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Penang

3.7 (1.3k reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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PENANG ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Penang

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Mira J.

I have some great friends, and this outing proved just that. I planned a Sunday field trip, something I'd like to implement monthly, to the African American Museum for the Ruth E. Carter Afro futurism in Costume Design exhibition (Sinners, Wakanda Forever, etc.). And what do you need on a field trip? Lunch! We looked at the options around us, considered dietary restrictions, and decided Penang was the place for us. And they did not disappoint! Service was great... We were immediately seated. The weather was a bit chilly, and when we requested a new space away from the door, we were accommodated without incident. When I tell you the roti with curry changed my life?? I could eat that everyday and not get tired of it?! It's sooo perfect! Sheesh! We ordered a lot of different dishes, so we kind of shared around the table, leaving nothing to be desired. The green curry seafood in clay pot was delicious! I mean, every variation of curry I tasted was somehow the best curry. Haha The mango fish was sooo good! The fried vegetable dumplings were amazing. I will surely be back. I don't even care if I have to get it delivered, I will be enjoying this food again!

Seafood noodle soup
Retna S.

My husband and I dined here before going to Chinese Lantern Festival. There were not many people there. You have to use the QR code to see the menu. No more a pot of hot tea. Maybe they are cutting cost. It took forever for the waiter to take our order. He's very stoic, no smile. It took quite a long time for the food to arrive. In the past roti canai came out fast. Roti canai was delicious as always. Chicken satay: the chicken was definitely much small than before. Seafood sizzling plate: it was a disappointment. Lack of flavor, squid was hard to chew, I felt like chewing a rubber. Service was definitely bad. I had to go to the counter to ask for the bill because our waiter was hard to find. I asked for containers for the leftover. I asked two waiters but the containers never arrived. Finally I asked the girl whose job was to clear up the tables. She was friendlier than the waiters and gave me the containers right away. I think she should be promoted. There's a discount for paying with cash.

Trish L.

My boyfriend and I tried Penang for lunch on a recommendation from a family member. We ordered the roti canai as a small app to share and we thought it was unique and flavorful. I ordered the huge bowl of wonton soup with noodles as my main and my bf ordered Hainanese chicken. The soup came out extra hot and the wontons were fresh. I loved the addition of noodles bc it made this a very hearty dish. My bf was a little disappointed in his choice because he found he was picking through a bunch of small bones the entire time. It was likely a mistake on his part ordering. The flavor was good, though! I loved the decor and our server was very nice.

Dried Curry Chicken with Rice
Utsav R.

Penang used to be a mainstay for us in NYC, but all the locations there shut down years ago so we were happily surprised to find one in Philly. Ordered the Roti Canai, which wasn't great, and the Dry Curry Chicken, which was outstanding. Service was friendly and prompt. The fake fireplace on the dual mega screens was a bit kitschy but it was nevertheless a fun place to relive some good memories from this chain's better days.

Roti telur
Ramesh A.

Penang is one of my favorite restaurants to eat in China town in Philly. This place gets busy during peak times and typically a wait time. This is in city so parking is going to be challenging but there are lot of paid parking lots closer by. The interior is good and maintained well. I ordered Roti canai with Chicken sauce and also vegetable sauce. The Roti very thin flaky bread and that goes with that Coconut curry style chicken sauce. I can easily go for more than 3 Roti canai's on a good day .lol... Then ordered Roti Telur which is the stuffed with onions and egg between the Rotis and good for sharing I wouldnt recommend it for individual meal. This also comes with chicken or veggie sauce. We ordered their classic Curry chicken with bone and this time it was too much turmeric but typically this is a great food to enjoy. Singapore street noodles was good with good combination of veggies and perfect texture. Overall had again a fantastic experience at Penang.

Laura P.

I've been here a few times, and whenever I'm craving Malaysian food, this is my go to spot in the city. I always order the roti canai, it's a must. The satay is pretty good too, though I usually only get it when I'm with friends since the mixed satay platter is perfect for a group of three. The curry dish was flavorful but could use a bit more spice in my opinion. The menu is available via the QR code on the table, they accept cards but you can get a small discount if you pay in cash.

