Few things say Penang quite like a plate of rojak. That sticky, dark prawn-paste sauce, the crunch of fried fritters, the tangle of cucumber, jicama, cuttlefish and prawn crackers, all tossed together and showered with crushed peanuts. Locals will argue for hours over which stall does it best, and everyone has a hawker they grew up on. Whether you call it pasembur, mamak rojak, or fruit rojak, the island does the dish better than almost anywhere else in Malaysia.
We did the legwork so your weekend does not go to waste. Every stall on this list holds a Google rating of 4.0 or higher, pulled from real diner reviews, and we have left out the places that have closed or slipped. From a Padang Kota pasembur king with thousands of fans to a Butterworth fruit rojak cart worth crossing the bridge for, here are the 10 best places for rojak in Penang to plan your next makan run around.
What Is the Difference Between Rojak and Pasembur in Penang?
In Penang the word rojak covers a few different plates. Chinese-style fruit rojak, sometimes called rojak buah, mixes cut fruit and vegetables like jicama, cucumber, guava and pineapple in a thick, pungent prawn-paste (hae ko) sauce with peanuts. Mamak-style pasembur, the Indian-Muslim version, piles fried fritters, potato, cuttlefish, prawn and egg over shredded cucumber, then drowns it all in a sweet, spiced nut gravy. Both count as rojak here, and half the fun is trying the two styles back to back. This list mixes both so you can taste the full spread.
Where Do You Find the Best Rojak in Penang?
The heart of Penang rojak still beats around George Town, especially the Medan Renong food complex at Padang Kota Lama, where several legendary pasembur stalls set up side by side each evening. But some of the island’s finest carts sit well off the tourist trail, from Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam on the mainland to Balik Pulau and Permatang Pauh. Many are evening-only or run odd rest days, so timing matters. We have listed the hours and address for each stall below so you can plan the drive and turn up while the wok is still hot.
Table of Contents
- 1. Pasembur King (Hussain)
- 2. Butterworth Fruits Sticks
- 3. Hock Seng Rojak
- 4. Kareem Pasembur Rojak
- 5. Rojak Orang Hitam Putih
- 6. Pak Mid Pasembur (Balik Pulau)
- 7. Din Rojak Tonggek Permatang Pauh
- 8. Haji O.S. Ibrahim Pasembur
- 9. Cecil Street Market Pasembur
- 10. Rojak Ho Wei Jeng (101 Rojak)
1. Pasembur King (Hussain)
The busiest name at the Padang Kota Medan Renong complex, Pasembur King has become a genuine Penang institution and pulls the longest queue of the lot. You pick your fritters, prawn, egg and cuttlefish from the glass case, the uncle slices everything into bite-size pieces, then ladles over that thick, sweet-spicy peanut gravy. The crackers stay crisp, the sauce has a proper kick, and the portions are generous enough to share. It opens late into the night, so it doubles as a supper stop after a stroll along the Esplanade. Come early on weekends or expect to wait for a seat.
Operating Hours: 11:45 am – 12:15 am (Daily; till 12:30 am on weekends)
Address: Kompleks Makanan Medan Renong Padang Kota Lama, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 019-477 5786
Google Review: View on Google
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2. Butterworth Fruits Sticks
Cross the bridge for this one. Butterworth Fruits Sticks is the mainland’s beloved fruit rojak cart, where chunks of jicama, cucumber, guava, mango and pineapple are speared on sticks and dunked into a dark, punchy prawn-paste sauce thick with peanuts. It is the tangy, sweet, savoury version of rojak that grew up on, and the fruit is always cut fresh to order. The stall is a simple roadside setup on Jalan Pantai, so grab your sticks and eat by the seafront. It rests on Mondays and runs afternoons into the evening, making it an easy after-work treat for Seberang Perai folk.
