Ask ten Penangites where to find the best roti canai and you will get ten different answers, usually delivered with great conviction. That is because the roti canai in Penang is not one thing. In George Town it is a morning ritual, flipped and folded at stalls that have fed the same neighbourhoods for decades. In Balik Pulau it comes with a countryside drive attached, and across the channel in Seberang Perai, village stalls pull crowds that put city cafes to shame.
For this update, we went back through the current Google data and rebuilt the list from scratch. Every spot here is a genuine roti canai stall or mamak kitchen, holds a Google rating of at least 4.0 from real diners, and is ranked by the sheer number of reviews it has earned, so the crowd favourites sit at the top. A few big names from older lists have slipped below the rating bar and did not make the cut. Here are the ten best places for roti canai in Penang right now.
What Makes Roti Canai in Penang Special?
Good roti canai is a contradiction: crisp and flaky at the edges, soft and stretchy in the middle. Penang stalls take that balance seriously, and many still make their dough by hand each morning and cook to order on a well-seasoned griddle. The other half of the equation is the curry. Most stalls ladle on dhal and a chicken or fish curry, and regulars often ask for their plate banjir, which means flooded. When the roti is fresh and the gravy is rich, breakfast does not get much better for a few ringgit.
Island or Mainland: Where Should You Start?
Do not make the mistake of treating Penang as George Town only. The island holds the heritage names, from Jelutong’s legendary mamak kitchens to the morning queues at Gemas Road, but Seberang Perai quietly dominates the village-stall scene. Penaga, Juru, Butterworth and Permatang Pauh all have stalls locals will drive across the state for. One practical tip before you set off: most of these places are morning operations that sell out before noon, so treat roti canai hunting as a breakfast mission, not a lunch plan.
Table of Contents
- 1. Restoran Deen Jelutong
- 2. Roti Canai Gemas Road
- 3. Roti Canai Mamu Penaga
- 4. Gerai Roti Canai Abah
- 5. Wahab Roti Canai
- 6. Best Roti Canai (Penaga)
- 7. Razak Roti Canai
- 8. Roti Canai Istimewa Aziz
- 9. Roti Canai Terbang Dan Nasi Lemak
- 10. Haq Roti Canai Legend
1. Restoran Deen Jelutong
Deen is one of the oldest mamak names in Penang, and the Jelutong original still pulls queues at almost every hour of the day. Most people know it for the rice and curries, but the breakfast crowd comes for a different reason: roti canai that lands on the plate hot, blistered and crisp, made the old-school way and paired with gravies that have had decades of practice behind them. Go in the morning when the roti station is in full swing, order a roti telur to go with the plain one, and settle in with a teh tarik. It is a proper slice of old Penang.
Operating Hours: 6:00 am – 4:00 pm & 4:30 pm – 11:30 pm (Daily)
Address: Jalan Jelutong, Taman Jelutong, 11600 Jelutong, Pulau Pinang
Tel: Not listed
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
2. Roti Canai Gemas Road
If there is one stall that defines the George Town roti canai queue, it is this corner operation on Jalan Gemas in Taman Kampar. The roti here comes with properly crisp edges, and the move regulars swear by is asking for it banjir, drowned in curry until the plate is more gravy than bread. It is a strictly morning affair: doors open at 6:30 am, the crowd builds fast, and by 12:30 pm it is over until the next day. Weekends get busy, so come early, be patient, and do not plan anything heavy for the rest of the morning. Closed on Mondays.
Operating Hours: 6:30 am – 12:30 pm (Closed Monday)
Address: 61, Jalan Gemas, Taman Kampar, 10460 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 016-434 5786
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
3. Roti Canai Mamu Penaga
Way up in Penaga, in the rural north of Seberang Perai, Mamu has built the kind of following most city restaurants would envy. The stall sits by the main road through Kampung Paya and serves roti canai from breakfast right through to dinner, which makes it a rare find in a state where most roti stalls pack up by noon. That long service window means you can swing by for an evening roti telur on the way back from Kedah or the northern beaches. Expect a steady local crowd, unhurried village pacing, and roti made fresh throughout the day. Closed on Tuesdays.
Operating Hours: 7:30 am – 10:00 pm (Closed Tuesday)
Address: Next to 460D, Jalan Besar Penaga, Kampung Paya, 13100 Penaga, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 018-974 9667
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
4. Gerai Roti Canai Abah
Balik Pulau rewards the people who make the drive over the hill, and Abah’s stall at the Pusat Inkubator Kraf on Jalan Sungai Rusa is a big part of that reward. This is a short-window operation, four hours a day and only five days a week, which tells you everything about how fast the roti moves. The dough is worked fresh each morning and the curries lean homestyle rather than commercial. Pair the trip with a loop through Balik Pulau’s orchards and paddy-flanked back roads and you have a proper weekend morning. Note the odd rest days: closed Wednesday and Friday.
Operating Hours: 7:30 am – 11:30 am (Closed Wednesday & Friday)
Address: Pusat Inkubator Kraf, Jalan Sungai Rusa, Kampung Sungai Rusa, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 018-947 5083
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
5. Wahab Roti Canai
Wahab solves the great Penang roti canai problem: almost everywhere good is finished by lunch. This Jalan Dato Keramat stall keeps the griddle going from 7:00 am all the way to 6:00 pm, so you can satisfy a mid-afternoon craving without planning your whole day around it. The roti holds its own against the morning-only heavyweights, with a good chew, crisp finish and gravies that do not feel like an afterthought. Its location on one of George Town’s main arteries makes it an easy stop between the city and the airport side of the island. Closed on Sundays.