Hainanese chicken over rice
Uyen N.

nasi lemak is good; they have a pickled veggie that has a peanut flavor that is super good. The meat in the dish is beef rendang I believe. Chicken over rice is my go to! Lots of meat, taste delicious, and affordable. Satay is good but the meat was kinda burnt.

Kang Kung Belacan
Michelle C.

We were walking around Philly and came across this Malaysian restaurant! We wanted a good combo of a vegetable-based appetizer and an entree so we got the Kang Kang Belecan (10/10) and Fried Pearl Noodles (the noodles were indeed pearls!). The foods were not greasy at all - I think they did a good job of balancing chewiness, savoriness, and spiciness. Service was kind and regularly checked in with us. I was a bit disappointed by the state of the woman's bathrooms - between the two bathroom stalls there was a malfunctioning toilet and a broken door. Otherwise, the whole place is quite beautiful! A wonderful place to eat and the high ceilings gives a level of spaciousness when eating we really appreciated.

Sabrina H.

I really enjoyed dining here and would highly recommend it if you are visiting Philly. We got the roti with curry sauce, which gave a mix of Indian food naan and Chinese scallion pancakes vibes and it was amazing to dip in the curry sauce! We also got noodle and chicken and the sauce on the chicken was so flavorful and great. I loved it! The servers were also very attentive and refilled our water cups. The food was also served really quickly.

Payal P.

Penang is amazing! I've been going to this Malaysian restaurant for years. We quickly got a table because we went on a Monday afternoon. The place is pretty big and it was pretty quiet inside. Ended up splitting a roti canai, satay chicken, and the chicken curry. The roti canai was so tiny. I remember a couple years back it was a lot bigger. Skimpflation has really hit Penang! It was still really good however. The satay chicken was also really tiny but I liked how they cooked it. It also looked like quality chicken pieces. It did have a small side of onions and cucumbers. The peanut dipping sauce was to die for. The chicken curry I highly recommend getting. I really liked how the chicken was thinly cut. I also really liked the texture and taste of the curry. The curry was so thick and flavorful. I can't believe it took me more than 10 years to try the chicken curry from this place.

Vursaceee 9.

As a loyal customer of Penang for over nine years, this recent visit with my boyfriend was the most disappointing experience I've had. We arrived at 8:30 pm, knowing the restaurant closed at 9:30 pm, so we rushed to order. To our surprise, we were greeted with an unpleasant and hostile service from our server. He persistently tolled everything--foods, water, and extra sauce--across the table as if we were bothering him. At 9 pm, one of the servers started sweeping around while we were still eating, banging on the chairs, which made us extremely uncomfortable. We could go on, but I hope the restaurant takes action to address this issue. If it continues, I won't be bringing my family or friends here. I genuinely love Penang, but I shouldn't have to feel this way. Please address this problem immediately, or you'll lose your business.

5 Penang Satay Beef
Amy P.

3.5 rating. I've been multiple times, haven't been disappointed. My most recent visit was the first in a long time. The menu changed to QR codes, fine, but menus didn't have any description of the dish. I'm pretty sure the physical menus in the past had descriptions telling you what was in the dish. Server was quick to come take our order but then we had to flag the server down multiple times because items were missing or just taking a long time. Restaurant wasn't busy at all. Food is good though. Roti always good, got a side of coconut rice. Tried the Penang satay beef. Beef was soooo good!!! Just overcooked and dry though, i can imagine how great it is when cooked properly. I can't remember the noodle dish name but it was solid, nothing amazing but good and they didn't cheap out on the protein.

Beef Rendang
Meredith R.

