The 9 Best Ramadan Bazaars In Penang Malaysia

Penang may not have curry laksa or nasi padang, but the Ramadan bazaars here will still blow you away with killer sirap bandung and the best pasembur you’ve never had.

1. Taman Tun Sardon

Market, Malaysian

Local drinks at street bazaar in Malaysia

You may be familiar with the food court at Astaka Taman Tun Sardon, but wait until you see what the parking lot serves up during Ramadan. Colorful ice-cold drinks are the norm, best complemented by nasi kandar (Penang’s version of nasi padang, steamed rice with assorted dishes) and coconut jelly.

2. Little India

Market, Malaysian

Thanks to the Indian-Muslim community here, you can breakfast with pasembur (sweet salad), roti jala (net bread), murtabak (meat-stuffed pancake), biryani (need we say more?), and a variety of colorful syrupy desserts. Food is a cross-cultural event between Tamil Indian and Arabic cuisine.

3. Jalan Makloom

Market, Malaysian

Satay made using beef, chicken and goat meat

Around 60 stalls operate at this Ramadan bazaar, which extends all the way to Jalan Perak. Traditional Malay cuisine like nasi lemak (rice stewed in coconut milk), lemang (glutinous rice cooked in banana leaves and bamboo), ayam rendang (chicken stewed in spices), and satay (skewered meat) are classic finds here.

5. Jelutong

Market, Malaysian

Venture out of George Town and you’ll find this bazaar buzzing with your favorite local dishes. Huge cauldrons of curry are a typical sight here, along with fruit juices, traditional kuihs, and preserved dates. The menu tends to repeat itself among stalls, but it’s not as crowded as other bazaars, which means that you might actually get your choice of food.

6. Teluk Bahang

Market, Malaysian

Vendor preparing traditional murtabak cuisine at street bazaar in Malaysia

This bazaar may be small, but don’t underestimate the Iftar fare here. You’ll find ikan panggang (grilled fish wrapped in banana leaves), popia goreng (fried spring rolls), samosas, curry puffs, murtabak, and the typical assortment of kuih. Your wallet will definitely end up emptier than your stomach.

7. Bayan Baru

Market, Malaysian

Possibly the best Ramadan bazaar in town, Bayan Baru features nearly 300 stalls selling every kind of nasi—nasi campur (mixed rice), nasi Arab (Arabic rice) nasi tomato (red tomato rice), nasi kerabu (blue rice with side dishes), and nasi kandar. Finish your meal with some kuih lapis (layered rice-flour cake) and fresh coconut.

8. Bayan Lepas

Market, Malaysian

Tasty ayam percik selling in Ramadan Bazaar

With over 100 vendors, this bazaar doesn’t disappoint when it comes to variety. You can buka puasa (break fast) with every kind of chicken—ayam golek (roast chicken), ayam pandan (chicken cooked with pandan and wrapped in banana leaf), ayam percik (grilled chicken with sauce)—and a smoldering curry or two.

9. Balik Pulau

Market, Malaysian

Grilled fish with spicy sauce on plate selling in Ramadan Bazaar Kuala Lumpur

Enjoy grilled fish, cockles, and squid with your nasi kandar, as well as every kuih you can think of, including kuih dadar (sweet coconut-stuffed roll), kuih serai putih (green egg white cake), and kuih bengka (in every color). Fried donuts and spring rolls are also popular here.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.