Georgetown Seaview MansionOne @Penang

Since 1920, this stall has been selling its famous apom: their crispy crêpes with a soft, puffy centre cooked in claypot over charcoal are fluffier and more coconutty than most. Come early – they tend to sell out by 9:30am.

Run by a husband-wife team, Winn’s Cafe is situated in a detached house with dining rooms spread over two storeys, the upper floor of which exhibits work by local artists. The menu features Peranakan classics, such as otak otak fish cake seasoned with coconut milk and local herbs grown in their backyard and boasts silky smooth texture. Asam tumis stingray seduces with bouncy, flavoursome meat and a rich, complex sauce made with nine herbs.

White curry mee is served in a coconut milk-based broth with a bowl of curry paste on the side so that you can adjust the heat to your liking. The curry paste is available for sale by the bottle; it takes two hours to hand-stir the spices with dried shrimps and chillies. Optionally, pair your mee with deboned steamed chicken, spiced loh bak or Teochew guang jiang. The clear broth noodle soup with chicken meatballs is also worth trying.

This simple restaurant has been run by a husband-wife team for over 15 years; Ivy helms the kitchen while her husband waits on the tables. Following a change of venue in 2024, the room is now bigger and better, but you can rest assured - the menu hasn’t changed one bit. Check out the sharing set menus that include their best-selling Peranakan dishes, like Kapitan chicken curry and Joo Hoo Char – spicy stir-fried mixed veggies in chili paste. Reservations recommended.

For over 30 years, the regulars have been returning for its Hokkien prawn mee, loh mee, or a mix of both. The red prawn soup made with pork bones and prawn shells boasts deep umami. Twelve additional toppings are also available.

With a caricature of the owner on its sign and a mural deconstructing its signature items, Laksalicious is a cheerful little gem bubbling with character. As its name suggests, laksa is the main event here – choose between Nyonya assam laksa with sour, spicy fish broth or Nyonya laksa lemak with rich, creamy coconut milk broth. Prawn crackers add texture and flavours. Crispy prawn fritters, nasi ulam and gula melacca cendol are also popular.

Open for half days, this small store draws long queues – mostly tourists and young customers. They serve just one dish: stir-fried koay teow. The wok-fried flat rice noodles emit a charcoal aroma, are well seasoned and come with quality ingredients that can be spiced to taste.