Top 3 Places To Eat Roti Canai In Penang That Local’s Love

Roti Canai in Penang really changed the way we did breakfast. It is one of the most popular breakfast items in Penang and once you take a bite of it, you will know why! 

The only problem with it is that once you indulge in it, you usually are filled up to the brim and have no space for any more food. Now in any other part of the world I wouldn’t mind but in Penang not being able to eat is a tragedy! The island is a foodies delight!

Honestly, you will see loads of places which sell Roti Canai as you wander through the city. Some even open as early as 6 am! We even squeezed in a last breakfast at 6:30am before heading to catch our flight. Yes! That’s how good the Roti Canai in Penang is!

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So what is Roti Canai? 

Roti Canai is pronounced as Roti Chenai. I know… The pronunciation is a little different from what you would expect. It is a popular dish in many of the countries in South East Asia and despite visiting many of them, this was the first place that we really got to try it.

I think it is also popular in the area because of the large Indian community that has settled in the island. Why? Well, roti is originally an Indian flatbread. Though if I would describe it I would think more of a paratha/parota. The roti in Roti Canai is flaky and has layers.

Oh and on a side note, the way that Canai is pronounced reminds me of Chennai. With the vast majority of Tamilians in the area, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was one of the origins of the word.

How Is Roti Canai In Penang Served?

Roti Canai is usually served with an accompanying gravy. Depending on the locality that you visit, this gravy can just be plain or be made with chicken, beef or lamb. If you don’t know the usual Malay terms you better learn or you will be missing out.

Ayam – Chicken

Daging – Beef

Kambing – Lamb

One of the best ways to have Roti Canai in Penang is with egg. Here a fried egg is placed on top of the curry and believe me the combination is delicious. Shawn would choose to take it all in his place. Namely his breakfast was usually loaded with chicken, egg and cheese. Absolutely delicious except that the kids would polish it off before he got a bite in edgewise!

Best Places To Eat Roti Canai In Penang

Just knowing that Penang is famous for Roti Canai isn’t enough. You should know where to go to get the perfect plate. We followed the local trails by asking people we met and our hotel receptionist. 

The best places are busy, with lines and serve their speciality on rickety tables and tiny stools. It is part of the charm and we found ourselves in these tiny lanes every morning.

1. Roti Canai Transfer Road

Transfer Road houses one of the best spots for Roti Canai in Penang.

Address: 114, 110, Jalan Transfer, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang

Timings: Open everyday from 7am- 12pm except Sundays when it is open between 7:30am – 12 pm

Roti Canai Transfer Road was the place that converted us to the breakfast that the locals loved. This is probably the most popular place to eat Roti Canai in Georgetown. Some people complain that the Gemas Road one is better but I preferred the transfer road spot more. 

We walked all the way down to search for the Roti Canai transfer road only to see long queues outside the street food stall. A little dismayed since we were both carrying a toddler each, we wondered how we were going to balance the kids and the food. It was only then that we noticed the tables across the street and one was free! Yay us!

One of the iconic sights at this place is to watch the servers carry a multitude of plates stacked one on top of the other without spilling. We were astounded as we noticed that the number of plates that were carried amounted to almost 15!

2. Roti Canai Gemas Road

If you have time for a drive, Gemas road has a local approved spot for Roti Canai in Penang.

Address: 51 29, Jalan Gemas, Taman Kampar, 10460 George Town, Pulau Pinang

Timings: Tue-Sun: 7am – 12:30pm

This particular gem was suggested to us by one of our taxi drivers. He claimed that the Gemas road hawker stall has the most authentic Roti Canai in Penang. In fact, he went as far as to say that he would travel all the way there if he wanted to indulge in breakfast.

We obviously had to check the place out. Roti Canai Gemas road is a bit out of the way especially if you are staying in George town. With two toddlers, we chose to take a cab to make life simpler. 

The one big advantage about Roti Canai Gemas road is that unlike George town, it has parking.

There is quite a bit of seating here and we were lucky that we got there, the crowds weren’t too much. This was one of the places that served Roti Canai with Kambing. Shawn definitely loved the curry that came along with it. I found it a bit sweeter than the one at transfer road and I prefer spicier curry.

The people here are really really nice and they even volunteered to take a pic of us (without asking) because the girls were so excited about the food. I can see why people rate it as one of the best spots for Roti Canai in Penang.

3. Roti Bakar Hutton Lane

Looking for a Roti Canai in Penang with a flare? Try the flambeed version at Roti Bakar Hutton Lane.

Address: 300, Jalan Phee Choon, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang

Timings: Open every day of the week from 6am- 2pm except on Fridays where they close early at 12:45pm

With eight days on the island, Roti Bakar Hutton Lane was the only place that we visited twice for breakfast. This was the place that we headed to at 6:30 am before our flight. Yes! We woke our toddlers up at 5 just to get here for one last meal. It is definitely one of the best places to catch Roti Canai in Penang.

This place is famous for its roti bakar where the bread is toasted on charcoal. They however also serve one of the best roti canai in Penang. With a wide variety of options, it is difficult to choose. My favorite however is the roti canai with egg sprinkled with cheese. 

It is fun to watch them flambé the cheese and the egg to make sure that they are cooked to perfection. While you are here, don’t forget to try the iced Milo. I was never the biggest fan of it but Penang sure converted me. The iced coffee is also great!

Oh and as I mentioned before, this place starts up early in the morning and the crowds normally don’t descend until post 7 am. The icon of Roti Bakar Hutton lane is an old man and on our second visit (when the crowds were low), my kids got an extra special jelly treat from him. 

If you are headed to the island and plan on indulging in food, I highly recommend exploring all the breakfast options in Penang. Roti Canai is definitely one of the top picks but the island has much more to offer! Let’s not forget about all the street food!

What is your favorite place for Roti Canai in Penang? Let us know in the comments below so we can head there during our next visit!