Bukit Mertajam is a mid-sized town, located less than an hour from Penang Island. Because of that, many visitors, even locals, tend to skip it and head straight to Penang Island instead. However, we’ve discovered that some unique local dishes can only be found in Bukit Mertajam, and it also offers several hiking trails, which makes it even more appealing to us as avid hikers.
So we decided to take a relaxed drive from Kuala Lumpur, and after about four hours on the road, we finally arrived. Our plan was simple: enjoy local food recommended by friends and online reviews, while also taking time to explore scenic spots, cultural sites, and landmarks along the way.
Below is a list of the restaurants, food stalls, and places we visited in Bukit Mertajam, with our honest opinions based on what we experienced during the trip.
1. Sentosa Corner Coffee Shop
Address: 1, Jalan Sentosa, Taman Sentosa, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, +60 16-412 8776
When we arrived, it was already lunchtime. Since we planned to hunt for unique local flavors, we headed to the well-known Sentosa Corner Coffee Shop to try Yam Rice and Mee Jawa, two famous stalls there that were highly recommended by a local friend.
The coffee shop has no air-conditioning, and they squeeze in as many tables as possible, leaving only a narrow walkway where just one person can pass at a time. We then scanned every table, hoping to spot an empty seat. Fortunately, we managed to get a table not long after. It was around 1 p.m., and the midday heat felt like fire. The ceiling fans were spinning like helicopters above us, doing their best to cool everyone down.
a. Yam Rice
We queued up to place our order for the famous yam rice, along with braised pork knuckles, tofu, eggs, and a mix of pork slices, pork balls, and offal served in a clear salted vegetable soup (咸菜猪杂汤).
Their service was fast despite the long queue. The yam rice is prepared with a dark-colored sauce, likely consisting of lots of dark soy sauce, and I suspect it may be mixed with mashed yams. However, there are clearly pieces of yams served on top of the rice. The flavor is mild, perfect to enjoy together with the braised pork knuckle, intestines, tofu, and egg.
The pork is braised in plenty of dark soy sauce, and it might include a small amount of spices like star anise, cloves, and cinnamon.The flavor is subtle, and the meat is tender.
Since I prefer the tofu and eggs to be slightly more savory, I transferred them into the bowl of pork knuckles, which had a stronger flavor.
The salted vegetable clear soup is with pork slices and offal. It was my favorite dish of all. The soup has a sharper taste from the salted vegetables, giving it a very appetizing and slightly tangy note. It provides a refreshing contrast in flavor, color, and appearance compared to the braised items.
b. Mee Jawa
Mee Jawa is another highly recommended store by our local friend.
The Mee Jawa was surprisingly delicious! While it uses common ingredients like yam beans, tofu, and bean sprouts, everything was prepared exceptionally well. The soul of Mee Jawa is its gravy, and it was amazingly rich, layered, and full of complex flavors that danced harmoniously on my palate. I couldn’t help slurping up the noodles… until my wife reminded me that it was meant to be shared.
The stall also sells pasembur, but we skipped it as it would have been too much food for just the two of us.
Note: There are many more stalls at this coffee shop. Since there were only the two of us, we didn’t manage to try more than these two, but what we had was definitely worth it!
2. Rojak Orang Hitam Puteh
Address: Jalan Pasar, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, +60 12-411 7060
After lunch, we made our way to Rojak Orang Hitam Puteh, a well-known spot for fruit rojak. It’s located right at the front corner of an old-school Chinese coffee shop called Heng Lee 兴利饭店, the kind that instantly gives you nostalgic vibes. Since we were already pretty full, we decided to share just one plate.
The ingredients are the usual ones, which include pineapple, cucumber, yam beans, mango, tofu, and youtiao. But wah… the sauce really stands out! Not too sweet, nicely balanced, and topped with lots of ground peanuts.
It actually reminds me of the rojak at Wings Cottage in Kampar (another one of our favourites), except their version comes with paku, a type of local fern
A simple plate, but really satisfying!
3. Bukit Berapit
Address: 9FFG+CQ, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang
In the evening, we went up Berapit Hill and walked to the Thai temple known as Wat Pra Kai Chai. The trailhead is tucked away from the main road, and we had to weave through some housing areas before reaching it. When we got there, we realized the area beyond the gate is actually private, but thankfully, it’s open to the public until 7:00 PM.
The walk is relatively easy, but since the area closes at 7:00 p.m., we had to go up quickly and head back down soon after.
