Best Steamboats in Penang

One should definitely not give Polkadot steamboat a miss when it comes to buffet grill and steamboat. Everything here is almost self-service, from grabbing the many available raw ingredients to getting drinks and plates. You can opt to either grill your meat and veggies, or you can simply enjoy them in heartwarming chicken/tom yam broth. Halal eaters will be delighted to know that this place is pork free, too. Last but not least, the prices here are without a doubt - incredibly cheap! Starting at only RM8 for kids and RM20 for adults, it sure is a place of value.

Similar to Eam Huat Steambooat, this restaurant uses charcoal placed right at the centre of the pot. The only difference is that ZI Wei Yuen's broth is slightly milkier, as seen from their famous Fish Head Steamboat. The flavour is richer than the regular broth and comes along with a hint of essence from the sea. If you’re a fan of seafood, you’re guaranteed to have a field day, with premium picks like scallops, mantis prawns, abalone slices, sea cucumber and fresh oysters. Or in the mood for porcine pleasure? From belly and tendon to intestines, you have it all. Dab in their chilli condiments for a dose of heat. 

Dining in an age old and well-maintained colonial building is certainly an experience like no other. What more when you feast on the delicious fresh ingredients and really huge but affordable prawns which are stored in fish tanks of the restaurant. It’s then paired with their meticulously prepared sweet and savoury soup. Do throw in their homemade dumplings, thinly sliced fish fillets and bird eggs into the mix. You'll come to realise that fighting over leftovers may no longer be considered as a joke. Also, the dining space is simple and cosy, thus it has been winning over loyalty for family get-together dinners. 

Hong La Jiao literally translates to "Red Chili" in Mandarin so you might have guessed that this place serves fiery spicy broths. Simply mix and match the fresh homemade meatballs, pork, beef, chicken slices, seafood, vegetables with assorted sauces and the tasty spicy soup and you might just discover your personal blend of taste. Set in a traditional looking place with a modern twist, this joint is definitely one of the prettiest looking steamboat places around! Since they are open till wee hours, it’s the ideal spot to head over during the perfect cold weather. 

When visiting Ah Mah's steamboat, expect to enjoy some hot pot while reminiscing your grandmothers' cooking. That is how Ah Mah's broth will satisfy your meal and tastebuds. The infamous Asam Laksa broth recipe in Ah Mah's steamboat has been pass down from generation to generation after all, without fail. On top of that, Ah Mah's Steamboat is also famed for their delightful range of seafood such as prawns, mussels, scallops, fish and many more. On the side, a DIY sauce kit is provided. Mix and match your own level of spiciness and pungency, and mix well!

Eam Huat literally takes charcoal steamboat to a whole new level. You see, instead of placing the pot on a stand right above fiery charcoal, the charcoal is placed right in the centre of the pot to ensure the soup is neither burning hot nor cold. With that you can enjoy a broth without the addition of MSG and absolutely flavourful. There are several packages to pick according to your budget. Thus the higher you choose to splurge, the greater deal of premium picks you get introduced to. Accompany the sizzling pot with their fish paste noodles, another best seller here. 

Yi Bing Qing is not your ordinary steamboat restaurant. They are specialised in traditional fish head steamboat; cooked with old school charcoal, where it gives that subtle but noticeable smoky flavour. If you are also a fan of anything spicy, you must give Yi Bing Qing's spicy and sour soup base a try as you wouldn't get to find this easily outside. It isn't just spicy, but well balanced with a good hint of sweetness as well. Overtime, the flavour will develop from the ingredients thrown inside. Because their steamboat is so loved by customers, they're almost always full during dinnertime!

Tang Steamboat is a Taiwanese-based restaurant which; no surprises here - serves Taiwanese steamboat. If you aren't aware, Taiwanese styled steamboat usually revolves around sweet and sour or sour and spicy broths. They also have meat skewers and apetizers like stinky tofu in their menu which is rare to find. Moreover, they also offer steamboat buffet to guests at a fairly reasonable price.

Been in the business for over thirty years, it is no surprise that the service wins the heart of their customers. With friendly and helpful staff, E.T. Steamboat Restaurant offers fresh meat, seafood, and vegetables for you to dip in the soup they serve. Need some boost on the carbs intake? Pair your palatable self-cooked dishes with their superb fried mee and fried meehoon. Oysters are also among the high-demand servings available here.

Gia Xiang is well-known for their enlightening broths that will entice many spicy eaters. They offer authentic Chong Qing steamboat, which is quite rare to find. Chong Qing styled steamboat are also not for the faint hearted, as they are often spicy until one would burn their lips and mouth. You can tell they are pretty authentic since the restaurant is run by a family from China.

As the word 'La' in their name suggests, this steamboat restaurant is known for their spicy soup ('la' = spicy in Mandarin). Located in the heart of Penang, the diner serves Chinese cuisine (more specifically Sze Chuan inspired) and steamboat. Dishes such as Lotus Pork Ribs Soup and Fried Soft Shell Crab sit at the top of their high-selling chart. There are also other selections of soup available like old duck soup, chicken soup, and tomyam soup, if you are not fond of breaking into sweats and having hot burning sensations on your tastebuds.