Tastes and Traditions in Penang
Penang, Malaysia
From USD 0.00
Office phone number:
Tastes and Traditions in Penang
Penang, Malaysia





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
We hope you’re hungry! This Penang walking tour will set your taste buds salivating as you sample the best of the city’s street food scene. Your guide is a local foodie who will ensure you’re stuffed with sweet and savoury treats as you learn about traditional Malaysian cuisine. Along the way, take in some history as you wander old city streets, passing preserved heritage sites, and stopping at famed food spots like one of Penang’s oldest Chinese coffee shops and Indian Muslim restaurants. With Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavours in its street food, there’s no better way to literally taste the cultural diversity of Penang!
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Highlights
- Savour more than a dozen tastings of traditional Malaysian cuisine and Penang street food
- Talk with local food vendors and learn how authentic Penang dishes such as assamlaksa, char kuey teow, and cendol are prepared
- Taste Southeast Asian fruits such as mangosteen, rambutan, and, if they're in season, those infamous durians
- Explore old city streets and learn about Penang’s preserved heritage sites
- Visit a Penang market to purchase treats to take back home with you
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3 hours
- Meeting point:
Soho Free House, Penang Road (next to Peking Hotel)
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.30 AM
- Ending point:
Penang Road, opposite the police headquarters
Language: English
Inclusions: Food and non-alcoholic drinks
Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages, travel insurance, shopping expenses, gratuities, tips, and additional food and drinks
Your Penang food tour starts with a breakfast visit to one of the oldest traditional Malaysian Chinese coffee shops, known locally as a kopitiam. This shop dates back to 1940, before the battles of the Malayan Campaign and Malayan Emergency. You will sample the traditional Malay breakfast of nasilemak (rice cooked in coconut milk) with chili paste and a boiled egg. You’ll also try prawn fritters and lobak, a five-spiced deep-fried pork roll that’s a delicacy in Nonya cuisine, while visiting one of Penang’s most popular lobak vendors (who also represented Penang at the Adelaide Food & Wine Festival!).
Next, you’ll head to one of the oldest markets in Penang, filled with various kinds of seafood, fruits, vegetables, and dried goods. Try some of the local seasonal produce such as rambutan, mangosteen, and dukong and, if you’re daring enough, the king of Malaysian fruit: durian. You’ll either love this fruit or hate it! You can also sample a variety of preserved fruits,including the nutmeg fruits for which Penang is famous.
- Savour more than a dozen tastings of traditional Malaysian cuisine and Penang street food
- Talk with local food vendors and learn how authentic Penang dishes such as assamlaksa, char kuey teow, and cendol are prepared
- Taste Southeast Asian fruits such as mangosteen, rambutan, and, if they're in season, those infamous durians
- Explore old city streets and learn about Penang’s preserved heritage sites
- Visit a Penang market to purchase treats to take back home with you
There will be 8 to 10 stops in total, where you will taste delightful snacks, drinks, and desserts. You will explore historical streets with preserved heritage buildings and hidden back lanes. Along the way, your foodie guide will explain Penang’s street food culture and the heritage that brings such pride to Penangnites.
You will be able to savour more than a dozen food items during this three-hour Penang city tour. Penang showcases some of the best street food of Malay, Chinese, and Indian flavours — you’ll have the opportunity to taste assamlaksa (rice noodles in sour fish soup), char kuey teow (fried flat rice noodles), and murtabak (an Indian Muslim bread with meat fillings) in Penang’s oldest Indian Muslim restaurant, dating back to 1907.
Watch how crullers, called yutiao, are made, and feast your eyes on the large array of salted fish being sunned by a local salt fish vendor in one of Penang’s earliest low-income housing estates.
When it comes time for dessert, dig into a cool bowl of cendol, a serving of ice shavings with green doughy strips and red beans covered with coconut milk.
Make sure you also try the local favourite non-alcoholic drinks: hot tehtarik, (pulled tea), lime juice with sour plum, nutmeg juice, and many more.
Your tour ends at the market, where you will have the opportunity to “tapau” (pack) some of the foodstuffs you want to bring home with you! (Check your country’s import laws to confirm what food products are permitted for travellers.)
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Additional information
Inclusions: Food and non-alcoholic drinks
Exclusions: Alcoholic beverages, travel insurance, shopping expenses, gratuities, tips, and additional food and drinks
Dress standard: Casual, light clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Children must be 6 years of age to 11 years inclusively. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number:
Email address: thuy@whl.travel
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