1. Char Kway Teow
When we checked into our guesthouse they told us we absolutely had to try this dish, even if we didn't try any other street food specialities. So who were we to argue? Char Kway Teow is a stir-fried flat noodle dish in a dark and light soy sauce with either chicken, prawn and egg. You can opt for all three or go without which ever one you don't fancy. It is absolutely delicious and one of my favourite dishes we tried. We had the dish at Kafe Ping Hooi - look for the stall where the owners wear an orange t-shirt. It is only open until 1pm so pop along for an early lunch so you don't miss out. It cost us around a £1 for this dish but you can get it cheaper if you have it without the meat.
2. Wan Tan Mee
This was the first dish we tried in George Town after yet another recommendation from our tour guide. This Cantonese noodle dish is a hot broth filled with prawn dumplings and topped with roast pork and some sort of greens. I couldn't tell you what it was! You can also opt for it dry which means it comes with a soy sauce rather than a broth. We had a great experience eating this as we shared a table with four locals who talked to us about the area and gave us a little insight into the history. We opted for a large bowl to share but I'd recommend you get the smaller size so you can try lots more food. It's pretty filling! We ate at Mother and Son Wan Tan Mee where a large bowl cost us just over a £1.
3. Penang Assam Laksa
I discovered that Laksa is one of my favourite noodle broth so was keen to try the special Penang version. This spicy dish reminded us of mint sauce! Made using tamarind and using a fish base, it has an unusual tangy taste and it certainly an acquired taste. It is a great one for those who don't enjoy too much spice as it was pretty mild. We tried it at The Jetty Food Court.
4. Popiah
Our friends had raved about this but we struggled to track it down until we got to George Town. Hawker stalls always sell out of stuff so sometimes you don't get what you want. Popiah is non-fried fresh spring roll filled to the brim with vegetables such as carrot, bean sprouts and lettuce. We found our stall at The Jetty Food Court near the Chew Jetties. We picked it by random but it was a fantastic choice. They have so many different stalls so there is something for everything. I think we paid less than a £1 for the Popiah - maybe about 80p!
5. Hokkien Mee
This was another dish that our guesthouse recommended for us. Boasting two different types of noodles (rice and egg), this dish with a bit of a kick originates in Penang. Prawn is the main ingredient but you'll also find a hard boiled egg, pork slices and bean sprouts. The hawker will give you some sambal on a spoon which you can mix in. We tried it in a little place opposite the Chew Jetties. You'll know the one as this is the only thing that it sells. It has a few tables inside. There's a stall next door that does some cracking Chinese sausage and spring roll which you can see to the right.
