Asam laksa is tangy and spicy, it’ll keep you wanting more.Known as the Pearl of the Orient, Penang island is a popular destination with international tourists and locals from other states as well.
Situated right next to Gurney Plaza since relocating there in 2006, Penang Gurney Drive Hawker Centre fulfils the need of any foodie looking for local fare in one place.
This hawker centre brings together the foods that make Penang the food heaven it is.
The crowds that throng the stalls are a testament to how good the food is. Parking may be a hassle but getting there early (before 6pm) would help with getting a good parking spot.
Bring along this guide by HungryGoWhere, and also don’t forget the Penang food gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family!
Pasembor is sweet, spicy and nutty. Just like us.Pasembor
Pasembor is the Malaysian version of a salad that consists of various shredded vegetables such as cucumber and turnip.
Additional ingredients such as fried bean curd, bean sprouts, prawn fritters, seafood (squid, anyone?) can be added at your discretion.
All this is served in a spicy and sweet nutty sauce. Our pasembor was RM15 and at this particular stall, other than pasembor, you can get a serving of tasty rojak as well.
Asam laksa
No.11 Asam Laksa only serves asam laksa but you can choose between small (RM4) or big (RM5) portions and with or without “har kou” (prawn paste).
It may not appeal to everyone’s tastebuds, but “har kou” is definitely recommended because it adds a sweetness and depth to balance out the tanginess of the asam.
Add-ons such as fishballs are available at a small additional cost.
Some say they prefer the siput duri to the lofty escargot.Siput duri
Penang is surrounded by the sea so seafood is a must-have! Go all out and have siput duri which is difficult to find outside of Penang.
At this stall, the siput duri was boiled and skewers were given to fish out the flesh. It took a bit of elbow grease to pick out the flesh but it was worth it.
The fresh shellfish is served with chilli sauce and didn’t taste or smell fishy at all!
Oyster omelette, chew on this!Oyster omelette
Oh Chien (fried oyster) is another must-have seafood on Penang island. Available in small (RM10) and large (RM15) portions, this great source of zinc is fried with egg, spring onions, and pickled radish. Served with chilli sauce, this dish didn’t have the metallic smell and taste because it was so fresh!
Hokkien mee
Hokkien mee or prawn mee as it’s known to people outside of Penang, is a cult favourite. Only one portion size is available at RM5 a bowl but additional noodles can be asked for.
Crushed shellfish make up this savoury broth for the Hokkien mee.The broth was savoury and slightly sweet with the definite flavour of the prawns it was cooked in.
Gurney Drive has everything a local or tourist would want to eat, for more suggestions, check out the full article here at Top 10 Things To Eat at Gurney Drive. If you wander elsewhere, maybe taste the rainbow with seven types of rice in one sitting at Nasi 7 Benua at Bayan Lepas, Penang. – August 14, 2015.
If good food is your passion, then HungryGoWhere is your perennial kaki makan. Get access to one of the most comprehensive online Malaysian food guides available, and bring us along everywhere you go by downloading our mobile application, available on iOS and Android.
Comments
Please refrain from nicknames or comments of a racist, sexist, personal, vulgar or derogatory nature, or you may risk being blocked from commenting in our website. We encourage commenters to use their real names as their username. As comments are moderated, they may not appear immediately or even on the same day you posted them. We also reserve the right to delete off-topic comments