Unlike Penang, you probably won’t make a road trip all the way to Alor Setar, Kedah for its food. The small northern city might be famous for its endless paddy fields and being the birthplace of two Malaysian Prime Ministers, but the food scene is quite underrated.

If you ever find yourself wandering around town while waiting for your next ferry to Langkawi with nothing to do, why not take the chance to go on a food tour? We’ve compiled the best must-eat dishes while you’re in Alor Setar!

Your Alor Setar trip is incomplete without trying the mee goreng (fried noodles) or mee rebus (gravy-based dish) at Mee Abu. Even Tun Mahathir would visit the restaurant every time he’s in town, so you know it’s legit. The noodles are their signature dishes, which are cooked mamak-style. The best part is the dishes are cooked on coal, thus adding extra zest! The portion is quite huge too, so it’s delicious and quite filling. It’s a win-win!

Mee Abu

Taman Sri Taman 2, Alor Setar

Opening hours: 7am – 9pm (Saturday to Thursday), 9am – 12pm (Friday)

Price range: $ – $$

If you think Penang has the best char koey teow, well, you might be right. But if you’re in Alor Setar and found yourself craving for char koey teow, Iman Koey Teow might be able to satisfy your cravings. Starting as a humble stall selling just char koey teow and nasi lemak, it’s now a full-fledged restaurant selling a plethora of Western and Asian dishes. But the main draw is still the char koey teow which is served piping hot with fresh vegetables and decent-sized prawns. A sunny side up egg completes the delicious dish.

Iman Koey Teow

Taman Pandan, Jalan Sultanah, Alor Setar

Opening hours: 7pm – 1am (Daily)

Price range: $ – $$

If you think of Malaysian food, nasi lemak would definitely be the first to pop in your mind. Here in Alor Setar, it is given the royal treatment and a special twist. Apparently, the dish is so good that the Sultan of Kedah added it to the palace’s errand list. Conveniently, it is also located close to Istana Anak Bukit, the state palace. At first glance, the dish doesn’t look like the standard nasi lemak that we’ve come to know, as the rice is bright yellow. The color in the rice comes from mixing the rice with ghee, substituting the usual coconut milk in nasi lemak.

Served nasi kandar-style, it’s a must to have the kuah campur banjir (mixed gravy) which is a concoction of six different tasty curries, and sweet and spicy gravies. We highly recommend having your nasi lemak royale with boiled okra and crispy fried chicken. Mmm… it’s finger-licking good!

Nasi Lemak Royale

424/A, Lebuhraya Sultan Abdul Halim, Alor Setar

Opening hours: 4pm – 2am

Price range: $ – $$

Still on that nasi kandar train, Nasi Kandar Yasmeen is a must for those with a love for curries. TBH, we think the nasi kandar here can beat those in Penang! Have yours with a boiled egg, vegetables and a crispy fried chicken. Not gonna lie, we’d definitely go back just for the fried chicken! It’s flavorful and juicy, one is not enough!

Nasi Kandar Yasmeen

21, Jalan Kepala Batas, Jitra, Alor Setar

Opening hours: 5pm – 4am

Price range: $ – $$

If you’re looking for an authentic Malay cuisine in Alor Setar, head over to Sri Pumpong Restaurant during lunchtime. Located near the Kedah Medical Centre, there’s a plethora of classic Malay dishes such as fried catfish, ulam, vegetables, fried ayam kampung and many more. You’ll definitely be spoiled for choice here!

Sri Pumpong Restaurant

Alor Merah, Alor Setar

Opening hours: 10am – 8.30pm (Saturday to Thursday)

Price range: $ – $$

For a twist to your roti canai, try the roti doll at Mee Faroq. The roti canai is drenched with three types of gravies — curry, dhal and anchovies sambal. A sunny side up egg completes the dish. Apart from roti canai, you can also try the roti doll sardin, roti doll Bengali, roti cheese doll and roti kahwin doll. There are also typical mamak dishes such as pasembor, murtabak and fried noodles.

Mee Faroq Roti Doll

9, Kompleks Perniagaan, Jalan Hutan Kampung, Alor Setar

Opening hours: 7am – 10pm (Closed on Friday)

Price range: $ – $$

Take your foodie adventure to the next level in Alor Setar. Check out our Flights, Hotels and Xperience deals to inspire your foodie trip!