Ice kacang, a popular dessert in Malaysia, has undergone several changes, from ice balls covered in colourful sugar-coated syrups in the 1950s and 1960s to the current ice kacang. In the hot and humid Malaysian heat, a cup of ice kacang will instantly hydrate and cool you down. Ice kacang is a cool Malaysian beverage with shaved ice, red beans, jelly, and sweet syrup.
Toppers such as cendol, sweet corn, peanuts, mango, durian, ice cream, gula Melaka syrup, and basil seeds are widely used. This terrifying delicacy is available at hawker booths, food courts, and malls. A common word used locally is ABC, also known as blended shaved ice or ais batu campur. Initially, ice blocks were shaved by hand, but now everything is done by machine. Here we list the top 10 ice kacang in Penang.
Is ice kacang popular?
Ice Kacang, also known as Air Batu Campur (ABC), is one of Malaysia’s most famous desserts. It is an inexpensive, sweet, refreshing dish best enjoyed on hot, sunny days.
When did ice kacang become popular?
Ice kacang was available in the 1940s and 1950s as ice balls made of finely grated ice wrapped into a ball and covered with red and green syrup. It was traditionally eaten with one’s fingers rather than a spoon and was sold for as little as five or ten cents apiece.
10 Best Ice Kacang in Penang 2023
1. Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul
If you’re in Penang and need a break from the heat, try the famed Teochew Chendul on Lebuh Keng Kwee. They’ve gone a long way in their nearly 80-year history. The shop developed from a single pushcart to many stores in Penang. The ice kacang here is incredible, with brown sugar, rose syrup, evaporated milk, peanuts, red beans, sweet corn, and various canned fruits.
Operating Hours: 10:00 pm – 6:30 pm (Monday-Sunday)
Address: 27-29, Lebuh Keng Kwee, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone No: 04-262 6002
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penangchendul/
Check Info On Website2. Ais Tingkap
Ais Tingkap is one of Penang’s most well-known beverages; ideally placed near Chowrasta Market, it is a must-try for both residents and visitors. Another must-try item is ice kacang. They will serve you finely shaved ice topped with brown sugar syrup, cinnamon, and a scoop of ice cream. The colour gives it the appearance of being incredibly sweet. Still, it’s just incredible and refreshing—the sweetly shaved ais with ais cream melt on your tongue.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (Monday-Wednesday)
Address: 2, Lebuh Tamil, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone No: 016-400 3310
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
3. Ice Cafe
If you wish to visit one of Penang’s most beautiful cafes, head to Ice Cafe Penang. This Georgetown cafe, located along Victoria Street, offers more than just ice cream and other icy desserts. This restaurant is called Ice Cafe since you can eat in a chilly, cold setting. Their mountain of shaved ice has a silky texture that gives it an excellent mouthfeel with each spoonful. Authentic sweet syrups evaporated milk, and more fruits are used with this to give the ice kacang a flavorful boost.
Operating Hours: 10:00 am – 6:30 pm (Monday – Sunday)
Address: 193(Level 1), Lebuh Victoria, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone No: 04-262 1193
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IceCafe17/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icecafe_penang/?hl=en
Website Info4. Fruitmade
Fruitmade is a small store on Lebuh Cannon in George Town, Penang, that sells fresh fruit juice, smoothies, and ice kacang. As you search for street art and some interesting temples, this is the ideal place to stop and relax. The shaved ice isn’t the conventional gritty variety but a smooth, easy-to-slip-into-mouth quality. Additionally, they don’t cut corners on the ingredients, using rich brown sugar syrup and a variety of fruits to cover the shaved ice.
Operating Hours:
10:00 am – 6:30 pm (Wednesday – Sunday)
Closed on Tuesday
Address: 6, Cannon St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
Phone No: 010-387 8286
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fruitmadepenang/
5. Kek Seng格成 (红豆雪)
Kek Seng is a cafe on Penang Road that has existed in the exact location for almost a century. Traditionally, a hand-operated, primary mechanical device is used to crank or shave the ice from a large block. The ice kacang is topped with rose syrup, plenty of red beans, grass jelly, cream corn, lychee, two scoops of ice cream, colourful jelly, palm sugar syrup, and coconut milk.
