Forget the food influencers... check out these delicious (and cheap) eats in Penang recommended by food delivery riders

GEORGE TOWN, June 18 — Most days, food delivery rider Shahazri Mohd Salleh spends up to 10 hours weaving through Penang’s streets on his motorcycle, collecting orders from hawker stalls, kopitiams and restaurants.

In between his deliveries, he would squeeze in a quick lunch or snack; it could be a roadside mamak stall or a restaurant.

It could be nasi Melayu or if he’s in the area where his favourite nasi dalca is, he would head straight to the stall.

Similarly, several of his fellow riders do the same thing. Either they stop for a quick bite of kuih at a mamak stall, grab a bun to munch on so as not to waste time or take the time for a good meal in a place they like before continuing with their busy day.

Here are five places some of the food delivery riders have shared with Malay Mail as their favourite places for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast

Wahab Roti Canai

627, Jalan Datuk Keramat

Opening hours: 7am-6pm (Closed on Sundays)

Prices: From RM1.50

This roadside stall, tucked in a small space off the main road, is a popular breakfast place for most locals and it is also a haunt for some food delivery riders who would stop for a quick teh tarik and the popular roti canai.

‘Roti Sarang Burung’ (in foreground) and ‘roti canai’ at Wahab Roti Canai. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

This stall, now operated by second generation owner Aliyar Ashraf Ali, has been around for over four decades and is well-known for its signature roti sarang burung, teh halia or the simple, roti canai kosong.

Roti sarang burung is crispy roti canai topped with two sunny side up eggs, cheese and stir-fried shredded meat of choice (chicken, beef or mutton).

Meals start from RM1.50 for one roti canai kosong while drinks start from RM2 onwards. 

For those seeking something heavier for brunch, their roti sarang burung with a generous amount of beef is only RM10 while those who prefer chicken, the set is RM12 and mutton is RM13.

The stall also offers a variety of roti canai (with eggs, cheese, sardines, etc) , murtabak, toast bread and eggs set (RM5 each set) and Maggi goreng.

Snack

Pisang Goreng Stall Sedap

Kampung Baharu, Jalan Air Itam

Opening hours: 11.30am-6pm (Closed on Fridays)

Prices: RM2

WhatsApp to order:019-5941971

This stall, operated by Anuar Othman, has been around since 2009 and is often noticeable by the long queues at the stall from the moment they open up till they close at 6pm.

Anuar Othman fries up the ‘pisang goreng’ at his stall. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

Located by the roadside, along the main road, they are known for their crispy pisang goreng, ubi goreng and cekodok that are only RM2 each packet.

One packet of pisang goreng contains six pieces, ubi goreng five pieces while cekodok is seven pieces.

According to Anuar, the recipes for the fritters are from his grandfather and the stall’s deep-fried snacks are also available for delivery via food delivery apps such as Grab, Foodpanda and Shopee Food.

Lunch

Syazana Nasi Melayu

Ground Floor, Wave City Mall (formerly Times Square), Kampung Jawa Baru

Opening hours: 10am-4pm, 6pm-11pm (Closed on Mondays)

Prices: From RM10

This nasi campur used to be located at the food court near the City Stadium in Lorong Kulit.

In operation since 2000, the stall shifted to its current location in 2022 and has now also opened Syazana Western Delights restaurant next door.

The array of dishes at Syazana Nasi Melayu. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

The nasi Melayu eatery has a wide array of dishes with prices of dishes starting from RM1 while prices of chicken, fish, beef, mutton and seafood are from RM5 and above according to serving size.

Dessert/Drinks

B24 Bayan Baru Best Cendol

Bayan Baru Food Court

Opening hours: 8am-8pm

Prices: From RM3

Nothing beats a cold, sweet dessert on a hot day and this cendol stall is so popular it is often crowded during lunch hours.

Operated by Sajiran Muthelibu, this stall has been around since 2014 and is well-known for its variety of cendol and ais kacang.

B24 Bayan Baru Best Cendol. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

Apart from the normal cendol, they have cendol pulut (glutinous rice), cendol jagung (corn), cendol durian (during durian season only), cendol special (with pulut and corn) and cendol ice cream.

They also have ais kacang, lai chi kang, coconut shake, fresh coconut water and other drinks such as coffee and tea as they are located within a food court.

The price for a glass of fresh coconut water is RM3 while the price for cendol starts from RM5.

Sajiran’s cendol may even be familiar to those who have tried the BM Best Cendol in Bukit Mertajam as that was his father’s stall and he is using the recipe from his father.

Lunch/Dinner

Tasha Dal Kandar

220, Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim, Bayan Lepas

Opening hours: 11am-9.30pm (Closed on Fridays)

Prices: From RM10

This traditional style nasi dalca has been around for over 30 years, first selling from a roadside stall near the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas before being shifted to another location in Bayan Baru and finally, it relocated to this open space area for food stalls about three years ago.

Tasha Dal Kandar in Bayan Lepas. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

Owner Shahelina Tasha Shahrom Shah said her father started the stall in Bayan Lepas using her name when she was born and now she has taken over the business while her mother cooks the dal, curries and dishes for the stall.

The stall used to operate only during dinner from 4pm to 10.30pm but recently changed its operation hours to open for lunch due to high demand.

The rich, spiced rice (nasi dalca) is served with generous servings of dhal gravy (kuah dalca) and you can choose between chicken, mutton, beef, squid or prawns.

The rice is priced at RM2.50 per serving while the dishes start from RM1 according to serving size and types of dishes.