From the renowned Char Koay Teow (Rice noodles) to Wonton Noodles, Penang consists of several local dishes that are delectable and can hardly be found elsewhere. Whenever we bring up the conversation of local food in Penang, popular options such as Curry Mee, Hokkien Mee, Roti Canai, Chee Cheong Fun, and Nasi Lemak are the common items on our list.

Penang has received a good reputation as a food paradise in Asia. While it’s an undeniable fact that this Pearl of the Orient serves many good foods, it’s still important to know where to locate the best place for each famous dish above.

Today, we would like to bring your attention to a Coffee Shop that would arouse your taste bud on an exceptional level. Named after its street, Kedai Kopi Malabar (新路茶餐室) opens on weekdays and Saturday (from 8am to 7pm) with a list of scrumptious food that you can’t afford to miss upon your visitation.

Strategically located at the conspicuous place where people can easily navigate the shop by just making a turn to the road of Kampung Malabar, this Kopitiam, with its modest outlook, sells foods of superlative choices. Roll your drum as we’re going to present each of them to you in this article.

1. Chinese Rice Dumpling (罗氏粽子世家)

The Lor’s family has been selling authentic rice dumplings back in the days when the forebears were still in China. 80 years later, now passing down to the 4th generation in Penang, their rice dumplings are still experiencing welcoming popularity among the locals as the taste they serve is simply bona fide. On top of that, their glutinous rice comes with various flavours based on different needs. For instance, red bean paste, meats, mung bean paste, and Taro cake are some of the popular preferences from the customers. If you’re interested to try them out, you may visit the stall anytime from 12pm to 6pm, but be prepared to wait as the queue can be long sometimes.

2. Hup Kee Bamboo Noodle (合记竹昇面)

Another famous stall that you shouldn’t miss goes to Hup Kee Bamboo Noodles. Similar to the Wanton Mee with a distinctive noodle type, their Bamboo Noodles are more durable and the shrimp wantons served alongside can give the eaters a satisfying mouthfeel upon the first bite. Some customers would just order a few wantons with soup as a side dish. Be sure to check them out whenever you’re at Kedai Kopi Malabar.

3. Char Koay Teow (炒粿条)

It’s a common habit where tourists would travel to Penang for Char Koay Teow. While the taste quality may differ from one another based on the location that you’re visiting, the Char Koay Teows in Penang, in general, are delicious in different ways. The same theory applies to the Char Koay Teow stall in Kedai Kopi Malabar too. Although they sell salted fish and original fried rice, customers claim to prefer their Char Koay Teow as the taste given is simply wholesome. They open from 8am to 4pm, so please feel free to give them a try if you identify yourself as a Char Koay Teow fan.

4. Fried Noodles (翰记炒粉)

Last but not least, we have a stall with various fried noodle options. Ranging from Char Hor Fun, Hokkien Char, Hainan Char, Mee Sua Gor, Yee Mee, to Hong Tu Mee, the noodles came with the localized sensation that would escalate your love towards local food. Among all the list above, many claim the Hainan Char as the most popular choice which has made this stall another deserving selection for you.

5. Homemade Coffee (自制咖啡)

(Image credit: @Kampungmalabar)

A cup of coffee with a plate of roti bakar is always the best combination ever! Out of many drinks on the menu, their coffee came to the top of the list. Not only that the owner himself has a passion for examining different formulas, but his innovative idea in mixing the local coffee powder with robusta beans is also one of the most successful makings to date! Thus, it’s not a surprise that they have customers from other states coming over to get their coffee before a long journey back. To top it up, their good reputation has even been spread to other countries such as China, Taiwan, and Japan, so there’s no excuse for you to order their coffee for drinks when visiting this coffee shop.

Being defined as one of the world’s top eating destinations, Penang consists of street food and hawker stalls that serve you top-notched food at a cheaper rate. Whether you’re a Penangite or tourist, do drop by Kedai Kopi Malabar and eat like a local. We hope to see you there next time!

Contact information:
Address: 55 Kampung Malabar 10100 George Town, Penang, Malaysia.
Tel: +6011-3324 5902
Operating Hours: 8am- 7pm (closed on Sunday)
Social Media: Facebook