Operating Hours:
11:00 am – 3:00 pm (Monday)
9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Tuesday-Saturday)
9:00 am – 5:30 pm (Sunday)
Address: 382 & 384, Jln Penang, 10000 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone No: 016-412 1300
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
6. Swatow Lane Ice Kacang
Swatow Lane Ice Kacang began in 1923 with a modest pushcart along the road. Today, the modest pushcart is long gone. The stand has relocated to the New World Park Hawker Centre, just a few yards from the original location, where Lee’s grandsons and great-grandsons manage it. Ice Kacang Special is available for a hefty RM 6 charge. The regular ice kacang is topped with 3 fruits of the day and one of the available ice creams. According to customer feedback, the shaved ice was smooth and free of ice crystals that irritate the tongue.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 9:30 pm (Monday – Sunday)
Address: E, 102, 1, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone No: 016-459 5213
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iloveicekacang/
7. The Craftisan
The Craftisan, located on the first level of Soul Cafe, specialises in Gelato-inspired sweet delicacies. The cafe is wonderfully spaced and well illuminated, with clean and comfy couches producing a homey-intimate feel. It’s a great location to unwind with friends over some sweet delights. The ice kacang will be served alongside a selection of ice creams. The flavours are Asian-inspired, ranging from pleasantly mild Jasmine and Matcha to stronger ones like Chinese Tea and occasionally unusual pleasures like Durian Ice Cream. According to reviews, the shaved ice is decorated unusually, demonstrating their ingenuity.
Operating Hours:
9:00 am – 11:00 pm (Monday-Friday)
9:00 am – 12:00 am (Saturday)
2:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Wednesday)
Closed on Sunday
Address: Wellings Pharmacy Mansion, 67, Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah, 10050 George Town, Penang
Phone No: 04-227 8200
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecraftisan/
8. Armenian Street Ice Ball 86
If you notice a crowd of people holding up ice balls of various colours, you’ve found the Armenian Street Ice Ball kiosk. They also provide ice kacang in addition to ice balls. This ice kacang worked out rather well because the colourings had no artificial flavour. With the weather being so hot, this freezing-cold dessert was wonderfully pleasant. You can observe the process of preparing the ice, which is highly satisfying.
Operating Hours: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm (Monday – Sunday)
Address: 78, Lebuh Armenian, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Phone No: 011-1491 6070
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArmenianStCatHouse/
9. Relau 88 Laksa and Ice Kacang
Relau 88 One excellent secret in Relau is the Assam Laksa kiosk, located within a garden supply store on a corner home along Jalan Paya Terubong. Gorgeous flowers surround the restaurant because it shares the exact location of the garden supply store. They serve cendol and, of course, their famous ice kacang dessert. A dish of evaporated milk-doused shaved ice with various flavours, including sweet corn, grass jelly, and red beans, will be served. The homemade Palm Sugar has a lovely smokey sweet flavour that stands out from other ice kacang.
Operating Hours:
11:30 am – 6:00 pm (Wednesday – Sunday)
Closed on Monday & Tuesday
Address: 11060 Bayan Lepas, Penang
Phone No: 012-442 2006
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://ms-my.facebook.com/Relau88laksa/
View website10. Lily Penang Hill Ice Kacang
Lily Penang Hill Ice Kacang is a visual and gastronomic delight. This homemade shaved ice is different from your typical Ais Kacang fix. Instead of sweetened syrup, fresh fruit juice is utilised in the preparation. Light, fluffy, shaved ice topped with fresh fruits, pearls, and a dollop of ice cream. The stall is crowded, but the turnover rate is quick, so you should be able to get a seat there. Aside from the natural fructose in fresh fruits, less sweet or no-sweet options are available.
Operating Hours:
10:30 am – 7:00 pm (Monday- Friday)
9:00 am – 7:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday)
Address: Bukit Bendera, 11500 Bukit Bendera, Penang
Phone No: 016-407 0304
Google Map: Navigate Now
Google Reviews: Here
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penanghill.lily.icekacang/
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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.asia. For more information, kindly refer to our copyright, privacy & disclosure policy.
