KUALA LUMPUR: Penang’s George Town has been named one of the 10 best street food cities in Asia by international media and hospitality guide Time Out, cementing its status as a world-class destination for culinary travellers.
In its latest roundup dated Sept 8, Time Out placed Penang at the top of the list, praising it as a food paradise where visitors could happily eat street food for the rest of their lives.
Writer Katie Lockhart described George Town as a melting pot of Malay, Chinese, Peranakan and Indian influences, each leaving an imprint on the city’s celebrated food culture.
Among the must-try dishes, she highlighted char kuey teow, which she called the ultimate plate to order on the island.
She also pointed to assam laksa, roti canai and Hokkien mee as classics that capture Penang’s distinctive mix of flavours.
“Good luck asking a local where the best place to try each dish is. You’ll always get a different answer,” the writer quipped.
The recognition comes as no surprise to many Malaysians, with Penang long hailed as the nation’s street food capital and a favourite among international food writers and guides, including the Michelin Guide.
While Penang earned the top spot, the list also celebrated other Asian destinations known for their vibrant food cultures.
Hanoi was commended for its steaming bowls of bun cha and iconic pho, while Singapore was noted for its Unesco-recognised hawker culture and national dish, Hainanese chicken rice.
Mumbai was praised for its bold, spicy snacks like vada pav, Chiang Mai for its khao soi curry noodles, and Tainan in Taiwan for its centuries-old beef soup recipes and bustling night markets.
In Japan, Osaka stood out for its reputation as the nation’s kitchen, famous for takoyaki and okonomiyaki, while Bangkok was described as perhaps Asia’s most iconic street food hub, with its crab omelettes and mango sticky rice.
Phnom Penh, often underrated, made the cut for its fermented rice noodle soups and fiery chilli dishes; while Chengdu rounded off the top 10 as the heart of Sichuan cuisine, renowned for its tongue-tingling mapo tofu and dan dan noodles.