Operating Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm (Closed Sunday)
Address: 627, Jalan Dato Keramat, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 016-499 6433
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
6. Best Roti Canai (Penaga)
A stall that names itself Best Roti Canai is making a promise, and the steady stream of Penaga locals every morning suggests it keeps it. This is the second entry from the Penaga area on our list, proof that Penang’s rural north has quietly become a roti canai destination in its own right. The formula is simple: a tight morning service from 7:00 am to 11:30 am, roti made to order, and curry that tastes like someone’s home kitchen. If you are doing a mainland food run, hit this stall and Mamu Penaga in the same morning and judge the rivalry yourself. Closed on Mondays.
Operating Hours: 7:00 am – 11:30 am (Closed Monday)
Address: 13050 Penaga, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 019-572 1162
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
7. Razak Roti Canai
Razak’s stall sits in the Juru light industrial area near Simpang Ampat, and its core fan base says a lot: factory workers who could eat anywhere on their break and choose to queue here instead. Service starts at 6:00 am for the early shift and runs to evening on most days, so it works for breakfast, lunch or a late tea. The roti comes off the griddle fast and generous, and prices stay friendly to a working crowd. If you are on the mainland side near the Juru interchange, this is the roti canai stop worth leaving the highway for. Closed on Sundays.
Operating Hours: Mon 6:00 am – 2:00 pm; Tue–Sat 6:00 am – 6:00 pm (Closed Sunday)
Address: Kawasan Perusahaan Ringan Juru, 14100 Simpang Ampat, Pulau Pinang
Tel: Not listed
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
8. Roti Canai Istimewa Aziz
Istimewa means special, and Aziz backs the name up out in Teluk Air Tawar on the Butterworth coast. This stall has one of the most unusual schedules on the list, running around the clock on some days of the week, which makes it a lifesaver for shift workers and anyone chasing roti canai at strange hours. The roti is the flaky, hand-tossed kind, and the seaside kampung setting adds to the charm of eating here. It is a little out of the way unless you live in the north of Butterworth, but that is exactly why it feels like a local secret worth sharing.
Operating Hours: Mon, Tue & Sun open 24 hours; Wed–Sat 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Address: 1553B, Jalan Teluk Air Tawar, Teluk Air Tawar, 13050 Butterworth, Pulau Pinang
Tel: 017-446 5123
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
9. Roti Canai Terbang Dan Nasi Lemak
The name means flying roti canai, a nod to the theatrical dough-tossing that stretches each piece paper thin before it hits the griddle. This Kampung Belah Dua stall near Permatang Pauh opens at 5:30 am, catching commuters before the mainland traffic builds, and wraps up before lunch. The double act of roti canai and nasi lemak means one stop covers both of Malaysia’s great breakfasts, and plenty of regulars order both without shame. Come at dawn for the full experience, when the first batch is at its crispest and the queue is still short. Closed on Sundays.
Operating Hours: 5:30 am – 11:30 am (Closed Sunday)
Address: Jalan Permatang Pauh, Kampung Belah Dua, 13500 Perai, Pulau Pinang
Tel: Not listed
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
10. Haq Roti Canai Legend
Rounding out the list is the second Balik Pulau entry, and Haq has earned the swagger in its name with one of the strongest reputations of any stall here. Found along Kampung Sungai Rusa on the quiet side of the island, it serves mornings only, from 6:30 am until noon, and takes a two-day break every Monday and Tuesday. The reward for timing it right is roti with real layers, the kind you can peel apart, and curries built for mopping. Make it the fuel stop on a Balik Pulau durian or beach run, and you will understand why locals guard this side of the island so jealously.
Operating Hours: Wed–Sun 6:30 am – 12:00 pm (Closed Monday & Tuesday)
Address: 37, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, Kampung Sungai Rusa, 11000 Balik Pulau, Pulau Pinang
Tel: Not listed
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
The best roti canai in Penang is wherever the dough was stretched five minutes before it reached your plate, and every stall on this list delivers that. For the classic city experience, start with Deen in Jelutong or the morning queue at Gemas Road. If you want a food adventure, point the car at Balik Pulau for Abah and Haq, or cross the bridge and work through the Penaga, Juru and Butterworth stalls that mainlanders have kept to themselves for years. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so none of them will waste your morning.
One last reminder: these are mostly small family stalls with short hours and the occasional unplanned day off, so a quick look at Google before you drive out is always worth it. Now set the alarm, skip the hotel breakfast, and go eat the real thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best roti canai in George Town?
Roti Canai Gemas Road in Taman Kampar is the standout morning stall in the city, famous for crisp roti flooded with curry. Restoran Deen in Jelutong is the pick for a full mamak experience, and Wahab Roti Canai on Jalan Dato Keramat is your best bet when the craving hits in the afternoon.
What time do roti canai stalls in Penang open?
Early. Most stalls on this list start between 5:30 am and 7:30 am, and the strictly-morning ones like Gemas Road, Abah and Haq wrap up by noon or earlier, often selling out before that. For roti canai later in the day, head to Wahab in George Town, Mamu Penaga on the mainland, or Razak near Juru.
Is roti canai in Penang halal?
Roti canai comes from the Indian-Muslim mamak tradition, and the stalls on this list serve a predominantly Muslim local crowd. Formal halal certification varies from stall to stall, though, so if certification matters to you, check the latest status with the stall before you go.
How much does roti canai cost in Penang?
It remains one of Malaysia’s cheapest great meals. A plain roti canai at a village stall typically costs a couple of ringgit, with roti telur and other variations costing a little more. Even a big breakfast with two roti, curry and a teh tarik usually stays under RM10 at the stalls featured here.
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.