As a fan of Penang in Atlanta we ventured into what I'm guessing is their branch in Philadelphia. (Perhaps they're not affiliated. Beats me!) I'd certainly return, but that would be after I try at least a dozen other restaurants in Chinatown that pique my interest. With that said, other than the bread I wouldn't duplicate this order. For an appetizer, we went with Roti Canai, a flat bread that comes with a chicken curry dipping sauce. Both the bread and the sauce are delicious! Beef Rendang is good if you have a hankering for Jewish pot roast. I'm telling you, it's reminiscent of what I grew up with in Brooklyn. So lightly spiced, I'd never know it's Malaysian. And the fried squid?! A big no. You can't taste the squid underneath all that fried stuff. With a bunch of servers all helping out, service is efficient and impersonal. The place isn't cheap. Not terribly expensive, but for the price of entrees they could certainly throw in a ball of steamed rice.

Beware of asking for hot tea,  they charge $5 for it.  This is not acceptable in Chinatown.  I will not be back again.

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Grandmas Philly

Grandmas Philly

4.2
(585 reviews)
0.5 mi
$$

Located in the heart of downtown, this restaurant is easy to walk to if you're staying in the area…read more Pad See Ew with chicken - This is my go-to dish at other Thai restaurants since I can't do spicy items. I got the zero spice level (they offer 0-5) and it was delicious. There was enough food for me to have leftovers. The noodles were nice and soft! Mango Sticky Rice - This was pretty and tasty. My only challenge with this dish was trying to cut the strips of mango with a spoon while trying not to spill anything out of the bowl. I would definitely go here again!

This restaurant is hyped all over tik tok so I went to try it. I think it's a trendy place to be…read morebut that's about it. The drinks were good and I quite enjoyed mine. The duck was small and a bit dry and not very flavorful. The curry was runny and thin so it slid off of the veggies and duck. The pad Thai was honestly quite small and tasted like any pad thai you could order at any random restaurant and it was also just vaguely dry. My biggest grievances with this place was the ambiance. I feel like they wanted to fit as many tables as they physically could in that building and boy did they. The tables are so close together and so tiny. We had and I'm not exaggerating under 3 inches between us and the table next to us and we were on the wall with booths on one half. The poor women go got seated next to us had to move her table on top of the table on her other side and squeeze between ours and hers just to get into the booth. And even then it was tight so her butt ended up on our table and I felt bad because she looked so embarrassed and apologized but there was nothing she could do. The silverware is ridiculously long for the small table they give you. We did not have room to comfortably fit 2 entrees on the table with our drinks and our forks and our silverware and our small plates. We also had a reservation, and our table wasn't ready and there was no waiting area. They didn't have an estimate of when it would be ready so they sent us out. We walked around for 15-20 minutes before they were able to seat us. They also had music playing not quietly and because of the proximity of all of the tables everyone was kind of talking loud to be able to hear each other. It felt more like a bar than a sit down restaurant. There are so many Thai places just within a block of grandmas I could not understand why someone would choose to wait there rather than go to Chatayee or Dara. I think this place is catered to look cool on Instagram and if that's your goal then you'll be quite happy.

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Walking in!
Walking in!
Crab flutes
Crab flutes
Thai Sausage

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Thai Sausage
Kalaya

Kalaya

4.4
(628 reviews)
1.9 mi

Lovely experience...we had the tasting menu…read more Appetizers...loved the dumplings and chive rice cakes...we ordered oysters as well (those were not as successful) The prawns were delicious...I recommend using the spoon to get all the flavors in a bite. The ground pork curry was my favorite...sublime. I am going to have lots of leftovers tomorrow and I'm pretty happy about that. Dessert...I don't generally like tiramisu...this will change anyone's mind. The shaved ice...I can't...it's glorious. Anyway...go. The parking is easy on a Sunday...not sure about the weekend.

