Penang runs on seafood. The island sits right on the Strait of Malacca, the fishing boats come in daily, and that freshness shows up on the plate whether you are cracking chilli crab by the water in Teluk Kumbar or tucking into a plate of butter prawns at a busy zi char hall in George Town. For a lot of us, a proper Penang weekend means gathering the family around a big round table and ordering far too much steamed fish, salted egg squid, and sweet crab. The only real question is where to go.
We did the legwork so you do not have to. Every restaurant on this list holds a Google rating of 4.0 or higher, pulled from thousands of real diner reviews, and we have ranked them by how many people have actually reviewed them, most-reviewed first. From breezy seaside kampung spots on the southern coast to old-school seafood houses along the harbour, here are the 10 best seafood restaurants in Penang to plan your next feast around.
Where Do You Find the Best Seafood in Penang?
Penang seafood clusters in a few areas. The southern coast around Teluk Kumbar, Batu Maung, and Teluk Tempoyak is where you go for kampung-style seaside dining, boats bobbing in view and crab hauled in that morning. George Town and the Jelutong stretch pack in the busy zi char and seafood halls, easy to reach and open late. Over the bridge in Butterworth and Bagan you get the local favourites the tourists miss. Each area has its own vibe, so match the spot to the mood of your table.
What Should You Order at a Penang Seafood Restaurant?
Start with the crab. Whether it is sweet-and-spicy chilli crab, salted egg, or a simple steam, it is the dish Penang does best. Add a steamed fish for the table, a plate of butter or cereal prawns, and something green like kangkung belacan to balance the richness. Salted egg squid and fried oysters are easy crowd-pleasers too. Prices swing with the market rate of the day, so ask before you order the big crab or lobster. Come as a group, share everything family-style, and pace yourself.
Table of Contents
- 1. Fisherman’s Wharf Food Court
- 2. Penang Hai Boey Seafood
- 3. D’Seafood Paradise
- 4. Ong Cheng Huat Seafood Restaurant
- 5. Dehappy Seafood Restaurant
- 6. Starview Restaurant
- 7. Big Crab Street Food Court
- 8. Daily Fish Seafood Restaurant
- 9. Da Shu Xia Seafood House
- 10. Tai Tong Seafood Restaurant
1. Fisherman’s Wharf Food Court
The most-reviewed seafood spot on the island, Fisherman’s Wharf on Lebuh Sungai Pinang is a sprawling open-air food court built around fresh catch. You pick your seafood, tell the stall how you want it cooked, and settle in with a cold drink while the woks fire up. Chilli crab, salted egg prawns, buttery bamboo clams, and grilled fish all land fast and cheap here, and because several stalls share the space you can mix zi char with satay or noodles for the fussier eaters. It runs from breakfast right through to midnight, so it suits everything from a lazy lunch to a late supper with a big group.
Operating Hours: 8:30 am – 12:00 am (Daily)
Address: 92A, Lebuh Sungai Pinang 1, Sungai Pinang, 11600 Jelutong, Penang
Tel: 012-404 0265
Google Review: View on Google
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2. Penang Hai Boey Seafood
Hai Boey is the postcard version of Penang seafood, a seaside kampung restaurant out in Teluk Kumbar where you eat with the water and the fishing boats right in front of you. Sunset here is genuinely lovely, which is why couples and families keep making the drive south. The kitchen is known for its crab done every which way, its sweet and springy prawns, and a steamed fish that lets the freshness speak for itself. It gets busy on weekends and closes on Wednesdays, so book ahead and aim for the golden hour if you want the view. A proper occasion dinner rather than a quick bite.
