Best Dessert In Penang
Must Try Dessert & Where To Find Them In Penang
The best desserts in Penang are prepared as refreshing treats to be enjoyed on a scorching afternoon in Malaysia’s food capital. The island's main claim to fame is their distinctive Nyonya flavouring in the local Chinese cuisine, where visitors flock to quaint heritage cafes and humble roadside eateries to enjoy a vast range of mouth-watering Penang-style delicacies and hawker fare.
Penang is also famous for its diverse range of dessert offerings, all of which are made with local ingredients such as coconut milk, palm sugar (gula Melaka), red beans, bananas, sweet corn, and grass jelly. From piping hot pastries to refreshing shaved ice, we’ve compiled a selection of the five must-try desserts and where to find them in Penang.
Cendol
Cendol or chendul is well-regarded as one of Penang’s signature desserts and is sold almost everywhere on the island, from humble roadside stalls and food courts to air-conditioned restaurants and cafes. Priced from RM2.60 onwards, it is a bowl of shaved ice topped with coconut milk, palm sugar, kidney beans and pandan-flavoured starch jelly. The cendol’s smooth and creamy consistency makes for a refreshing treat during a hot day in Penang. For the best cendol in Penang, we highly recommend the iconic Penang Road’s Famous Teochew Chendul, situated along a narrow alleyway in Lebuh Kweng Kee. This family-owned stall has also been consistently serving delicious refreshments since the 1950s.
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Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10:30 – 19:00, Saturday & Sunday 10:00 – 19:30
Address: 27 & 29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, Georgetown
Tel: +604262 6002
Location: Lebuh Keng Wee, George
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Ais Kacang
Ais kacang is another must-try dessert in Penang that’s very similar to cendol, which comes with an assortment of condiments. A bowl ice kacang comes with a serving of kidney beans, sweet corn, Attap seeds, grass jelly, and creamed corn topped with huge scoop of shaved-ice mixed with evaporated milk, rose-flavoured syrup and palm sugar. Great for ending a meal on a sweet note, the most popular ais kacang in Penang can be found at the Kafe Kek Seng in Jalan Penang. Accessible within a 10-minute walk from KOMTAR Penang, this coffee shop is well-frequented for its signature ais kacang (RM4.80) which comes with two scoops of homemade ice-cream. There are several flavours to choose from, though we highly recommend the durian ice-cream for its smooth texture and rich flavour.
Opening Hours: Daily 09:00 – 17:00
Address: 383, Jalan Penang, Georgetown
Location:Kafe Kek Sheng, Jalan Penang
Apom Balik ( Turn Over Pancake)
Apom balikis a sweet Nyonya-style pancake that’s stuffed with shredded coconut, sweet corn, sliced bananas, or peanuts, folded over, and topped with a sprinkling of sugar. Prepared in bite-sized portions, the outer layer is usually crispy while the inside has a fluffy texture with a hint of fragrant coconut milk. The Apong Guan stall at Burma Road is hailed as the best place to enjoy apom balik in Penang. Situated opposite Union Primary School, expect to endure a half-hour long queue for this crispy confectionery as loyal patrons often order them by the hundreds. A piece of apom balik at Apong Guan is priced at only RM0.50, making it one of the cheapest desserts in Penang.
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Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
Location: Burma Road, Penang