Operating Hours: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Tue–Sun; Fri till 8:30 pm; closed Mon)
Address: Jalan Pantai, 12000 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang
Tel: Not listed
Google Review: View on Google
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3. Hock Seng Rojak
A George Town classic that started life on Macallum Street, Hock Seng serves old-school Chinese fruit rojak with a sauce regulars swear by. The hae ko is dark, glossy and deeply savoury, coating fresh jicama, cucumber, unripe mango and cuttlefish, then finished with a heavy hand of crushed peanuts. It only trades in the evenings from Thursday to Sunday, so this is a weekend treat rather than a lunch plan. Expect a no-frills stall, plastic stools and a steady stream of locals who have followed it for years. Order extra you-tiao to soak up every last drop of that gravy.
Operating Hours: 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm (Thu–Sun; closed Mon–Wed)
Address: M-26, 24, Lebuh Cecil, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 016-476 8012
Google Review: View on Google
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4. Kareem Pasembur Rojak
Tucked along Lebuh Union in the heritage core, Kareem is a daytime pasembur favourite that draws office crowds and heritage-trail wanderers alike. The spread of fried fritters, prawn cakes, boiled potato, cuttlefish and hard-boiled egg is laid out fresh, and the gravy leans nutty and mildly sweet rather than fiery, so it suits gentler palates. It is a handy stop while you are exploring the George Town shophouses, and the midday timing makes it a proper lunch option instead of a supper run. Do note it closes on Sundays, so slot it into a weekday or Saturday wander through town.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 6:30 pm (Mon–Sat; closed Sun)
Address: 7, Lebuh Union, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 019-480 7728
Google Review: View on Google
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5. Rojak Orang Hitam Putih
Over on the mainland in Bukit Mertajam, Rojak Orang Hitam Putih has built a loyal following for its fresh fruit rojak and easy all-day hours. The name is a nod to the two hawkers behind the stall, and the draw is simple: crunchy fruit and vegetables, a well-balanced hae ko sauce that is savoury without being overpowering, and a generous scatter of peanuts. It opens through the day, every day, which makes it a reliable stop when other stalls are shut. Locals rate it for consistency and value, so if you are BM-side and craving rojak, this is the one to point the car towards.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm (Daily)
Address: Jalan Pasar, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 012-411 7060
Google Review: View on Google
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6. Pak Mid Pasembur (Balik Pulau)
Deep in the rural charm of Balik Pulau, Pak Mid is the local legend for pasembur, mee rebus and mee goreng, and worth the scenic drive out west. The pasembur here is old-school kampung style, with crunchy fritters and cuttlefish under a rich, sweet-savoury nut gravy that has kept regulars coming back for years. Pair it with a plate of his springy mee goreng and you have a proper Balik Pulau lunch. It is a modest roadside setup, so keep an eye out for the crowd rather than a big signboard. Closed Sundays, and it wraps up by early evening, so go for lunch.
Operating Hours: 12:00 pm – 6:30 pm (Mon–Sat; closed Sun)
Address: P239, Jalan Balik Pulau, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 012-589 1607
Google Review: View on Google
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7. Din Rojak Tonggek Permatang Pauh
Din Rojak Tonggek has become a Permatang Pauh landmark, famous enough that the cheeky name alone gets people talking. What keeps them coming is the pasembur itself: a heaped plate of fritters, cuttlefish, prawn and egg drenched in a thick, deeply flavoured peanut gravy that hits the sweet-spicy balance just right. It runs from late morning into the evening most days, closing only on Fridays, so it fits both a mainland lunch and an early dinner. Portions are hearty and the price is kampung-friendly, which is exactly why the Seberang Perai crowd keeps this one on rotation.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm (Sat–Thu; closed Fri)
Address: Permatang Pauh, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 017-450 0925
Google Review: View on Google
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8. Haji O.S. Ibrahim Pasembur
Another heavyweight at the Padang Kota Medan Renong complex, Haji O.S. Ibrahim is the pasembur stall regulars point newcomers to when the queue at the king next door gets too long. The gravy here is well spiced and generous, the fritters stay crisp under the sauce, and the seafood add-ons are fresh. It keeps late hours all week, right up to midnight, so it is a dependable supper option after a night out in George Town. The setting is classic hawker complex, all shared tables and buzz, which is half the reason a plate of pasembur tastes so good here. Add extra prawn if you are hungry.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 12:00 am (Daily)
Address: Kompleks Makanan Medan Renong Padang Kota Lama, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 016-472 0930
Google Review: View on Google
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9. Cecil Street Market Pasembur
Known to old-timers as the seventh-road pasembur, this Lebuh Cecil market stall specialises in a fresh-fish version that sets it apart from the crowd. Alongside the usual fritters and cuttlefish, it works in fresh fish that gives the plate a lighter, cleaner bite, all brought together by a nutty gravy that is not overly sweet. It trades through the day, so it is one of the more convenient lunch stops if you are exploring the Cecil Street wet market and its famous hawker stalls. Come with an appetite and pair it with a wander through one of George Town’s most authentic morning markets.
Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (Daily)
Address: Cecil Street Market, Lebuh Cecil, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: Not listed
Google Review: View on Google
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10. Rojak Ho Wei Jeng (101 Rojak)
Rounding out the list is Rojak Ho Wei Jeng, also known as 101 Rojak, an evening fruit rojak stall at the Padang Kota complex that gives the pasembur giants next door a run for their money. This is the Chinese-style plate: crunchy jicama, cucumber, mango and cuttlefish bound in a dark, aromatic prawn-paste sauce with a thick dusting of peanuts. It opens only in the evenings and shuts on Sundays and Mondays, so plan your visit for a midweek or Saturday supper. If you want to taste both rojak styles in one sitting, this and the pasembur stalls sharing the same complex make that easy.
Operating Hours: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Tue–Sat; closed Sun & Mon)
Address: Kompleks Makanan Medan Renong Padang Kota Lama, Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 016-446 1666
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
Which Penang Rojak Should You Try First?
The beauty of rojak in Penang is that there is no single right answer, only the one you happen to be near. If you want the full experience, head to the Padang Kota Medan Renong complex, where Pasembur King, Haji O.S. Ibrahim and Rojak Ho Wei Jeng let you sample both mamak pasembur and Chinese fruit rojak in one evening. If you are mainland-side, Butterworth Fruits Sticks and Din Rojak Tonggek are more than worth the bridge toll. Every stall here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can point the car at any of them with confidence.
Hours and rest days do shift, especially for these small family-run stalls, so a quick call or a check on Google before you set off saves a wasted trip. Now grab a friend, pick a stall, and go chase that prawn-paste and peanut hit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Penang rojak and pasembur?
Penang fruit rojak (rojak buah) is the Chinese-style plate of cut fruit and vegetables in a dark prawn-paste sauce with peanuts. Pasembur is the Indian-Muslim version, with fried fritters, cuttlefish, prawn, potato and egg in a sweet, spiced nut gravy. Both are commonly called rojak on the island.
Is Penang rojak halal?
Mamak-style pasembur stalls, such as those at the Padang Kota Medan Renong complex, are typically Muslim-run and halal. Chinese fruit rojak stalls are usually not halal as the hae ko prawn-paste sauce is often prepared in a non-halal kitchen. Always check with the individual stall before ordering if halal status matters to you.
Where is the most famous rojak in Penang?
The Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade) Medan Renong food complex in George Town is the best-known spot, home to several long-running pasembur and rojak stalls that trade side by side, including Pasembur King and Haji O.S. Ibrahim. It is an easy place to taste a few different versions in one visit.
How much does a plate of rojak in Penang cost?
Most stalls charge by what you pick, so a standard plate of pasembur or fruit rojak usually lands somewhere around RM6 to RM12, with the price rising if you add extra prawn, cuttlefish or egg. It stays an affordable, shareable snack, which is part of why rojak remains such a Penang staple.
Disclosure: This list was compiled by the team at My Weekend Plan after extensive research and shared opinions to suggest helpful recommendations for the public. The sequence of brands is in no particular order so if you have any other great suggestions too, please email us support@myweekendplan.com.my. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
