Best Bak Kut Teh in Penang

Coffee Island is a charming restaurant tucked blissfully along Gurney Drive, where locals and tourists alike are singing praises for their mixture of Western and Asian meals. Among the stars of this restaurant is their Bak Kut Teh, with a choice of either the dry or soup version. Priding itself with serving pork without any antibiotics or hormones, the meats are a little chewy, yet packed with flavours. Nab a table in their al fresco setting; the breezy cool air and mild music elevates the meaty hot pot dining experience.

Spanning more than 25 years, this humble stall has been taking the locals and tourists by storm with their impeccable pot of Bak Kut Teh. The broth is meticulously boiled for hours with assorted cuts of pork, herbs, and spices to evoke your appetite. The pork ribs are simmered till tender, accompanied with a generous portion of vegetables, and are best eaten with their special Yam Rice. Their wide range of stir fried vegetables should not be missed too. 

Along the restless Macalister Road lies this brightly-lit and spacious restaurant that holds a reputation among locals for their impeccable Bak Kut Teh. Upon entering this realm of pork, be astounded with the choices of cuts - from ankle to shank; you name it, they serve it. Unlike other restaurants, pick your preferred cuts of meat and it will be separately served in their thick, dark soup. As each cut of pork has its own unique flavours, you can test how discerning your palate is.

Delima Mas Cafe definitely bombards your brain with a plethora of local delights to choose from. Looking for a toothsome yet wallet-friendly Bak Kut Teh? Head further in till you spot a welcoming uncle behind a busy stall. You’ll be amazed by the  varieties of pork cuts this little stall offers. Serving a rich herbal soup in a clay pot with an assortment of lean and fatty cuts, offal, vegetables, mushrooms, beancurd, meat balls, Chinese crullers and even black fungus for an earthy flavour, this hidden gem is nothing short of amazing.

Not a soup person? Why worry when a renowned restaurant in Bukit Mertajam has been churning out the best of both dry and traditional Bak Kut Teh. It does impersonate rojak at a glance, as the tender meats of pork ribs, intestines, tofu, okras and other vegetables are coated in a concoction of dried chilies and dark soya sauce. Pair the precious pot with regular sides of yam rice and crispy Chinese crullers for a truly satisfying meal.

During cold rainy nights, it’s undeniable that a sizzling pot of Bak Kut Teh can warm both the soul and belly. For more than 15 years, this humble restaurant has been renowned for flocking patrons till late hours, akin to walking into a "clay pot bar". The broth has the perfect balance of earthy and savoury flavours that bind the chunks of pork ribs, tofu, beancurd sheets and assorted vegetables. On top of that, their dish of boiled lettuce topped with meat floss and braised chicken legs is worth devouring too.