Now if there’s one thing we can all agree upon is good food. Putting aside, culture or anything that makes different with one another, if the food is worth queuing for, we’re there! It’s no different when it comes to nasi melayu and we’ve got top 10 Best Nasi Melayu in Penang you need to check out asap!
Top 10 Best Nasi Melayu In Penang
Malay food is a common staple enjoyed by locals in Malaysia thanks to its amazing flavors. Herbs and spices like ginger, garlic, lemongrass, and chilies are used to create a distinctive and vibrant cuisine. The style and taste of Malay food can vary depending on its geographical location – the ones in the northern states tend to be spicier with fresh and dried spices prepped to create special ‘rempah’. So if you’re into delicious ‘rempah’ and spicy taste, do check out these great spots in Penang!
#1 Fishhead Curry @ Noor Bee
Located right beside Ah Wang Cafe, Noor Bee is a small shop with nothing but a few plastic tables accompanied by plastic chairs serving nothing but the best Fish Head Curry that vanishes as the clock hits 12 (head early if you have your eyes on the head). If the foods good, Penangites will be spotted no matter the race, and Noor Bee has been winning hearts serving authentic Malay dishes at an economical price range and the favorites of many for cooking crispy chickens, tangy yet complementing salads(kerabu as we know it) and whole lotta choices of gravy to choose from. Fan of pineapple curry? Try theirs and you will be!
Hours: 8.15am to 3 am. Closed on Sundays
Phone: 013-744 0511
Read on: 10 Best And Unique Apom In Penang
#2 Nasi Campur Awet Muda
No foods tastiness can be compared to home-cooked meals except for here at Awet Muda as all the dishes here are cooked just like the way you eat at home and customers swear by this! Though slightly pricier than other nasi Melayu restaurants, they’ve gladly earned their spot in the hearts of the people with their quality and authenticity. From a variety of curries to Ikan Bakar (grilled fish) and ulam with belacan (Malay salad), the options are endless thus one way to satisfy yourself is to arrive empty handed! We personally opt for their Sweet Free-range chicken (Gulai Ayam kampung) and sweet catfish sambal (gulai ikan semilang), one of a kind! For those who have no clue, located right opposite the USM KFC, you’ll recognize the spot on the left with a crowd during breakfast and lunch hour!
#3 Amieza D’Village Nasi Melayu
Stumbled upon this beauty with the help of a few college students hawking for cheap yet filling lunch, Amieza D’Village Nasi Melayu managed by the most kind-hearted lady at the counter, serves fresh Malay economical rice to hungry patrons beginning to queue at 11.30am leaving nothing but bones and few drops of curry for the 1.45pm crowd. It’s the end of the month and you have 6 ringgit in your wallet. Rice, fried chicken with lots of fried crumbs, cabbage, and a salted egg with as much belacan you want wouldn’t cost more than RM6, try me! Teh’o Limau Ais is the best way to gulp it all down 🙂
#4 Lidiana Nasi Campur
Address: 11200 Tanjong Bungah, Penang
Hours: 7 AM to 9 PM. Closed on Sundays
#5 Minah Restaurant
Hand-cooked by a 64 year’s old lady, Minah Restaurant is a favorite among the young and old ones since 1957. Ask anybody and their Fish Head Curry cooked with the freshest of fish and coconut milk is the crowd pleaser. Though the taste of the dishes here was not as to die for when Minah (the owner herself) was alive, it doesn’t one way or another compensate with their effort to stick to their traditional recipes. Hence, if you haven’t given this legacy a try, it’s about time you tell us whatcha think! We opt for the Fish head curry (duh), mutton kurma, bergedil (Malay-style croquettes) and some ABC as a sweet a lil treat!
Address: Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Taman Tun Sardon, 11700 Gelugor, Pulau Pinang
#6 Syazana Nasi Melayu
As an island state, seafood is almost always expected to be plentiful, fresh and reasonably priced so it is quite common to see ikan bakar stalls here. We are here on nasi campur but let’s take a minute to appreciate the marinated fish that is then barbecued over a charcoal fire.Ikan bakar with ulam(fresh greens), belacan and rice. That’s as simple as it can get with Malay-style of eating and we are nothing but digging this 🙂 Serving a dizzying variety of dishes from deep fried fish and chicken to braised beef and of course, ikan bakar, this place is usually crowded and the ikan bakar is quite limited so do go early before it is all snapped up by noon.
#7 Idrus Ikan Bakar @ Batu Uban
This is an article on the best nasi melayu in Penang and with the same concept as Chinese economy rice, the difference is the taste and way of cooking the dishes. It can be economy rice as long as the budget is less than RM10 and you get a fair share of greens, meat, and gravy on the table right?
Located strategically at the row of modern Malay warung along Lebuhraya Tun Lim Chong Eu, near to the Marine Police Base. Idrus Ikan Bakar is popular for serving Ikan Bakar with Tomyam, Ikan 3 Rasa (Sweet, Sour, and Spicy Fish), Fried Squid, Fried Mushrooms, Salted Egg Soft Shell Crabs and the much sought after Shell Out Seafood Platter. The more the merrier and cheaper. So tag along with your friends, get hungry, indulge in a fresh delight and this might your favorite chu cha restaurant!
#8 Pak Yusoff Nasi Melayu
Due to its location, Pak Yusoff has managed to entice all kind of ethnicity with his wonderful cooking skills. Penangites don’t fall easily unless the food it dies for and Pak Yusoff drives in a crowd so you can tell their lauk (dishes) it’s on fire. Located right in front of the Kafe Seahorse, the only rule at this nasi melayu campur spot is to get here early to have a variety of rendang to kichap Ayam, from fried fish to pounded green chili fish. Yummmmm!
Address: George Town, Jalan Macalister, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone: 012-511 4164
#9 Nasi Campur Permia Tepian
In that area and got no clue where to head? Nasi Campur Permia Tepian located across the main island is the talk of the town! With over 30 dishes to choose from, you’re filled with authentic nasi melayu that includes salted fish,petai, squid egg and all those weird things people seem to enjoy, yeap, this is your spot (we’re weird too) he grilled fish is amazing and an even perfect match with the sambal belacan (prawn paste). Other highlights include the chilli paste petai with prawn, gado-gado, fried mixed vegetables, deep-fried chicken and kerabu. Oh and the rice served here is on a free flow. Win-win all the way.
Address: Jalan Permatang Nibong, Kampung Pertama, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Hours: 10 AM to 3 PM.Opens daily
#10 Asam Pedas Premier
They’ve got the ulam, the spicy sambal belacan, the variety of meat or seafood options? Nasi Campur ay? Sort of! Planted in One Precinct Bayan Baru, Assam Pedas Premier is the place to be if you’re looking to charm your taste buds with authentic bowls of assam pedas.
With the price varying according to the selection of fish – stingray, mackerel and kembong line up as contenders, this place offers set meals for the foodies which include salted egg, spicy sambal belacan, and ulam. The combination of flavors downright delivers in each spoonful, thus you’ll be surprised, in a blink of an eye the bowl is polished clean. Their Nasi Lemak ayam berempah could be a reason for you visit!
Read also: Top 10 Nasi Kandar in Penang
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