Operating Hours: 5:00 pm – 10:30 pm (Closed Wednesday)
Address: MK 9, 29, Jalan Pasir Belanda, Teluk Kumbar, 11920 Bayan Lepas, Penang
Tel: 013-488 1114
Google Review: View on Google
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3. D’Seafood Paradise
Tucked away in the fishing village of Teluk Tempoyak in Batu Maung, D’Seafood Paradise trades on a laid-back seaside setting and market-fresh catch. It is the kind of place where the menu bends to whatever the boats brought in, so ask what is good that evening. Regulars come for the crab, the mantis prawns, and a well-fried squid, all cooked in the honest zi char style Penang families grew up on. The open-air seating catches the sea breeze and makes for an easy, unhurried dinner. It shuts on Tuesdays and fills up on weekends, so a call ahead is worth it. Bring a group and order across the table.
Operating Hours: 3:30 pm – 11:00 pm (Closed Tuesday)
Address: Jalan Teluk Tempoyak, 11960 Batu Maung, Penang
Tel: 04-626 6985
Google Review: View on Google
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4. Ong Cheng Huat Seafood Restaurant
Over on the mainland in Bagan Lallang, Butterworth, Ong Cheng Huat is the local secret that Penangites cross the bridge for. This is daytime seafood, open for lunch and closed by evening, and the draw is honest cooking at fair prices rather than any view or frills. Steamed fish, crab, and a properly wok-hei zi char keep the regulars loyal, and the turnover means everything tastes fresh off the boat. It shuts on Mondays and the lunchtime crowd can be heavy, so go early. If you want the sort of no-nonsense seafood that locals actually eat, without the tourist markup, this one belongs on your list.
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 5:30 pm (Closed Monday)
Address: 2004, Bagan Lallang, 13400 Butterworth, Penang
Tel: 012-453 5188
Google Review: View on Google
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5. Dehappy Seafood Restaurant
Right in the thick of George Town on Jalan Macalister, Dehappy is the easy-to-reach dinner spot when you do not fancy the drive south. It runs as a lively evening zi char restaurant, tables spilling out and woks going non-stop, and it has built a strong following for its crab and its signature dishes. The salted egg prawns and the crab in various sauces are the orders people rave about, and the kitchen keeps things quick even when it is packed. Being central, parking can be tight, so come a little early. A solid, reliable choice for a mid-week seafood fix without leaving the city.
Operating Hours: 4:30 pm – 11:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 58, Jalan Macalister, 10400 George Town, Penang
Tel: 012-485 2388
Google Review: View on Google
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6. Starview Restaurant
A George Town institution on Jalan Dato Keramat, Starview is the sort of big Chinese seafood restaurant families book for birthdays, reunions, and wedding dinners. It runs proper lunch and dinner services with a midday break, and the round tables and banquet feel make it a natural fit for a crowd. Beyond the crab and steamed fish, it does a strong line in Cantonese-style seafood, roast dishes, and dim sum, so it works for guests who want more than just the grill. Service is quick and used to handling big groups. Come with the whole extended family and let someone order a set.
Operating Hours: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Daily)
Address: 341, Jalan Dato Keramat, 10150 George Town, Penang
Tel: 04-226 6544
Google Review: View on Google
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7. Big Crab Street Food Court
The name tells you the plan. Big Crab in Jelutong is a street-style food court where crab is the headline act, piled high and drenched in your choice of sauce. It is casual and unfussy, the sort of place you rock up to in slippers with a hungry group and get stuck in with your hands. Beyond the crab there is the usual spread of prawns, clams, and fried favourites from the surrounding stalls, plus cold drinks to wash down the spice. Long hours from morning to late night make it flexible, and the Jelutong location is easy to slot into a George Town day. Go messy, go hungry.
Operating Hours: 8:00 am – 11:30 pm (Daily)
Address: 28, Jalan Perusahaan Jelutong 2, Fortune Park, 11600 Jelutong, Penang
Tel: 016-468 1724
Google Review: View on Google
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8. Daily Fish Seafood Restaurant
On Jalan Logan in George Town, Daily Fish leans into exactly what its name promises: fresh fish, sold and cooked daily. It doubles as a spot where you can eye the catch before it hits the wok, which regulars appreciate. The kitchen keeps a wide zi char menu, but the steamed and fried fish are the reason to come, alongside the usual crab and prawn favourites. It runs both a lunch and dinner service, so it is one of the more flexible George Town options when you want seafood in the middle of the day. Straightforward, fresh, and central. Ask for the day’s best fish and let them cook it simply.
