There is a particular kind of Penang morning that starts with a pot of hot tea, a stack of bamboo baskets, and the clatter of pushcarts rolling past your table. Dim sum here is a weekend ritual as much as a meal, and the island does it with a character you will not find anywhere else in Malaysia. Old-school Georgetown coffee shops still steam their har gow and siew mai the traditional way, while newer tea houses in Pulau Tikus and Gurney have brought polish and longer opening hours to the game.
We did the legwork so you can plan straight to the good stuff. Every restaurant on this list holds a Google rating of 4.0 or higher, pulled from thousands of real diner reviews, and we have left out the places that have closed or slipped. From century-old Campbell Street institutions to halal-friendly modern spots, here are the 10 best places for dim sum in Penang to build your next weekend breakfast around.
What Time Should You Go for Dim Sum in Penang?
Early. The most loved traditional spots like Tai Tong, Tho Yuen and Yong Pin open around 6:30am and the best baskets sell out well before lunch, so a 7am to 9am arrival gets you the freshest picks and a shorter queue. If mornings are not your thing, the modern tea houses such as Lhong Tou and Dragon-i run through to the evening, so you can have your char siew bao at dinner instead. Weekends draw crowds everywhere, so aim to beat the 9am rush.
Pushcart or A La Carte: Which Style Suits You?
Penang gives you both. The old Georgetown kopitiams like Tai Tong and Tho Yuen still push trolleys and steamer trays around the room, so you point at what looks good and eat straight away, which is half the fun. The newer restaurants such as Lhong Tou and Foong Wei Heong take orders by menu, plate to order, and tend to be more comfortable for a big family table. We have flagged the style of each below so you can match the place to your mood and your group.
Table of Contents
- 1. Tai Tong Restaurant
- 2. Lhong Tou Dim Sum
- 3. Maxim Dim Sum (Pekaka)
- 4. Yong Pin Restaurant
- 5. Foong Wei Heong Restaurant
- 6. Bao Teck Tea House
- 7. Dragon-i Restaurant (Gurney Plaza)
- 8. Xiang Yun Vegetarian House
- 9. Tho Yuen Restaurant
- 10. Maxim Dim Sum (Gurney Drive)
1. Tai Tong Restaurant
If Penang dim sum had a headquarters, Tai Tong on Lebuh Cintra would be it. This Georgetown veteran has been feeding heritage-zone regulars for generations, and the pushcart trolleys still weave between packed marble-top tables in the morning rush. Point at the har gow, siew mai and lotus-leaf rice as they roll past, and wash it all down with bottomless Chinese tea. It is loud, busy and gloriously old-school, exactly what you want from a traditional yum cha session. Come early because the crowd builds fast and the popular baskets go quickly. A dinner service means you can also drop by for an evening round.
Operating Hours: Tue–Sun 6:30 am – 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm; Mon closed
Address: 45, Lebuh Cintra, George Town, 10100 Penang
Tel: 016-774 6625
Google Review: View on Google
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2. Lhong Tou Dim Sum
Lhong Tou has become one of the island’s most photographed dim sum stops, and the Pulau Tikus branch draws a steady crowd from morning right through the evening. The draw is a huge, colourful menu that runs from proper steamed classics to playful custard buns and creative modern bites that keep younger diners happy. The retro-Hong-Kong styling makes it a fun spot for a group or a family outing, and the long hours mean you are not tied to a dawn start. Order the salted egg custard bao and a few baskets of prawn dumplings, and settle in for a relaxed, all-day yum cha.
Operating Hours: Mon 7:00 am – 2:00 pm; Tue–Sun 7:00 am – 2:00 pm & 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Address: 11, Jalan Pasar, Pulau Tikus, 10350 George Town, Penang
Tel: 016-712 6186
Google Review: View on Google
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3. Maxim Dim Sum (Pekaka)
Maxim is the name mainland-side and student-belt regulars reach for, and the Pekaka outlet near Sungai Dua is the busy flagship. This is a proper sit-down dim sum hall with a long menu, quick service and prices that keep families and USM crowds coming back. The steamed prawn dumplings, siew mai and fried yam puffs are the safe bets, and the portions are generous for the value. It runs both a morning and an evening service most days, so it is handy when you fancy dim sum for dinner rather than breakfast. Roomy, reliable and easy to park at, which counts for a lot on this side of the bridge.
