Are you looking for best Penang night market? One of the most overlooked aspects of tourism in East Asian countries is the night market or street bazaar. It is an open-air street fair that takes place at night and has specialty food stalls as well as sellers of other goods and entertainment. They are a popular gathering place for residents and visitors alike because of their informal carnival-like atmosphere.
In Taiwan and China, the street bazaar plays an important cultural role in people’s lives, even today. However, in other countries in Southeast Asia, many tourists overlook the street bazaar’s status as a staple of the nightlife of the region. Countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and yes, even Malaysia have excellent street bazaars. In this article, we look at the best Penang night markets. If you visit Penang, be sure not to miss these spots!
1. Monday – Macallum Street Night Market
Image credit: @danielw & @nenekchngOf course, no street bazaar would be complete without a huge and delicious variety of street food, and Macallum is no exception. Find delicious Char Kuey Teow, scrumptious Apam Balik and unbeatable Satay at this market. More unusual foods such as waffles, pancakes, bean curd, fried cake (it’s tastier than it sounds!), and fried chicken may also be found here.
Address: Lintang Macallum 1, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating hours: 5pm – 10:30pm (Monday)
2. Tuesday – Tanjung Bungah Night Market
Image credit: @jaysimon & @lailalu
This is one of the smaller Penang night market, comparatively speaking. It offers several items for sale such as electronic accessories, clothing, and flea items. The food, however, is where this spot shines. You can find a variety of local and international cuisines.
Among the many foods found here are Xiao Long Bao (Chinese soup dumplings), Nasi Kerabu (blue rice and meat), Char Kuoy Kak (steamed and fried rice cakes), Putu Mayong (Idayappam, or rice noodles steamed and served with sugar and coconut), Peking duck, Lao Dou Soya Beancurd, and even the French dish, Aligot potato and cheese!
Most of these dishes can be found for cheap, and the wide variety of cuisines offers a realistic portrait of all the different cultures and foods found in Penang and indeed throughout Malaysia. If you are a foodie, this Tuesday Penang night market is the place to be!
Address: Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Taman Tanjung Bunga, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Penang
Operating hours: 5:30pm – 10pm (Tuesday)
3. Wednesday – Farlim Night Market
Image credit: @jaysimon & @kahyeesiah
Located in a large field at Medan Angsana, Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, the Farlim Night Market is one of the largest Penang night markets. There is no shortage of shopping to do and things to eat – this is the most “don’t miss” location on this list.
Buy anything and everything ranging from clothes, electronics, handicrafts, children’s toys, groceries, and, of course, huge varieties of street food! Find pizza, Malaysian mixed desserts, Lok Lok, deep fried cuttlefish and other seafood, extra long fries, fried radish cakes, Yong Tau Foo (seafood balls served with sauces, priced as low as RM 1 per stick!), grilled satay, ice lemon tea or iced milk tea, sugarcane juice, Keropok Lekok (fish sausage or cracker), Thai barbecued chicken or pork, popcorn, baked goods, ice cream, and dry fruits. Mmm. Are you hungry yet?
Address: 27-75, Medan Angsana, Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang
Operating hours: 5pm – 11pm (Wednesday)
4. Thursday – Batu Ferringhi Night Market
Image credit: @goonhoongtatt & @eyramussfira
This Penang night market is located in Batu Ferringhi, a gorgeous stretch of beach near Tanjong Bungah. Here is a great place to find souvenirs of all types, as well as DVDs, books, clothing, accessories, jewellery and swimwear.
Prices are highly negotiable and haggling is encouraged. Don’t be alarmed by the initial high price given by most vendors: instead, bargain the price down to more reasonable terms. Most items found here are knock offs of more expensive designer products. Tailors, henna tattooists, and cobblers can be found in this market. There isn’t much food to be found, but the variety of goods more than makes up for it.
Address: Jalan Pantai Batu, Taman Pantai Batu, 11200 Tanjong Bungah, Pulau Pinang
Operating hours: 7pm – 11pm
5. Friday – Jelutong Night Market
Image credit: @jeremylim & @alvinlim
This Penang night market is located on Jalan Van Praagh and is thus also called the Pasar Malam (Night Market) Van Praagh. Found within the crowded Taman Kheng Tian, this spot features a number of different and unique items such as antiques, interior decor and furniture, traditional medicine, incense, gardening supplies, and of course food.
Dim sum balls on skewers, Popiah (a Fujianese/Teochew-style spring roll), Yong Tau Foo (tofu stuffed with ground meat or vegetables), Nasi Kandar, Nyonya Kuih, or Asam Laksa (spicy seafood soup/stew flavored with tamarind paste) are all available here.
Address: 52, Jalan Van Praagh, Taman Continental, 11600 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating hours: 6pm – 10:30pm (Friday)
6. Saturday – Sungai Dua Night Market
Image credit: @tanandrew
Located opposite the Tesco in Sungai Dua in the Gelugor neighbourhood, close to the outskirts of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), this Penang night market is a great place to find cheap clothes and electronics.
Moreover, this is also a great place to get cheap hawker fare. Some of the many delicious Malaysian, Indian, and Chinese foods which are found here include laksa, Ketupat, satay, Nasi Lemak, kebabs, and burgers.
Many stalls also sell fresh produce like sweet corn, fresh salad, sugarcane juice, shaved ice, homemade sweets and baked goods, and raw fish. This is also a great place to buy fruit, such as durian, banana, lychee, mango, and mangosteen.
Address: 1, Jalan Sungai Dua, Sungai Dua, 13800 Gelugor, Pulau Pinang
Operating hours: 5pm – 10pm (Saturday)
7. Sunday – Paya Terubong Night Market
Image credit: @bengooi & @dericwong
Located near the iconic Buddhist Temple complex Kek Lok Si in Ayer Itam, this Penang night market caters mostly to locals and is almost unheard of for most tourists.
Vendors here sell clothes, electronic gadgets, shoes, cosmetics and beauty products and other accessories. Special foods here include Char Koay Teow, rojak (this market features special rojak which comes on a skewer), Korean style duck pancakes, biscuits, cakes, Char Koay Kak, and fried mushrooms.
Address: 1228l, Jln Paya Terubung, Bandar Baru Air Itam, 11500 Ayer Itam, Pulau Pinang
Operating hours: 7:30pm – 11:30pm (Sunday)
We hope this article helped you find the best Penang night market! Follow us on Instagram (@penanglicious) for latest Penang cafe reviews!
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