Gertak Sanggul Tua Pek Kong Seafood 美湖大伯公海鲜 @ Gertak Sanggul, Penang.

Far end at Gertak Sanggul, the fishing village next to Teluk Kumbar has some hidden gems worth excavating, especially for seafood lovers. Opposite to Gertak Sanggul Seafood Fishing Stage is Gertak Sanggul Tua Pek Kong Seafood 美湖大伯公海鲜. The seafood restaurant is found right next to a Tua Pek Kong Temple, facing the beach/ sea. The setup is simple- with some basic tables and chairs on beach sand, there is no proper restaurant setting here and the tables are quite limited making it less-accommodating for big groups. The menu is fairly small- most of the offering would depend on the catch of the day.

Citarasa Dadi Dada Cafe @ Lebuh Clarke, Georgetown, Penang.

Citarasa Dadi Dada Cafe is one of the latest cozy spots in town for a classic, sweat-inducing traditional Malay meal. Tucked away in one of the shop houses along Lebuh Clarke, Citarasa Dadi Dada Cafe offers a traditional Malay menu featuring many classics; some of the signature dishes include Mee Udang, Mee Jawa, Nasi Goreng and Nasi Campur etc. The place is not fully air-conditioned but the dining hall is well-equipped with fans and has good ventilation system. Most of the dishes are priced slightly above Rm 10 but they offer great return in value as most of the dishes are served in generous portion. A convenient spot to drop by for a quick fix over classic Malay food. 

Banana Beer Hauz @ Banana Boutique Hotel, Chulia Street, Penang.

Housed in one of the stately mansions in Georgetown, Banana Beer Hauz is the only restaurant found in Banana Boutique Hotel. It is easy to spot the boutique hotel but it is not a place that people would associate it with food. The exterior may seem overly simple but step in the place and you will be amazed by the beauty of old heritage design, gorgeously preserved from the past. You will be escorted to the main dining hall which has some basic tables and chairs. There's also a pond right in front of the dining area, bigger groups may request to take the private rooms (plenty of them) at the side. One would expect Nyonya or Western dishes here but the menu features quite a range of local delights- from Mee Udang to Hokkien Mee or Thai-styled noodles as well as various stir fries. Seafood is one of the key highlights here but fret not, items are reasonably priced here. The place also serves alcohols and could be a nice place for your evening chill outs.

Labu Cafe @ Transfer Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Opened in late November 2019, Labu Cafe is one of the latest Muslim-friendly cafes in town; the menu comprises of a mix of both local delights and Western dishes (a few Pasta choices). The main items that made up the menu are Malay-dishes... familiar ones like Mee Udang, Nasi Ayam Penyet, Koay Teow Kerang etc. Apart from the mains, the place has a display counter for freshly baked Kuih and a small dessert menu (on daily rotation basis). The cafe at Transfer Road (next to the junction of Kedah Road and Transfer Road) may be a little small but the place is beautifully decorated and it feels cozy and comfortable to dine-in there (fully air-conditioned). If you must know, the prices are very budget-friendly... with generous serving portion. 

Pak Tam Mee Udang @ Sungai Batu, Teluk Kumbar, Penang.

Teluk Kumbar is often the de-facto place (on Penang island) to go to when it comes to Mee Udang, the fishing village is known for supplying the freshest catch in Penang. Pak Tam is not exactly the most famous joint but rather, well-hidden and secluded at a corner of Teluk Kumbar. The secret fishing spot is famous amongst anglers, it does take some navigating skills to reach there. On your way in, you will find untouched natural scenery and run-down village houses. The road can be bumpy so be prepared for an intense journey. There's a fresh water pond (man-made I presumed) and within a stone's throw distance away, there's a beach with clean, seemingly unpolluted waters. Pak Tam Mee Udang is a humble, unpretentious stall operating at the beach front. Like the name implies, it churns out Mee Udang. Diners get to choose between a few types of Noodles and the preferred Seafood choices (or opt out seafood). This may not be exactly the best Mee Udang around but the entire package (serene neighborhood with soothing sea breeze) is a rare encounter in a well-developed city.

Direction: from Bayan Lepas to Teluk Kumbar, go straight until you find a junction with a Mosque next to the traffic light. Turn left instead of going straight (you will find Lexis Suite if you keep going straight but take the left turn instead), keep driving for approximately 3 minutes and you will find Pak Tam Mee Udang's banner hanging outside. Drive along the trail (surrounded with tall grasses) and you will find Pak Tam at the end of the trail (probably 5 minutes drive from the entrance).

