15 Best Halal Food In Penang: Muslim-friendly Restaurants Serving Yummy Local Food!

Jacey Hen

Last updated 21 Mar 2024

Photo Credit: @bellazahirzain, @juneythefoodie, @khaerollkun (Instagram)

Go On A Halal Food Hunt In Penang!

The island of Penang is literally a foodie haven in Malaysia - from flavourful Malaysian street food to plates of mouthwatering char kuey teow, Penang has got it all. However, with so many good recommendations scattered all across the island, it may be a little hard to pick out Muslim-friendly options. Well, worry not! We've done our research and have compiled this complete list of the best halal food and restaurants in Penang that you should definitely try out while you're here.

Save Up To 49% Off With Penang Food Deals On Klook!

15 Best Halal Food Restaurants In Penang

1. Roti Canai Transfer Road

The roti canai stall on Transfer Road has been a classic stop for both locals and tourists alike, since it started operating here two decades ago. We can't think of a better combo than pairing your roti here with the stall's aromatic and spicy chicken curry, and completing your meal with a cup of sweet teh tarik. Their roti bakar topped with half-boiled eggs are also our absolute favourites for the perfect breakfast choice!

Address: 110-114, Jalan Transfer, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang

2. Nasi Padang Minang Transfer Road

Along Transfer Road is another absolute gem in the shape of a nasi padang Minang stall. Located in a coffee shop named Kedai Kopi International Hotel, the stall serves homecooked Minang dishes and steamed rice in the style of the Indonesian Minangkabau cuisine from Padang. It can get quite crowded during the peak hour at lunch time, so we definitely recommend going early before the main dishes run out!

Address: 92, Jalan Transfer, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang

3. Deens Maju Nasi Kandar

Brace yourself for a little bit of queueing under the sun just to enjoy nasi kandar from Deens Maju, but we promise you, it'll definitely be worth it! A huge favourite amongst both locals and foreigners, the restaurant is famous for their nasi kandar, a beautiful (and very delicious) mess of curries, sambal and meat. The service here is also super fast - your plate of rice will be served within seconds and the queue also goes by really quickly.

Address: 170, Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang

4. Hameed Pata Special Mee Sotong

Located in the Esplanade Park Food Court, the Hameed Pata Mee Sotong stall is the place to go to for one of the island's best mee sotong. At just RM5, you'll get to enjoy a plate of their famous fried noodles cooked with sambal squid, freshly fried upon your order. Each bite you take is sweet and a little bit spicy, and even better when you pair it with a glass of coconut shake from the stall next door.

Address: 5, Esplanade Park, Lebuh Light, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang

5. Bee Hwa Cafe

If you're looking for halal Chinese food in Penang, Bee Hwa Cafe is definitely at the top of our list. This traditional kopitiam has been serving halal Hainanese cuisine for the last couple of decades, and if you're looking for a good bowl of flavourful white curry mee, prawn mee or authentic Penang char kuey teow, this is the right place to be at to satisfy all your cravings.

Address: 10, Lebuh Dickens, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang

6. Laksa Janggus

Take a short trip to the quieter Southwest region of Penang Island and visit Balik Pulau, a quaint town worthy of a visit, and also home to one of the best Malay laksas in town, Laksa Janggus. Established for over 25 years ago, the stall has become one of the most popular halal food choices on the island. Each bowl is a flavourful delight, filled with laksa noodles and fish pieces. We also recommend trying out the stall's pisang goreng as well!

Address: 338 MK, I, Kampung Perlis, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang

Join A Guided Tour Around The Villages Of Balik Pulau Here!

7. Nasi 7 Benua Koo Boo Cafe

The Nasi 7 Benua from Koo Boo Cafe in Bayan Lepas is one of our favourite dishes on the island. This fun dish is prepared with using 7 different rice, namely white rice, tomato rice, nasi lemak, nasi minyak, nasi lamuni, nasi hujan panas and nasi kacang, which you will then top off with your choice of curries, meats and vegetables. We love that end product is a colourful platter that isn't just pleasing to the eye, but also one that is superbly delicious.

Address: Jalan Tun Dr Awang, Taman Tunas Muda, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang

8. Cargas Café Nasi Campur

You can never go wrong with Malay-style nasi campur and Cargas Cafe in Bayan Lepas definitely serves one of the best in Penang, with a variety of dishes cooked fresh daily. Packed throughout the day with customers, we recommend booking a seat first before queueing up to order. Do try their fried chicken (it's a crowd favourite!), stingray gulai, fish curry, sambal belacan and many more!

Address: 978, Main Road, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang

9. Hameediyah Restaurant

Hameediyah Restaurant is no stranger to the locals here, as well as to any nasi kandar fan, especially with the fact that they've been in business for over a 100 years, making the eatery the oldest nasi kandar seller in Penang and remains strongly as one of the best! Some of their signature dishes we'd personally recommend are the duck curry, beef rendang, ayam kapitan as well as mutton kurma.

Address: 164, Lebuh Campbell, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang

10. Kareem Pasembur Rojak

Calling out to all fans of pasembur! Find yourself at Kareem Pasembur Rojak, a streetside stall serving reasonably priced, yet hearty portions of pasembur. Be spoilt for choice as you pick from the wide variety of fried prawn crackers, fish cakes, fish balls, tofu, squid and more here, for you to enjoy together with the stall's very own thick and flavourful homemade spicy sauce.

Address: 7, Lebuh Union, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang

11. Nasi Melayu Lidiana

Located in the Tanjung Bungah food court, Nasi Melayu Lidiana is also known as the Nasi Melayu Masjid Terapung, as the stall is right opposite Penang's very own floating mosque. Offering more than the typical economy rice stall, the stall serves an extensive spread of dishes for you to choose from. Some of the dishes you can expect are different types of ulam, kerabu, fried fish, prawns, curries and more!

Address: Medan Selera Tanjung Bungah, Pesiaran Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang

12. Restoran Kapitan

Nestled along Penang's busy Chulia Street, the legendary Restoran Kapitan is a must-visit to satisfy your cravings for Indian Muslim food, especially tandoori chicken. This halal Indian restaurant is best known for their claypot biryani, which you can top off with your dish of choice such as mutton and fish, but we definitely would recommend their signature flavourful and well-roasted tandoori chicken.

Address: 93, Chulia Street, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang

13. Lagenda House and Cafe

Look forward to trying out traditional Malay recipes with a twist at Lagenda House and Cafe. Established in honour of Penang's beloved musician and actor P. Ramlee, dig into local and fusion dishes here as you listen to his nostalgic music being played in the background. Some of our recommendations would be their signature rice sets with side dishes uniquely served in congkak game boards, the Indonesian Gado-Gado, as well as the Banana Bakar.

Address: 2, Campbell Street, Lebuh Carnarvon, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang

14. Sup Hameed

Warm up your bellies with a wholesome bowl of soup at Sup Hameed, a humble halal eatery in Penang known for their famous soups. The restaurant is the perfect place to stop by for a quick meal - each bowl of soup here is served with a side of two soft roti slices. As for the soup menu itself, there are many types offered here, from flavourful oxtail or beef tongue soups, to the homely chicken or quail ones.

Address: 48, Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang

15. Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu

Situated at the ground floor of a low-cost flat in Ayer Itam, you should definitely try out Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu if you're on a hunt for more outlets serving yummy nasi kandar in Penang. This underrated Muslim-owned eatery may not be known by many Malaysians, but its a personal favourite of many Penangites. Their ingredients are all made from scratch and prepared fresh daily - we'd recommend their fried chicken and squid curry, as well as a side of ladies finger to go with your rice.