Penang Hawker Survival Guide
Food Phrases & Menu Decoder
Hokkien + Malay phrases for ordering, paying, and eating well in Penang
About Penang Hokkien
Penang has its own dialect of Hokkien (Min Nan) distinct from Singapore or Taiwan versions. Many hawker stall operators are elderly Hokkien-speaking Chinese Malaysians. Attempting even one phrase earns enormous goodwill. Malay phrases work everywhere including Muslim halal stalls.
Ordering Food
One of this, please
[chit eh, mm-sia]
Point at dish while saying this
Two portions please
[nn eh, mm sia]
Pack / takeaway
[boon-kus]
Used across all hawker stalls regardless of dialect
Less spicy please
[koo-rang peh-das]
Not spicy please
[tak peh-das]
No pork please
[boh bak]
Essential at non-halal stalls if you avoid pork
No pork (Malay)
[tak nak bah-bee]
No prawn paste / shrimp
[boh hai koh]
Shrimp paste (belacan) is in many dishes. Ask if you have shellfish allergy.
Iced / cold please
[ayse]
Add to any drink order: "Teh ais" = iced tea
Hot please
[pah-nas]
Less sweet
[koo-rang mah-nis]
Malaysian drinks are often very sweet
No sugar
[koh-song]
"Teh kosong" = tea without sugar/milk
Paying & Thank You
How much?
[beh-rah-pah]
How much is this?
[ee-nee beh-rah-pah]
Bill please
[kee-rah, ah]
The "ah" is a common filler in Penang Hokkien
Together / combined bill
[sah-mah sah-mah]
Too expensive
[mah-hal sah-ngat]
Use at market stalls, not hawker centres (prices are fixed)
Can cheaper?
[boh-leh koo-rang]
Polite way to bargain at markets
Thank you
[teh-ree-mah kah-see]
Thank you (casual)
[tah, ah]
Very casual; say to the auntie/uncle at the stall
Quick Numbers (Hokkien)
1
Chit
2
Nn
3
Sa
4
Si
5
Go
6
Lak
7
Chit*
8
Pueh
9
Kau
10
Chap
*7 = chit (same as 1 — context matters)
Menu Decoder — 10 Penang Must-Try Dishes
| Dish | What it is | Know before you order |
|---|---|---|
| Char Kway Teow | Stir-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, cockles, eggs, bean sprouts in dark soy | Iconic Penang dish. Usually has pork lard — ask "boh bak" to skip. |
| Assam Laksa | Sour tamarind-based fish broth noodles with pineapple and mint | One of CNN's top 10 foods in the world. Not creamy — sour and fishy. |
| Nasi Kandar | Steamed rice with curries ladled on top — choose your toppings | Penang style: rice is drenched in mixed curries (banjir). Halal. |
| Hokkien Mee | Prawn broth noodles (yellow + rice noodles) with prawns, pork belly, egg | The broth is key — made from prawn shells. Rich and intense. |
| Cendol | Shaved ice dessert with green jelly, red beans, coconut milk, palm sugar | Best in George Town near the clan jetties. Perfect for the heat. |
| Roti Canai | Flaky flatbread served with curry dipping sauce | Breakfast staple. Ask for "kosong" (plain) or "telur" (with egg). |
| Teh Tarik | Pulled milk tea — poured between cups to create froth | Sweet by default. Say "kurang manis" for less sugar. |
| Pasembur | Indian-Malay salad: prawn fritters, boiled egg, turnip, cucumber in peanut sauce | Also called "Indian rojak". Find at Gurney Drive hawker complex. |
| Chee Cheong Fun | Steamed rice noodle rolls with sweet shrimp paste sauce | Penang version is distinct from KL or HK versions. Order at morning markets. |
| Kuih | Assorted Nyonya rice cakes and steamed sweets | Ask for "assorted kuih" at morning markets. Each piece is RM 0.60-1.50. |
Allergen Phrases (Quick Reference)
No pork
Hokkien: Boh bak
Malay: Tak nak babi
[boh bak / tak nak bah-bee]
No shellfish / prawns
Hokkien: Boh hae
Malay: Tak nak udang
[boh hai / tak nak oo-dang]
No nuts
Hokkien: Boh tow
Malay: Tak nak kacang
[boh tow / tak nak kah-chang]
No egg
Hokkien: Boh nn
Malay: Tak nak telur
[boh nn / tak nak teh-lur]
Vegetarian
Hokkien: Chhai
Malay: Vegetarian / sayur sahaja
[chai / sah-yur sah-hah-jah]
Halal only
Hokkien: —
Malay: Halal sahaja
[hah-lal sah-hah-jah]
More Penang food guides
visitpenang.com/food
visitpenang.com
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