The entire trail we walked is paved and quite easy to navigate, although it’s slightly steep, so we took it slow. There’s no chance of getting lost as there’s only one main path. The trail itself is a gradual ascent, though there are a few steep sections. After about 20 minutes, we reached a fork. To get to the Thai Buddhist temple, we took the left turn. Another 5–10 minutes of walking brought us to the temple complex.
The temple complex is mainly painted in yellow and consists of several buildings located very close to one another. There are various statues around, including Thai monk and Buddha statues.
There’s a viewpoint that overlooks the Strait of Malacca, offering a stunning panoramic view of Bukit Mertajam. There’s also another terrace further up, with two gray elephant statues facing the open sea and a pagoda that you can climb for an even better view.
This spot offers a wonderful viewpoint, facing out towards the sea and river, with a panoramic view of Bukit Mertajam. We can even see Penang Island in the distance.
Overall, it was an easy hike, and I could tell that if we explored further from the trailhead, there would be plenty more spots to discover.
4. BM Char Kuey Teow - Battle between two famous stores
For dinner, we went all out with two rounds of Char Kuey Teow! Yes, you read that right. One stall has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2024, while the other was highly recommended by a local friend who swore it was even better. Naturally, we had to try both and see for ourselves!
a. Ming Qin Charcoal Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Address: 29, Jalan Betek, Sungai Rambai, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. +60 16-664 8092
They set up the stove right in front of the restaurant, in the open area next to the parking lot. We can clearly watch how they fry it, with the charcoal firing up a roaring flame under the wok, boosted even further by a large fan blowing directly at it. The wok is huge, and we could already smell the aroma drifting to our table more than ten feet away.
There’s also an air-conditioned dining area, but somehow, just like us, most customers still prefer sitting outside in the open-air section.
Then the long-awaited moment finally arrived, and our Char Koay Teow was served. The flavor is exceptional, with the wok aroma enhanced by a smoky charcoal fragrance. It is a wonderfully balanced mix of seasonings resulting in a savory, rich flavor just right in every way. The ingredients are the classic ones: shrimp, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, and more. Nothing unusual, but they execute it so well that it hits all the right notes.
And another coincidence, the Michelin team was actually there in person to present the 2026 Bib Gourmand award to them. Truly the right place at the right time!
b. BM Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Address: Jalan Pasar Taxi Stand area, 9C2R+JM Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Our Char Koay Teow spree didn’t stop there. My friend recommended another stall, so we took the chance to make a direct comparison by having another round of Char Koay Teow.
The setup at BM Duck Egg Char Koay Teow is somewhat similar to Ming Qin, with an open-air concept. They don’t have an air-conditioned section, and it feels more like a roadside stall with a large seating area. The elderly uncle who stir-fries the noodles does something very similar to the young lady at Ming Qin, using a large wok, strong flames, and creating lots of smoky aroma.
We tried the noodles, and they are quite similar to each other. The more nuanced difference is that the shrimp here is served with the tail shell on for better presentation, and overall, the ingredients seem more generously portioned. However, the flavor doesn’t hit as strongly as the first one, mainly because the savoriness is slightly less intense and the wok aroma is a bit lighter.
Other than that, they are actually very close. And when we casually asked, since both owners share the surname Eng, it’s quite likely their recipes originated from the same family.
Which one is better? I’ll leave that for you to decide when you visit Bukit Mertajam. 🙂
5. Coffee & Food Lau Yu 老友饮食中心
Address: 1388-1389, Jln Padang Lallang, Taman Mutiara, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, +60 12-573 5035
The next morning, we had our breakfast at a local Chinese coffee shop near our hotel called Coffee & Food Lau Yu.
It’s a double-lot corner shop, the classic Chinese coffee shop setup, quite similar to Sentosa, where we went yesterday, but much less crowded since it was still early in the morning. We weren’t sure which stalls were the best, so we used the trusted method, which is to order from the stalls with the longest queue.
That led us to the noodle stall selling pork clear soup noodles and pomfret fillet soup noodles. They have other variants too, but with just the two of us, that’s all we could order.
The pomfret fillet soup noodle deserves a special mention because it is quite a unique specialty. We chatted with the owner, and he showed us how he fillets the small pomfret in just a few seconds. (Please watch the video clip we filmed at the end of this article!)
He said the stall is run by him, his sister, and his father, a typical family-run Chinese hawker business model, just like many others who are here to keep these traditional recipes alive.