Operating Hours: Daily 6:30 am – 2:30 pm; dinner 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm (except Thu)
Address: Bangunan Lip Sin 2, G-7 to 12, Lebuh Pekaka 1, Sungai Dua, 11700 Gelugor, Penang
Tel: 016-713 6625
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
4. Yong Pin Restaurant
Tucked on Lebuh Kimberley in the thick of the heritage core, Yong Pin is a morning-only kopitiam that locals guard like a secret. The steamers work overtime here, turning out fresh har gow, char siew bao and chee cheong fong that regulars queue for before work. It is unpretentious, a little cramped and always humming, which is exactly the sign you are in the right place. Because it only runs a breakfast-to-early-afternoon service and shuts on Mondays, timing matters, so get there before the best trays empty. Pair your baskets with a strong local kopi and you have the classic Georgetown start to a weekend.
Operating Hours: Tue–Sun 6:30 am – 2:30 pm; Mon closed
Address: 59A, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 Penang
Tel: 016-430 6789
Google Review: View on Google
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5. Foong Wei Heong Restaurant
Foong Wei Heong on Jalan Sri Bahari is the pick when you want dim sum in a proper restaurant setting rather than a trolley scramble. Everything is made to order and comes out hot, which is why the prawn dumplings and the crispy fried items have such a devoted following. It leans a little more refined than the old kopitiams, with comfortable seating that suits a leisurely family lunch or dinner. The kitchen runs a midday and an evening service, so it is one of the few Georgetown spots where you can have a full dim sum dinner. Book ahead on weekends because the tables fill up quickly.
Operating Hours: Tue–Sun 11:45 am – 2:15 pm & 5:45 pm – 9:30 pm; Mon closed
Address: 23 & 25, Jalan Sri Bahari, George Town, 10050 Penang
Tel: 016-449 1918
Google Review: View on Google
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6. Bao Teck Tea House
Bao Teck Tea House on Lebuh Melayu blends the old and the new nicely, serving traditional dim sum inside a charming, well-kept heritage shophouse. The setting is calmer than the pushcart halls, so it is a good shout when you want to actually hear your table talk over breakfast. Handmade steamed baskets, custard buns and rice rolls are the mainstays, and the tea service leans into the tea-house theme. It opens through the morning and closes by mid-afternoon, with slightly longer hours towards the weekend. Easy to combine with a heritage-zone stroll afterwards, which makes it a tidy stop for visitors and locals alike.
Operating Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 am – 3:00 pm; Fri–Sun 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Address: 25, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10100 Penang
Tel: 04-263 1100
Google Review: View on Google
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7. Dragon-i Restaurant (Gurney Plaza)
When you want dim sum in cool comfort with a mall on your doorstep, Dragon-i at Gurney Plaza delivers. This is the polished, air-conditioned end of the scale, serving Shanghainese and Cantonese favourites all day rather than only at breakfast. The xiao long bao soup dumplings and the la mian hand-pulled noodles are the signatures people come back for, alongside solid steamed classics. It suits families with kids, shoppers taking a break, and anyone who would rather sit down for a leisurely lunch than chase trolleys. Prices sit above the kopitiam spots, but you are paying for the setting, the consistency and the all-day convenience.
Operating Hours: Daily 11:00 am – 9:30 pm
Address: 170-02-59, 2nd Floor, Gurney Plaza, Persiaran Gurney, 10250 George Town, Penang
Tel: 04-605 0377
Google Review: View on Google
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8. Xiang Yun Vegetarian House
Xiang Yun in Bayan Point proves that meat-free dim sum can be every bit as satisfying. This vegetarian kitchen recreates the yum cha spread without any meat, so the whole table can share regardless of diet, and it is a genuine relief for vegetarian and vegan diners who usually miss out. The mock char siew bao, steamed dumplings and radish cakes are done thoughtfully, and the flavours hold up well against the traditional versions. Set on the Bayan Lepas side, it is handy for the airport and the industrial belt, and the daytime-into-evening hours give you flexibility. Closed on Wednesdays, so plan around that.
