5 Rice Dishes to Try in Penang Apart From Nasi Kandar

Ask long-time Penangites and they will tell you that nasi dalca is the most celebrated rice dish after nasi kandar. Also known as nasi ganja to the locals, the rice is cooked with lentils, onions, potatoes and carrots and spiced with star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom. It’s savoury, it’s creamy, it’s delicious! This uniquely northern rice dish is usually eaten with various side dishes such as fried chicken, mutton kurma, vegetables and a good dose of kuah dalca. It’s a local favourite you would not want to miss.

Where to try: Restoran Kassim Mustafa

Address: 12, Chulia Street, 10200, George Town

Operating hours: 24 hours

Worth the trip: Nasi Dalca Bawang

Address: Pasar dan Kompleks MBPP, Jalan Rajawali, Bayan Lepas

Operating hours: 6:30pm - 10:00pm (closed on Saturdays)

Nasi Tomato

Cooked in tomato paste, ghee, milk, spices, garlic, onions and ginger, nasi tomato boasts a distinctive aroma and creamy aftertaste. It is often served with an assortment of side dishes such as ayam masak merah, gulai sotong, daging masak hitam and more. An addition that’s highly recommended is the jelatah – thinly sliced cucumbers, pineapples and onions mixed in vinegar for an extra zing!

Worth the trip: Nasi Tomato Batu Lanchang

Address: Flat Taman Seri Damai, Lintang Batu Lanchang

Operating hours: 10:30pm - 2:00am

Nasi Ulam Nyonya

While it is the daintiest rice dish on the list, there’s nothing simple about nasi ulam nyonya, a Peranakan aromatic herbed rice dish. According to Pearly Kee, the author of A Nyonya Inheritance and Pearly’s Nyonya Pantry, preparing nasi ulam nyonya takes time and patience. Fresh ingredients such as lemongrass, torch ginger (bunga kantan), kaffir lime leaves, daun kadok and others are sliced thinly and then tossed with cooked rice. Nasi ulam nyonya used to be a specialty to the Nyonya community during celebratory events such as birthdays or weddings but today, it is on the menu in many Nyonya restaurants in town.

Where to try: Moh Teng Pheow

Address: Lebuh Chulia (Jalan Masjid), 10200, George Town

Operating hours: 10:30am - 5:00pm (closed on Mondays)

Nasi Melayu

Set down your fork and spoon – nasi melayu is best eaten with hands. There is no specific rule to what makes nasi Melayu what it is – essentially it is white rice with an extensive spread of Malay dishes. Those who prefer a little heat may add gulai ayam, curry fish head and beef rendang to the mix. Ulam or fresh vegetables served raw or blanched are the trademark of nasi melayu; there’s usually a vast selection of freshly picked local herbs such as ulam raja, daun cekur, daun selom, pucuk gajus, petai, pegaga and daun kaduk to be eaten with a dollop of freshly made sambal belacan. Grilled fish is often paired with air asam, a condiment made of bird’s eye chilli, onions, diced tomatoes, kerisik, belacan and tamarind juice.

Where to try: Nasi Melayu Lidiana

Address: Medan Selera Tanjung Bunga

Operating hours: 7:00am - 9:00pm (closed on Sundays)

Worth the trip: Minah Restaurant

Address: Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Taman Tun Sardon, Gelugor

Operating hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm (closed on Mondays)

Nasi Lemuni