6. Cherok Tok Kun (Bukit Mertajam Recreational Forest)
Address: Jalan Kolam, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, 9F5V+56 Bukit Mertajam, Penang
After breakfast, we headed to the trailhead of Tokun National Park. There’s ample parking, and it’s free.
Not quite sure which direction to take, we followed the map towards Tokun Old Dam. However, since there wasn’t water there, unlike what we had expected, we were a bit unsure if we were heading in the right direction. Fortunately, we met a new friend, Ms Yew, who is very familiar with this recreational park. She kindly offered to guide us around, and we followed her along several trails, heading up to two viewpoints.
We hiked slowly to two viewpoints: Viewpoint 520 and Port Scam. Both spots were built voluntarily by hiking enthusiasts who frequent this area. At Port Scam, we were even served tea by a fellow hiker who maintains the place. It was such a warm and welcoming experience.
Both viewpoints offer panoramic views of Bukit Mertajam, and since it was a clear day, we could even spot the Penang bridges in the distance.
Along the way, Ms Yew also showed us some fascinating plants, including one that looks like a mini ginseng, and another huge tree with roots spreading out like an octopus, wrapping around the ground.
This recreational park is quite large, and we only managed to explore a small portion of it. If there’s another opportunity in the future, we’d definitely love to return and explore more trails when we’re back in Bukit Mertajam.
7. BM Cup Rice Restaurant 大山脚盖饭
Address: 26, Jalan Asas Murni 1, Kawasan Perniagaan Asas Murni, 14100 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, +60 17-470 4188
For lunch, we chose BM Cup Rice Restaurant, a place that specializes in a mix of roast chicken, char siu, and siu yuk, served with a special dark, savory sauce.
So this is definitely not your ordinary roast chicken rice shop. It’s located far from the city center, in an industrial area. The shop has such an old signboard that the colors have faded so much that it’s almost unreadable.
So what should we expect from these restaurants? We were curious and excited to find out!
We place the order at the counter, watching him place a cup of rice (likely steamed individually) upside down on the plate. Then he generously spread a mixture of shredded roast chicken, char siu, and siu yuk on and around the rice. After that, he placed a few slices of chicken on top for better presentation, and finally ladled a generous amount of dark sauce over the rice. The lady boss even provided us with extra sauce on the side and reminded us to pour more onto the rice to make sure the rice is fully soaked before eating.
Okay… I’m sure you’re now just as curious as we were. It looks like a wild idea with a unique presentation. But the real test is the taste.
And the flavor is surprisingly wonderful. The dark sauce tastes like a blend of braised soy sauce chicken gravy and the sauce used for KL Hokkien Mee. It’s not sharply salty, but mellow with a hint of caramel. The siu yuk is super crispy and aromatic, which, when mixed with the rice and sauce, creates the flavor and mouthfeel that completely won us over.
Truly unpretentious, with a slightly bold twist on the usual chicken and char siu rice, it shows how an ordinary recipe can be elevated to the next level with imagination and a bit of culinary creativity.
8. Haji Muhamad Mee Kuah Ketam Tokun
Address: Taman Sentosa, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, +60 11-6144 5452, 9F3F+4J Bukit Mertajam, Penang
For tea break, we had another round of food. This time, we headed to a roadside stall called Haji Muhamad Mee Kuah Ketam Tokun.
They’re well-known for their Mee Kuah. The kuah (gravy) is made with a mix of ingredients that I’m not entirely sure about, but one thing I know for sure is that the key ingredient is ketam (crab).
The dish is basically yellow noodles with the usual Mee Goreng ingredients like hard-boiled eggs, cucur udang (fried shrimp fritters), squid, tofu, and bean sprouts. But instead of being cooked with Mee Goreng sauce, everything is drenched in the rich crab gravy. That’s the big difference, as even though the ingredients look similar, the flavor turns out unique.
The mee kuah is mildly spicy with a surprisingly complex flavor. We also tried their Mee Goreng, and I loved its balanced taste, which was “wet-fried,” a nice contrast to the drier-style Char Kuey Teow we had yesterday.
9. Pek Kong Cheng (Tua Pek Kong Bukit Mertajam / 大山脚伯公埕)
Address: Jalan Pasar, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, 9F76+M7 Bukit Mertajam, Penang
This is such a unique place! At the center is the Tua Pek Kong Temple, and surrounding it on the left, right, and back are rows of food stalls forming a U-shaped food court. We came here for dinner and arrived just before dark. The atmosphere was lively, with the temple beautifully illuminated.
