New Lane Hawker Centre (Lorong Baru), Penang

Love how Lorong Baru transforms from a normal road into a hawker street every evening. The char koay teow stall had a 40-minute queue but the plate was worth it — strong wok hei and generous cockles. We also had popiah (fresh spring rolls) from another stall, stuffed with jicama and shrimp. More street-level and local-feeling than Gurney Drive.

The duck koay teow soup here is underrated — clear broth with tender braised duck and silky flat noodles. RM8 for a bowl. The chicken and pork satay from the lady with the trolley cart was also outstanding — well-marinated and grilled over charcoal. Plastic stools and folding tables on the road. Arrive by 5 pm to beat the dinner rush.

Good variety of Penang street food in one stretch. The Hokkien mee stall served a decent prawn broth and the rojak was properly tart. Finding a table can be a fight during peak hours around 6-8 pm — we shared with another group. Ten-minute walk from Komtar makes it accessible. Some stalls close on Wednesdays.

The famous char koay teow stall draws the biggest crowd and for good reason — the noodles had excellent wok hei with a proper charred edge. The popiah here is also among the best in Penang, with a thin wrapper that does not break and a filling that balances sweet and savoury. The whole road buzzes with energy from 5 pm onwards.

A more authentic street-food experience than Gurney Drive. Colourful plastic tables set right on the road with stalls on both sides. We tried kueh pie tee (crispy pastry cups with jicama filling) and loh bak (five-spice pork rolls) alongside char koay teow. Total for two people was about RM35. The popular stalls sell out by 8:30 pm.