Warung Tok Mat Mee Udang @ Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

No matter how many times you have been to Tanjung Bungah, there's a deliciously hidden side to the beach front town; some are even unknown by the locals. Ardent fans of Mee Udang need not travel all the way to Teluk Kumbar or Sungai Dua to curb the craving. Warung Tok Mat Mee Udang is one of the secrets well-kept by the locals but the place is well-hidden from the bustling Jalan Tanjung Bungah. To reach there, one needs to travel a path less-traveled (refer to the bottom of this review for the directions); those who made their way there are those who are in the know. It is known to serve some of the freshest Mee Udang in the neighborhood- the restaurant sits by the beach side, offering spectacular beach view to its diners. The owner is related to a fisherman and it explains the source of supplies. 

Mee Udang Bukit Tambun (蜜屋浪) @ Bukit Tambun, Penang.

Visitors visiting Design Village Penang but intend to have something special for lunch (except those fast food chains in the mall) can opt to reroute to Bukit Tambun, a small township famous for Seafood and home to many Seafood restaurants. Bukit Tambun is approximately 10 minutes drive away from Design Village Penang; it was once the de-facto place to visit when Penangites wanted fresh Seafood. Though it is still popular right now but the hype has reduced drastically as there are many other options available for now. But Mee Udang (Prawn Noodles) Bukit Tambun offers something out of the norm, instead of the usual Seafood Zhu Char dishes; it dishes out home-made Mee Udang, a proud Malaysian dish. Mee Udang is not the only option here, fresh Seafood catch is easy to source and thus, expect some simple, no frills Seafood dishes to be found here as well. The fully air-conditioned Mee Udang specialist can be found at one of the colorful heritage houses under the restoration project on the main road of Bukit Tambun (towards the now defunct Jetty).

Fizzy Cafe Mee Udang- Ketam @ Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Serving food on the table seems to be one of the coolest things to do for now; after the successful launch of Crab & Lobster at Straits Quay, the folks at the South-West district of Penang Island welcome another Seafood-eatery that serves Seafood with the similar style. Fizzy Cafe is manned by a Malay family, the place is well-known for serving on-the-table Seafood but Fizzy serves no imported Seafood and we are not surprised. The strategic location of Fizzy at Bayan Lepas grants easy access to Fishing Villages in Penang (ie: Teluk Kumbar) so sourcing fresh local produce is not a big concern for them. 

To find Fizzy Cafe, drive from Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and head straight. You will find a T-junction after passing by Cargas Nasi Kandar shortly. Take the right turn into Taman Sri Bayu flats (along Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim). Follow the path and you will find Fizzy Cafe on your right.

Mee Udang/ Assam Laksa @ Taman Sahabat Indah, Teluk Kumbar, Penang.

Teluk Kumbar is well-known for its fresh yet inexpensive seafood, and the Mee Udang found in Teluk Kumbar is especially known as the best of its kind. Hidden within the housing area of Teluk Kumbar, this humble Mee Udang stall is slowly getting attention from the nearby residents. Mee Udang is not the only food that you can find here, this place sells pretty decent Assam Laksa too. Also, the prices are friendlier than those you can find in town. However, I would not make a special trip out there but if you are in the vicinity, this is a very good place for you to grab a quick fix. To find this place, drive along Jalan Gertak Sanggul, upon reaching Khun Thai and Hai Boey Seafood, you will notice a housing area on your right. Turn into Tingkat Pasir Belanda 5 or 6, and navigate your way to Tingkat Pasir Belanda 8. 

The Famous Mee Udang (Aur Gading) @ Sungai Dua, Seberang Perai, Penang.

Known to many as the famous Sungai Dua Mee Udang, Aur Gading is truly a must-visit place for seafood lovers. The place has been there for quite some time and has since, become many patrons' favorite place to satiate their cravings for Mee Udang. Prices may be a little higher but they commensurate with quality and freshness. To get there, take the North South Expressway from Penang to Sungai Dua. Once you have turned into Sungai Dua, drive straight until you find a junction. Take the road on your right and drive straight into the housing area. You will notice an AmBank on your left while you are on the way. Drive until the very end, until you see a bridge. Do not drive up the bridge as Aur Gading is tucked below the bridge, signboards indicating directions to the place should be easily noticed when you are in the vicinity.