebuh Katz, conveniently located near the famous Cecil Street Market and tourist hotspots like Hin Bus Depot and the Clan Jetties.
Wufoo Hokkien Prawn Noodle has been around for more than 40 years and is known for its amazing broth, which they cook over a charcoal fire. Step inside the premises, and you will be glad to feel an air-conditioned breeze on your skin. I wouldn’t say that I’m frivolous – it’s just that after a day of sightseeing around sunny George Town, I emphasise that it’s such a relief to have a meal somewhere cool.
The restaurant operates on a semi-buffet model where you pick your own components to add to a basic prawn noodle. There are many options on offer, spanning squid, octopus, cracking (crispy) pork belly, hard-boiled eggs, bean sprouts, innards, and extra shrimp to go with your choice of noodle and broth.
We knew our friend would appreciate the prawn soup stock the most. At Wufoo, prawn shells are simmered for hours to form a good and hearty stock base. This is an integral component of the dish brought over by Chinese immigrants from the Fujian province in China. When he ate it, he instantly knew the hard work and effort it took to produce a broth this flavourful.
Wufoo Hokkien Prawn Noodle
13 Lebuh Katz, George Town (Maps)
Moh Teng Pheow
Traditional Nyonya kueh with nearly a century of heritage
Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay has been around for years, even dating back to the pre-WWII era in 1933. My parents speak of the time when relatives would order large servings of Nyonya kueh (bite-sized sweet or savoury snacks) to cater for wedding festivities and Chinese celebrations, back in the day.
Moh Teng Pheow is a well-known Nyonya kueh shop. It has received a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year since 2022. As featured on the Bib Gourmand website, all their treats are made just as they were back in 1933, when the owner’s father opened a kueh factory.
When you enter the shop, you’ll be greeted by an open kitchen where workers roll out dough, shape titbits, and busily prepare over twenty colourful sweet and savoury desserts which the store serves. All kuehs on offer can be viewed through a glass kiosk. We ordered individual bite-sized kuehs, which were an ideal way to sample many of the delicate morsels that piqued our curiosity.
The interior of the store is beautifully decorated with Peranakan furniture, baking utensils, and tiffin carriers, making it a visually striking place to bring foreign friends to. My friend was intrigued by all the kueh moulds they had on display. Our favourite was the Kuih Kochi – pandan glutinous rice encasing shredded coconut shavings and Gula Melaka. Delicious indeed.
Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay
Jalan Masjid (off Chulia Street), George Town (Maps)
Flower Mulan Nyonya Café
Peranakan cuisine in a beautiful heritage setting
My friend had heard plenty about the Nyonya cuisine scene in Northern Malaysia, which has influences from Thai cuisine to make it spicier, tangier, and heavier. We went to Flower Mulan Nyonya Café for dinner at his request, as he had heard about it from the Michelin Guide. Flower Mulan is a famous Nyonya cafe which tourists seem to hear about.
Diving into the food first, some of the must-order dishes here are their famous Jiu Hu Char, which is a painstakingly made Nyonya staple comprising shredded cuttlefish, carrots, cabbage, pork, Chinese turnips, and aromatics – stir-fried until fragrant. My friend loved the Sambal Stingray for its combination of chilli, tamarind, and aromatic spices, which made the dish the right combination of tangy, sweet, and spicy.
Slightly off-putting to us, however, was the Sago Gula Melaka, which was made using bright blue artificial colouring instead of the natural butterfly pea flower dye. The rendition still tasted good, though.
What really seals the overall package at Flower Mulan is its lavishly decorated interior, which makes the experience of savouring Peranakan cuisine all the more immersive. The owner of the restaurant is a collector of antique Peranakan furniture, which explains the tastefully decorated nooks and crannies filled with lacquered scrolls, art deco painted glass doors, ornate vases, crimson lanterns, and elaborate floral arrangements.
Flower Mulan Nyonya Café
48 Jalan Burma, George Town (Maps)
Watching Penang through the eyes of a chef reminded me that great food is about more than flavour. My friend really enjoyed dining in places that told the story of their humble beginnings and showcased their unique heritage. George Town is full of outstanding eateries that have been around for years, where hawker stalls, dessert shops, and restaurants blend seamlessly into the surrounding heritage city. It’s this mix of good food, history, and character that keeps people coming back for more.