The temple itself isn’t very big, but it’s still an important spot for locals to pray and worship. For most visitors, though, the main attraction is definitely the food!
The food court is tidy, well-presented, and very well-maintained. It offers a wide variety of dishes, from fried noodles and pastries to Koay Chap, Curry Mee, and many others.
The whole area is brightly lit and open until late at night. Besides the stalls, the shops on both sides of the temple facing inward are all eateries too, making you feel like you’ve stepped into a gourmet wonderland. With so many choices, it’s easy to get completely indecisive about what to eat!
We finally decided to go for the Koey Chap, since we hadn’t tried it yet in Bukit Mertajam. The taste was pretty good with a mix of pork and duck, along with hard-boiled eggs, coriander leaves, and bean sprouts. The noodles are the usual rice sheets rolled up like tteokbokki, but taste more like Cheung Fun. The dark gravy is quite similar to the braising sauce used for Chinese soy sauce chicken.
Overall, it’s a great one-stop food court where you can find almost every local Chinese street food you can think of.
This place is bustling at night, but when we returned in the morning, only a few stalls were open. There’s also a clean public toilet here, which makes it very convenient for visitors and tourists.
10. Bukit Mertajam Art Walk & Tofu Lane
Address: Behind Tua Pek Kong Temple, Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
This area near Pek Kong Cheng is the most happening spots in town, so the next morning we took a walk around and snapped some photos
Right behind the Tua Pek Kong Temple is a very narrow lane known locally as Tofu Lane 豆腐巷. It’s a tiny passageway between Nam Thong Paper Merchant and the Himalaya Hotel along Jalan Datuk Ooi Chooi Cheng. According to local stories, some men in the old days would take advantage of the narrow path and “accidentally” brush past women walking in the opposite direction 🙄, and that’s how the lane got its name.
We also checked out the Bukit Mertajam Art Walk, but unfortunately, it was disappointing. Only a few murals remain, and most of them are already faded or in poor condition.
11. Minor Basilica of St. Anne
Address: Jln Kulim, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, 9F3G+2W Bukit Mertajam, Penang
Next is the Minor Basilica of St Anne. It is a famous Roman Catholic church where the St. Anne, one of the largest religious festivals in Malaysia, is held annually in July. It is a 10-day pilgrimage at the Minor Basilica of St. Anne that attracts over 100,000 pilgrims annually from across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia
There’s a huge parking lot, and right in front of it is a spacious and beautifully landscaped garden. We took a slow walk around and snapped some photos before heading up the stairs to the main church.
Behind the church, there is a flight of stairs that leads up the hill to the Stations of the Cross. At the far end, you’ll find the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, a beautiful spot for photos and a moment of quiet reflection.
The church, together with the Tua Pek Kong Temple, are two places you must visit in Bukit Mertajam. They transcend religion and stand as iconic landmarks of the town, deeply woven into the identity and history of the community.
12. Friday Night Market 大山脚星期五夜市
Address: Lebuhraya Muhibbah, Taman Jernih, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, 8FRH+RV Bukit Mertajam, Penang
On our last night in Bukit Mertajam, we visited the Friday night market, which mainly caters to the Chinese community. It’s located along Lebuhraya Muhibbah, Taman Jernih, and it’s quite easy to find, as the starting point is a Tua Pek Kong Temple.
Parking was straightforward, too. We simply left our car along the roadside, and as long as you don’t block any houses, you’re good to go.
We arrived around 6:30 p.m., and the market was already fully open and bustling with people. From my estimation, there were at least 150 stalls, a huge and lively night market experience!
Since this was our first time visiting this night market, we went for food that caught our attention, especially those with long queues. Below are some of the things we ordered. We ate while slowly walking through the market, fully soaking in the carnival-like atmosphere that we hadn’t experienced in quite a while.
With so many choices around, we could only sample a handful of dishes. Below are what we managed to try:
Yam Puff Stall
This stall is located near the beginning of the market. They sell two types: one long and the other round like a ball. The long one comes with extra luncheon meat in the center, while the round version has the usual meat filling.
The flavor was quite nice. It is not as light and airy as the ones you get from dim sum restaurants (those super fluffy ones), but still enjoyable and satisfying.