Operating Hours: 8:00 am – 2:30 pm & 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm (Daily)
Address: 34, Jalan Logan, 10400 George Town, Penang
Tel: 04-229 2678
Google Review: View on Google
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9. Da Shu Xia Seafood House
Known to locals as the Tree Shade seafood place, Da Shu Xia sits along Lebuh Victoria near Weld Quay and cooks under the canopy of an old tree, which is exactly where the name comes from. It is a classic George Town harbour spot, unpretentious and always busy, serving the classics that made Penang seafood famous. The crab, the fried oyster, and the fish are the safe bets, and the harbourside setting adds a bit of old-town charm. It splits into lunch and dinner sittings and closes on Wednesdays, so plan around that. A dependable pick when you want authentic zi char near the waterfront.
Operating Hours: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm & 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Closed Wednesday)
Address: 177C, Lebuh Victoria, 10300 George Town, Penang
Tel: 012-474 5566
Google Review: View on Google
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10. Tai Tong Seafood Restaurant
Out at the quiet northwestern end of the island in Teluk Bahang, Tai Tong is worth the scenic drive past the national park. This is village seafood at its most relaxed, a family-run kitchen turning out crab, prawns, and steamed fish for a loyal crowd that includes plenty of returning holidaymakers. Evenings are the main event, with weekend lunches added on, so time your visit and book if you are coming with a group. The far-flung location keeps it calmer than the city spots, which is part of the appeal. Pair it with a day at the beach or the Escape park and finish with a proper seafood dinner.
Operating Hours: 5:30 pm – 9:45 pm (Closed Tuesday)
Address: 4, Jalan Hassan Abas, Teluk Bahang, 11050 Tanjung Bungah, Penang
Tel: 04-885 1693
Google Review: View on Google
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Penang gives you the full spread of seafood, and the right pick comes down to the occasion. For a special sunset dinner by the water, Hai Boey and the southern coast spots like D’Seafood Paradise and Tai Tong are hard to beat. For fuss-free freshness in the city, Fisherman’s Wharf, Dehappy, and Daily Fish deliver without the drive. And when the whole extended family is coming, the big halls at Starview handle a crowd with ease. Every spot here clears a 4.0 Google rating, so you can book any of them with confidence.
Seafood prices move with the daily market rate, and hours do change, so a quick call before you head out never hurts. Now round up your crew, pick a table by the sea, and make a proper weekend of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which area has the best seafood in Penang?
The southern coast around Teluk Kumbar, Batu Maung, and Teluk Tempoyak is the classic choice for seaside kampung seafood with a view, home to spots like Hai Boey and D’Seafood Paradise. For convenience, George Town and Jelutong pack in busy zi char halls, while Butterworth over the bridge hides local favourites the tourists tend to miss.
Is seafood in Penang halal?
Many of the popular seafood restaurants in Penang are Chinese-run zi char kitchens that are not halal-certified and may serve pork or alcohol. There are separate Muslim-friendly seafood and ikan bakar spots around the island, so if halal matters to your table, always confirm the latest status directly with the restaurant before you book.
How much does a Penang seafood dinner cost?
It depends heavily on what you order. Everyday dishes like fried fish, prawns, and vegetables are affordable, but crab, mantis prawns, and larger fish are priced by weight at the daily market rate. Always ask the price before ordering the big crab or lobster so there are no surprises when the bill arrives.
Do I need to book a seafood restaurant in Penang?
For weekends, sunsets, and larger groups, yes. Seaside favourites like Hai Boey and Tai Tong fill up fast during peak dinner hours, and several spots close one day a week, so a quick call ahead saves you a wasted trip and a long wait for a 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.