Operating Hours: Thu–Tue 11:00 am – 9:00 pm; Wed closed
Address: 17-G-31, Bayan Point, Medan Kampung Relau, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang
Tel: 04-637 1108
Google Review: View on Google
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9. Tho Yuen Restaurant
Tho Yuen on Campbell Street is a genuine Georgetown institution, the sort of place your grandparents likely queued at too. The two-storey coffee shop keeps the old ways alive, with staff carrying trays of freshly steamed baskets around the room for you to choose from. Egg tarts, char siew bao and prawn dumplings are the classics regulars swear by, and the nostalgic, worn-in setting is a big part of the charm. It runs a breakfast-to-afternoon service and closes on Tuesdays, so weekends here get properly packed. Get in early, grab a marble table, and soak up one of Penang’s most authentic dim sum experiences.
Operating Hours: Wed–Mon 6:00 am – 3:00 pm; Tue closed
Address: 92, Campbell Street, George Town, 10100 Penang
Tel: 04-261 4672
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
10. Maxim Dim Sum (Gurney Drive)
Rounding out the list, the Maxim outlet at Coco Island on Gurney Drive is a favourite for a seafront-adjacent morning session. It keeps the same value-driven, crowd-pleasing formula that made the brand popular, with fresh baskets turned out through the morning until early afternoon. Steamed prawn dumplings, siew mai and fried carrot cake are the reliable orders, and the pace is quick even when it is busy. Being just off Gurney Drive, it pairs well with a post-breakfast walk along the promenade or a coffee nearby. Come before mid-morning on weekends, as it is a well-known local spot and the queue grows.
Operating Hours: Daily 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
Address: 104, Persiaran Gurney, Pulau Tikus, 10250 George Town, Penang
Tel: 016-551 5870
Google Review: View on Google
Google Map: Navigate Now
Penang packs an incredible amount of dim sum into one small island, and the right pick comes down to what kind of morning you are after. For the full pushcart ritual with all the heritage-zone atmosphere, Tai Tong, Tho Yuen and Yong Pin are the classics to chase before the baskets run out. For a comfortable, all-day sit-down, Lhong Tou, Foong Wei Heong and Dragon-i keep you fed well past breakfast. And for value or a meat-free table, Maxim and Xiang Yun have you covered. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can plan around any of them with confidence.
Opening hours and rest days do shift, so a quick call or a check on Google before you set off is always worth it. Now gather the family, pick a tea house, and make a proper weekend of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the most traditional dim sum in Penang?
For the old-school pushcart experience, head to the Georgetown heritage core. Tai Tong on Lebuh Cintra, Tho Yuen on Campbell Street and Yong Pin on Lebuh Kimberley all keep the trolley-and-steamer tradition alive, and each opens early in the morning. Get there before 9am on weekends for the freshest baskets and a shorter wait.
Is there halal or vegetarian dim sum in Penang?
Most traditional dim sum in Penang uses pork, so it is not typically halal. Vegetarian diners are well looked after at Xiang Yun Vegetarian House in Bayan Lepas, which does a fully meat-free spread. If you need strictly halal dim sum, always confirm the latest status directly with the restaurant before booking.
Can you get dim sum for dinner in Penang?
Yes. While the classic kopitiams close by mid-afternoon, several spots run an evening service. Lhong Tou, Foong Wei Heong and the Maxim Pekaka outlet all offer dinner dim sum, and Dragon-i at Gurney Plaza serves right through until night, making them handy when a morning start is not on the cards.
Do you need a reservation for dim sum in Penang?
For the trolley-style kopitiams you simply turn up and grab a table, though weekends get packed so arrive early. For sit-down restaurants like Foong Wei Heong and Dragon-i, a booking is wise for larger groups or peak weekend meals. A quick call ahead saves you a wait, especially for a big family table.
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.