Kalaya has a beautiful atmosphere with lush greenery, warm lighting, and a vibrant energy that…read moremakes the dining experience feel special. The service was attentive, and every dish was beautifully presented. We ordered the grilled prawns, goat curry with turmeric rice, crispy rice cakes, and the signature purple dumplings. The prawns were fresh and flavorful, the goat curry was rich and tender, and the rice cakes and dumplings were both unique and delicious. My only downside is the value. The portions were on the smaller side, especially considering the price, so it didn't feel like the best value for the cost. That said, the quality of the food and the ambiance made it an enjoyable experience. Overall, I'd recommend Kalaya if you're looking for creative, authentic Thai cuisine and a great atmosphere--just be prepared for smaller portions and higher prices. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes.

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Bar Area
Bar Area
Gong Ob Woonsen (Shrimp & Glass Noodles w/Bacon & Chinese Celery)
Gong Ob Woonsen (Shrimp & Glass Noodles w/Bacon & Chinese Celery)
Goong Ob Woonsen (Shrimp & Glass Noodles w/Bacon & Chinese Celery)

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Goong Ob Woonsen (Shrimp & Glass Noodles w/Bacon & Chinese Celery)
Xiandu Thai

Xiandu Thai

4.2
(722 reviews)
0.4 mi
$$

We went visited Xiandu Thai a year ago and the food was delicious minus one thing we didn't really…read morecare for. However overall it was some of the best Thai food we had in Philly and we used to live in the area years ago. We decided we had to come back and see if the food was still just as good and the results are in...IT WAS! First the customer service is still really good and the server was beyond friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is still super quant and perfect for a girls dinner or a date night! Now onto the food! We ordered the Sexy Shrimp appetizer, Pad Thai, Dan Dan Noodles! The Sexy Shrimp appetizer was good but we weren't really a fan of the dipping sauce that came with it. It was like a chipotle dipping sauce but I think the a traditional Thai Sweet Chili would have been better. But my, my, my the Pad Thai and Dan Dan Noodles were Phenomenal! Portion size was HUGE, flavor and spice was spot on and honestly, I wish I could pick up this restaurant and move it to DC where we are located! Still phenomenal and we will continue to return everytime we come back to visit Philly!

Phenomenal place! I love Xiandu Thai and they offer a good deal Happy Hour and their menu overall…read morehas some great options. Drinks are made well and reasonably priced. I love good Hendricks martini But I also do stray away from some of their original cocktails. The Chicken Pad Thai is my absolute favorite here. I always ask for spice and extra peanuts! Never disappointed. The Drunken Noodles are also a go-to favorite. Their starter options are sized appropriately so you'll have room for dinner. Bonnie & Peter are remarkable and they have an amazing staff. Xiandu is such a kind and friendly atmosphere with a beautiful ambiance both indoor and outdoor. Located right on Walnut Street you'll see beautiful views from their full bar (with two TVs) and they also have a beautiful patio with spacious seating. I would recommend Xiandu for a cute lunch, beautiful romantic dinner and a place to really come have some amazing Thai cuisine!

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Xiandu Thai
Angry Beef
Angry Beef
Xiandu Thai

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Circles Contemporary Thai

Circles Contemporary Thai

3.5
(468 reviews)
1.0 mi
$$

I've heard so many positive reviews of circles & drive by it often, but I'm only just now getting a…read morechance to try it. The place itself had decent parking out front, I was seated immediately & provided water while waiting for the rest of my party. It was pretty cozy inside. It always sounded odd when people spoke of how amazing their cheesesteak eggrolls are, yes they're a staple Philly food item but still a little odd for a Thai place. I get it now. The cheesesteak spring roll is superior to any cheesesteak roll I've ever had. The spring roll wrapper just makes it so much lighter & crispier & than the inside? Perfection, even when it's scorching your mouth. The chicken puffs were also delicious, especially in the sauce. Someone at our table may or may not have been drinking the green curry like it was soup & we couldn't blame them, it was that good. Highly recommend the pad Thai with shrimp. The thai iced tea was also a 10/10. This is one of those places where I left leaving a little full but oh so content. Can't wait to try more.

