Be proud, Penangites! Your humble state has been voted as Lonely Planet’s top culinary spot for the year of 2014!
The commissioning editor at Lonely Planet, Robin Barton, said that even though Malaysian hawker food has spread worldwide through “food trucks and pop-ups”, nothing compares with the experience of eating in Penang.
“Its food reflects the intermingling of the many cultures that arrived after it was set up as a trading port in 1786, from Malays to Indians, Acehnese to Chinese, Burmese to Thais. State capital George Town is its culinary epicentre,” he said.
Barton specified that char koay teow, Hokkien mee and asam laksa as the three must-eat foods when you visit Penang.
When asked about the best place to try these foods, he answered, “Explore the sprawling Esplanade Food Centre, where hawker faves combine favourably with a seafront location.”
Additionally, he also urged tourists to visit the night markets for some of Penang’s best delicacies and tasty treats.
“A pasar malam is an open-air night market – such as Jelutong on a Friday and Macallum Street Market on a Monday. The highlight is always the food,” he said.
For drinks, Barton recommended the air Bandung, which is a drink consisting of rose syrup and evaporated milk.
“Try Nazlina Spice Station, a cookery school which also offers guided tours of food markets,” he added.
For a list of places to visit for food when in Penang, check out our post here!
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