Penang Hawker Food : Penang Assam Laksa

Pasar Air Itam Laksa stall next to the market

The place is limited in seats and is always crowded

The Famous Air Itam Laksa


The Penang Assam Laksa Stall is located next to the Air Itam Market along Jalan Air Itam towards the Kek Lok Si Temple. It is opened only in the afternoon onwards.

The soup is made from shredded fish meat and uses tamarind, lemongrass, lengkuas plus other herbs to give the stock its distinct and sour flavour. It is served with thick rice noodles garnished with shredded cucumbers, onions, red chilli, lecttuce, pineapple, mint leaves, ginger buds and lemongrass. The thinck sweet prawn paste - heh ko, is added to get the flavour and the special kick that makes the famous Penang hawker dish either like or dislike by foreigners and tourists.

Most locals love the Penang Assam Laksa and it is famous in Penang not for nothing. It is the favourite dish in Penang.

We went there for lunch and was crowded even when it was raining.

Penang Hawker Food : Penang Assam Laksa

You can find this coffeeshop "One Corner Cafe" in Jalan Bawasah behind the Giant Supermarket of Burma Road.


This Indian hawker located at the front of the coffeeshop selling curry puff and Nyonya kueh, is also selling Penang Assam Laksa. The Laksa is prepared by a nyonya and he just sell them.

Penang Assam Laksa


The hawker sells the Penang Assam Laksa for only RM2 though it is a small bowl. We have lunch there and the Penang Laksa is very tasty and the soup is thick. You can even see chunk of fish meat. Do try the Penang Assam Laksa if you happens to be around the area.

Penang Hawker Food : Assam Laksa

Look for this landmark : Pulau Tikus Police Station in Jalan Burma

The Assam Laksa Stall is in this Kedai Kopi SIN HWA in Jalan Burma in-front of the Pulau Tikus Police Station

Penang Assam Laksa


The Penang Assam Laksa sold in this stall in Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa is really good with the huge chunk of fish meat which you can see in the photo above. Normally, the fish meat in this Assam Laksa dish is totally disappeared in the soup. Overall, the Assam Laksa is comparable to some of the best Assam Laksa in Penang Island. We liked the Assam Laksa sold in this stall.