I'm mad they don't give you that many shrimp. Should I be? Perhaps not, but I'll write about that…read more Maybe opt for the chicken dishes that come with plenty of protein. The flavor was on point for the 6 shrimp. Ok size shrimp but nothing overwhelming. Pineapple rice was enjoyed by my bestie. A staple they get at Circles. I really liked the mango rice. This was Uber eats and delivered hot to SoPhilly. I've been to their cozy BYOB before and figured-- why not get the delivery?! Service was way longer than it said. Very slow and changed drivers 3-4 times because it was so slow. Maybe busy night for dine-in, either way definitely don't depend on timely delivery. Extra 30-40 minutes beyond initial estimate.

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Pad Thai Panang Curry Green Curry
Pad Thai Panang Curry Green Curry
Thai tea
Thai tea
Pad kee mao

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Pad kee mao
Mawn

Mawn

4.7
(258 reviews)
1.0 mi

After hearing so much about MAWN, we decided to celebrate our anniversary here. Thank God we were…read moreable to get a reservation because this place absolutely lived up to the hype. From the food to the service, every part of the experience felt thoughtful, intentional, and genuinely memorable. It's the kind of restaurant that reminds you why dining out can be so special. The space itself is cozy, intimate, and full of character. The unique design creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to settle in and enjoy every course rather than rush through the meal. The service deserves every bit of a 10/10. All of the servers were incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and passionate about the menu. Since several dishes and ingredients were unfamiliar to us, they took the time to explain each one, answer our questions, and offer recommendations without making us feel rushed. That guidance gave us the confidence to step outside of our comfort zone, and every recommendation paid off. We ordered the Mawn Noodle Soup, Grilled Saht Koh, Mahope Samut, Steak and Prohok, Thai Crab Fried Rice, and ended the evening with the Funnel Cake. Every dish was beautifully plated and packed with bold, balanced flavors. The Steak and Prohok was refreshing and full of flavor in every bite. The Grilled Saht Koh had a perfect char and was cooked beautifully. The Mahope Samut was exceptional, with tender, perfectly seared scallops. Both this and the Saht Koh were perfect starters. The Mawn Noodle Soup was incredibly comforting with layers of flavor and easily one of the highlights of the meal. The Thai Crab Fried Rice was another standout--light, fragrant, and loaded with fresh crab, making it much more than just a side dish. And somehow, after such an incredible meal, the Funnel Cake still managed to steal the show. It was the perfect ending: crisp, indulgent, and not overly sweet. It's easy to see why MAWN has earned such a loyal following. Exceptional hospitality, creative dishes that are executed with precision, and an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and special make this one of the best dining experiences I've had in Philadelphia. We'll absolutely be back, and next time, I'll be ordering the dishes we loved while making room to explore even more of the menu!

Philadelphia's food scene never disappoints and Mawn proves it. Along the same strip as popular…read moreAngelo's Pizzeria is Mawn, a Cambodian restaurant worth visiting. Walking in around 5:45pm on a Friday evening in June without a reservation, I was able to get a table for 45 minutes within five minutes. Here's my experience. 1) Food: Wow- just wow. Everything is excellent. To feed a hungry stomach, I ordered the Garlicky Cabbage, Yellow Curry Noodle Soup with Chicken, and my server gifted me with the Grilled Saht Koh as a surprise. Everything had textured flavors that are well balanced. The winner for me was the Garlicky Cabbage. Having grown up in a country where cabbage is the staple, these are among the best I've ever had. I'll note that I was warned that the Yellow Curry Noodle Soup was spicy. I love spice but can't handle it. I was unaffected by the soup's spice level. 2) Drinks: The Thai green iced tea was unique, refreshing, and delicious! I almost ordered a second. Like many places in Philly, it's BYOB so there isn't a cocktail, beer, wine menu. 3) Service: It was excellent. Taylor, my server, was passionate about the menu, personable, and interesting to talk to. She's awesome! 4) Location: In South Philly, there's a lot to experience nearby from top-rated restaurants, parks, and public art.

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Inside
Inside
Fried chicken
Fried chicken
Fried Chicken

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Fried Chicken

Penang - malaysian - Updated July 2026

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