Penang is the Street Food Capital of Malaysia

Posted on November 3rd, 2009 by Peter in

The state of Penang, Malaysia is located on the northwest coast of the country and is known for its interesting history and cultural heritage. George Town is the historic capital of Penang and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This is largely due to the unique architecture style of the town and its unparalleled nature. There is not another cultural townscape equal to George Town throughout East and Southeast Asia. There are many things to do and see while visiting Penang and one of the great aspects of this Malaysian state is that great food can be found throughout right outside most houses and hotel rooms. It is affectionately known as the food capital of Malaysia its unique culinary offerings are found in street side cafes.

Street food is popular in many Asian countries and cultures so it is a high honor to be regarded as the capital of this culinary genre. Most of the food stalls gain part of their uniqueness because of their excellent combination of Indian, Malay, Chinese and Nyonya flavors. This is reflective of this cultural influences and populations in Penang and creates a lively island taste that is unique to Penang. One of the more popular street offerings that is found throughout Penang is what is known as hawker food . It is sold and eaten along the roadside and generally consists of a rice or noodle base with fresh seafood.

Another interesting aspect that many tourists staying in one of the hotels Penang may be interested in knowing is that George Town is not only a World Heritage Site it was also the setting for the films Anna and the King and Indochine. Anna and the King was filmed in 1999 and starred Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat. It was directed by Andy Tennant and won Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction. Indochine is a French film that was made in 1992. It is set in the 1930s and was directed by Regis Wargnier.

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  2. The Best of Malaysian Cuisine, Singapore 2009

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