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Cecil Street Market
Cecil Street Market

The best things to eat at Cecil Street Market

Skip the lines at Gurney Drive and head to Pasar Lebuh Cecil court where the locals gather for Penang favourites after a spot of grocery shopping

Written by
Surekha Ragavan
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Nyonya kuih
You won’t miss this stall manned by the friendly lady right at the food court entrance. If you go early, you’ll land your hands on some tasty homemade kuih ranging from seri muka and kuih lapis to onde-onde and kuih koci. Our favourite is the kuih talam, suitably wobbly and coconut-y. From RM0.70 per piece

Char kway kak
The man who owns this stall lacks the speed we’re used to among fry cooks, but his slow, steady movements don’t reflect in the taste of his char kuay kak. The rice cakes are enveloped in smokiness, and fried with lots of chilli, egg and bean sprouts. The pieces are large, dense and chewy, which make for a rather indulgent lunch. From RM2.70

Apam balik 
The apam balik at this stall is the thin and crisp kind, with light, fluffy middles. If you have yours cooked on order, you’ll feel the pancake shatter into sweet, buttery shards when you take a bite. The spread smeared in the centre is margarine rather than butter, the more to remind you of childhood. From RM0.70 per piece

Hokkien mee
This Hokkien mee may not be the best version in Penang, but it’s unusually sweet if you like it that way. The broth lacks the heat and complexity we crave in Hokkien mee, but portions are small, which makes it ideal for breakfast or a light lunch. From RM3.50

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