Purple Rice Roll
This one looks like a giant sushi roll because it’s wrapped with a big sheet of seaweed. Inside, the main ingredient is purple rice, followed by a generous amount of meat floss. There’s also egg, carrot, cucumber, luncheon meat, and a savory sauce holding everything together. A simple but tasty grab-and-go snack.
Meat Floss & Pork Jerky Bun
This is something I loved since I was young, a uniquely Malaysian snack we’ve had since our school days. Having it again at the night market really brought back memories and a wave of nostalgia.
‘Potong’ Ice Cream
This was something very Malaysian, and we realized we hadn’t had it in such a long time. Essentially, it’s a flavored ice block filled with various ingredients cut into small rectangular pieces, all held together on an ice cream stick.
We ordered one with sweet corn flavor, while others were buying five or even ten at a time! It was an experience we hadn’t had in years, and it instantly brought back childhood memories of enjoying these from the tuck shop during our primary school days. Such a nostalgic treat.
Besides food, there were also stalls selling fruits, clothes, toys, biscuits, and even fresh vegetables. It’s really a lively market with a bit of everything.
13. Mengkuang Dam
Address: P129, Kampung Mengkuang, 12300 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
On our last day in Bukit Mertajam, we headed to Mengkuang Dam early in the morning, arriving before 7:00 a.m. in hopes of catching a beautiful sunrise. Once the gate opened, we drove in and parked in the very spacious parking area. From there, we took a slow, peaceful walk up the tarred road leading toward the dam.
The dam is a man-made lake, and the road goes all around it, forming a full loop for anyone who wants to walk or jog. It’s a fantastic place for morning exercise, a relaxing stroll, or just enjoying the scenery.
It has an unobstructed view, a nice vantage point to take in the whole landscape. We were hoping to catch the sunrise, but because it rained yesterday, the clouds blocked the perfect view. Still, we enjoyed our morning walk, and I’m really glad there’s such a peaceful and refreshing spot for everyone here to relax and unwind.
14. BM Yam Rice Kopitiam
Address: 7, Jalan Murthy, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
We visited another Yam Rice restaurant before leaving Bukit Mertajam. According to some, this is the original one, though I’m not entirely sure. What I do know is that the place was extremely busy. They probably don’t worry much about the faded signboard anymore, because business is clearly very good!
We gave it a try, and interestingly, the flavor was almost the same as the one we had the day before. Honestly, it would be very hard for me to tell the difference between the two. They’re that close, almost as if both stalls are using the same recipe.
So, if you’re in town, I’d suggest trying both and seeing what you think. Come and give it a taste, and let me know your verdict!
15. BM Cathay Pancake
Address: Jalan Aston, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, 9F67+XG Bukit Mertajam, Penang
After lunch, it was about time for us to head back to Kuala Lumpur. Before leaving, we decided to squeeze in one final round of our food hunt, Apam Balik (chargrilled pancake) at BM Cathay Pancake.
We came specifically to try this pancake because the stall has received a Michelin Bib Gourmand award. What makes his pancake special is the way it’s cooked by using charcoal in a large, shallow pan. He pours the batter onto the pan, adds sugar and coarsely ground peanuts, then covers it with a lid for a few minutes. Once ready, he opens it up, folds the large pancake in half, and finally cuts it into pieces.
We chatted with the uncle at the stall, together with his wife, and he shared that the business has been around since 1962. It was first started by his father, and he is now the second generation running this small family business.
Personally, we prefer it a little crispier with more ground peanuts. One thing that really caught my attention was that he doesn’t display his Michelin award at the stall at all, though we’ve seen photos of it online from 2024. We even checked the Michelin website and found that the stall was also awarded the Bib Gourmand for 2026.
It is a humble stall with decades of history, still quietly doing what it has always done, making it a fitting final stop before we head home.
Wrapping Up Our 4D3N Bukit Mertajam Itinerary
These are the things we did in Bukit Mertajam, from discovering unique local food to exploring places worth visiting around town. We truly enjoy traveling to smaller towns, uncovering lesser-known spots, and finding hidden gems that don’t always make it onto the usual travel lists.
Traveling around our country allows us to learn more about the food, culture, and everyday life of different places, and that’s what makes each trip so meaningful to us.
🎥 Check out the video below!
We’ve put together a video from this trip, which you can watch on YouTube by clicking the image below. Until then, we’ll continue exploring new places and sharing our experiences with you on our next adventure.
Please check out this link if you want to read my other travel stories from the state of Penang.
