While we were on the Grab ride to Penang Hill, we asked the driver for food recommendations, and he immediately told us that the Pasar Malam Van Praagh was the place to visit on a Friday night if we wanted good local food. The famous Pasar Malam Van Praagh is well known for its lively atmosphere and endless local street food choices and operate ONLY on Friday night
According to the driver, Pasar Malam Van Praagh was one of the best local night markets to experience in Penang. The market stretches along a long busy street in Jelutong, filled with endless food stalls, smoke from grills, sizzling woks, and crowds of hungry people moving from stall to stall hunting for good food.
Pasar Malam Van Praagh starts around 5pm, but some stalls were already preparing much earlier. By the time we reached, several popular stalls already had long snaking queues forming in front of them. It felt like the entire neighbourhood had gathered there for dinner. Every few stalls, something unexpected catches our eyes.
Our Decision to Pack Food Back to Hotel
Because the crowd was getting bigger and finding seats became almost impossible in Pasar Malam Van Praagh, we decided to pack our food and head back to the hotel for a proper feast instead. Honestly, that turned out to be a great decision because we could slowly enjoy everything comfortably.
Food Feast We Bought at Pasar Malam Van Praagh
Char Kway Teow (Fried Flat Noodle)
The Char Kway Teow was packed with smoky wok hei flavour.
Satay
The satay came beautifully grilled with a rich peanut sauce that paired perfectly with the tender meat.
Assorted Siew Mai
The assorted siew mai looked so colourful and tasted surprisingly good as well.
Chicken Wrap
The chicken wrap was packed with fresh lettuce, juicy chicken, and flavourful sauce wrapped neatly in a soft tortilla.
Highlights of Pasar Malam Van Praagh
Fried Carrot Cake
Before we even saw the stall, we saw the queue. Watching the uncle expertly flipping the carrot cake using two metal ladles over the huge hot griddle was strangely satisfying.
The carrot cake had a beautiful wok hei aroma with slightly charred edges while still staying soft inside. It was fried together with egg, crunchy bean sprouts, and preserved radish that gave every bite extra flavour and texture.
Keropok Lekor
Another must-try for me was the Keropok Lekor. Freshly fried until golden brown, it had the perfect balance between chewy and crispy.
The outside had a light crisp while the inside stayed soft and bouncy. Dipping it into the sweet and spicy sauce made it even more addictive. Honestly, one bag was not enough.
What I loved most about Pasar Malam Van Praagh was the atmosphere. It wasn’t just about eating. It was about the energy, the crowds, the smoke from the grills, the sound of woks clanging, and the excitement of discovering good food everywhere you turned.
This is definitely one of those Penang experiences you should not miss, if you love exploring food while travelling to Malaysia, you may also want to check out my other food reviews.
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Tips for Travellers Going Pasar Malam Van Praagh
If you are planning to take Grab after visiting the Pasar Malam Van Praagh, it is better to walk towards the end of the street before booking your ride. The traffic around the night market gets extremely congested, especially later in the evening. Walking a little further out can save you from getting stuck in the jam for a long time.
Location:
52, Jalan Van Praagh, Taman Continental, 11600 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
You can find directions on HERE
Operating Hours:
Fri 5:00PM – 10:30PM
