It goes without saying that Penang is known as the food paradise in Malaysia. Most living near the island would even travel all the way to Penang for a weekend food trip. Sadly, with a trip to Penang from KL taking at least 4 hours by car, most of us don’t have the luxury to travel every time our char kuey teow or curry mee cravings creep in.
Here are 5 places in Klang Valley to get an authentic taste of Penang.
Penang Food in KL & Selangor
1. Penang Corner
As the name suggests, Penang Corner serves classic, authentic Penang dishes that can’t go wrong. A few of the famous Penang hawker food to try here are curry mee, lor bak, char kuey teow, and of course, their signature Hokkien prawn mee.
The bright orange hue of the prawn stock is the result of long hours of boiling. Each spoonful of the soup comes with slight hints of spiciness, followed by the sweetness of prawn. If you’re only here for the prawn mee, be sure to only come on weekends as that’s when the dish is available.
📍 Lot 28 , Gerai 28B Jalan Besar Kepong Baru Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 8am – 4pm, closed on Monday
2. Lim Sisters Restaurant
You can find a Penang food stall located inside Lim Sisters Restaurant that serves the best Penang food in KL. In terms of taste, price, and portion, everything offered at the stall is just like the hawker foods found in Penang: delicious, cheap, and served in small portions.
Most customers flock here for the Penang Hokkien prawn mee, curry mee, and lor mee. A bowl of prawn mee here is as cheap as RM4! One thing to note is that the restaurant hosts many hawker stalls under one roof, so it may get a little crowded during peak hours.
📍 25, Jalan 3/36, Taman Sri Bintang, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 8am – 3pm, closed on Monday
3. Soon Lee Prawn Mee
Known to serve the best prawn mee in KL, Soon Lee Prawn Mee is no stranger to those who love Penang food. The humble stall located near The Store Jalan Ipoh has even been frequented by many famous Hong Kong celebrities.
Many have praised the thick prawn flavor in their soup and the use of fresh prawns. Add a few dollops of their homemade sambal and you’ll get an even more flavorful soup with a spicy kick.
Though prawn mee is the signature dish, we think their char kuey teow that’s packed with intense wok hei and fresh cockles deserves a share of the spotlight too. So don’t forget to give the char kuey teow a try while you’re here.
📍 34, 22, Jalan Batu Ambar, Taman Kok Lian, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 2pm – 11pm, Everyday
4. Chew Jetty Penang Chiak
Chew Jetty Penang Chiak showcases authentic Penang cuisine in a comfortable and rather nostalgic environment. From the interior to their food, dining here would instantly teleport you to the famous Chew Jetty in Penang. Apart from main dishes such as prawn mee, curry mee, and chee cheong fun, you can also get local desserts like cendol here.
As the only air-conditioned eatery on this list, the price for Chew Jetty Penang Chiak is slightly higher. However, we wouldn’t mind visiting when our Penang food cravings hit on a blazing hot day.
📍 3-36A, Jalan Desa 2/4, Desa Aman Puri, 52100 Kepong, Selangor
⏰ 8am – 2.30pm, closed on Monday
5. Kedai Makan Besty Best
Operated by 3 sisters from Penang since 1993, Kedai Makan Besty Best has an extensive menu with various Penang noodle dishes you can dig into. One of the must-tries here is their Penang white curry mee, which is a pretty rare find in KL.
A bowl of white curry mee here is filled to the brim with soup and ingredients such as taupok, shredded chicken, and char siew. Non-spicy eaters would love the original, mildly spicy yet rich flavors of the soup. Spice addicts can also enjoy the dish by adding their free-flow handmade sambal for extra spiciness.
Be sure to arrive earlier as their white curry mee is often sold out by noon!
📍 1, Jalan SG 3/4, Taman Sri Gombak, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor
⏰ 6am – 2.30pm, closed on Sunday
Final Thoughts
There’s something special about the way food triggers memories. Food, specifically the aromas in food, can bring up memories of not only places but even people, events, and so much more.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a homesick Penang lang living in KL, or simply a KL lang who misses Penang food, we hope this list of Penang food in KL can bring comfort, nostalgia, and satisfaction to your taste buds.
A Malaysian foodie who’s proud of our local hawker culture. Always on the hunt for the best char kuay teow and nasi lemak.