If you are searching for great places to eat breakfast in Penang then Roti Canai Transfer Road is definitely bound to come up. It was the first place that was recommended when we asked and as time went on we found it referenced everywhere. It should not come as a surprise that it was also the first place that we visited when we headed out for breakfast.
Are you curious whether the spot is worth the hype? I’m going to give you a detailed account of our visit so that you can make an informed choice.
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What To Expect At Roti Canai Transfer Road.
So I’m going to start off by saying that this is a food stall that is situated at the side of the road. The queues are long and the seating is average. You have to literally snag a small plastic stool to rest your behind. It is a very simple setup that is popular among both Malaysians and tourists.
Don’t expect an ultra cool café that you can lounge at. Don’t expect special treatment. This place is all about the food and not about the ambiance. Though honestly the bustling around us did not phase us much. I just wish I knew a bit more Malay to order my food properly because most of the servers did not speak English.
We did catch someone who knew a bit of Hindi and had a chat with him though and that was rather fun!
Roti Canai Transfer Road Address
You can spot Roti Canai Transfer road easily.
Address: 114, 110, Jalan Transfer, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Timings: Open everyday from 7am- 12pm except Sundays when it is open between 7:30am – 12 pm
Situated right in the heart of George town, Roti Canai Transfer road is easy to get to especially if you stay within the city. Plus it is such an iconic spot that anyone on the streets will point you in the right direction. If nothing else, there is always google maps!
Once you arrive in the area just glance around and you’ll immediately spot the lines of people waiting for their breakfast.
Roti Canai Transfer Road
Roti Canai Transfer Road has been around for a long long time. In fact from what I gathered, the stall has been operational for somewhere between 45-50 years which is impressive. They have a stream of loyal customers that head here every day. To say that it is crowded is to put it mildly.
If you want to avoid the crowds, I would highly recommend not heading there on holidays and weekends. If you do, you will probably have to wait in the queue.
There are about three sections in which you can sit. One is right next to the action. Meaning you can catch a glimpse of the local chefs making the roti canai. The second is in one of the pathways just next to the cooking area and the third is in an empty lot exactly opposite the food stall. We caught a spot in the latter.
Roti Canai Transfer Road Menu
The iconic balancing act with the plates at Roti Canai Transfer road.
The menu here is simple. Roti Canai served with either chicken or beef curry. We ordered both because we wanted to see the difference in the curry. Plus we were hungry and there were four hungry mouths waiting for their meal. The food came quickly though we were a little concerned about whether we ordered the right thing.
As I mentioned before, the servers don’t understand English and the orders are taken in a rush. I’m not complaining, mind you. It is rather simple when you get the basics of ordering right. Just remember that Ayam is chicken and Daging is beef.
You can also catch roti bakar which is a toasted bread. They serve it with half boiled eggs. It is one of my favorite breakfast items in Malaysia.
Don’t forget to add a drink of ice Milo, iced tea or iced coffee. They are the perfect accompaniments to the meal.
Oh and if you are confused, they have some menus pasted on the walls. It gives you an idea of what to order.
One of the iconic views of at this spot is the servers carrying loaded plates. Each plate balanced on another. We saw them carry as many as 15 plates as time!
Roti Canai Transfer Road Food Review
Roti Canai Ayam and Daging is what everyone comes to Roti Canai Transfer Road for.
So what did I think about the food? While we were there I really enjoyed it, Mind you, this was my first time tasting Roti Canai so I really did not know what to expect. In retrospect, I would say that the roti was a bit thick and chunky compared to the flakier versions we have had in other places.
Plus it came immersed in the curry which quite frankly is not my favorite way to eat it. I like to have a crisp roti and dip it. It wasn’t a deal breaker either so there’s that.
The curry however is where the place stole the show. The meat was well cooked. Both when it came to the beef and the chicken. The curry is sweetish which is very different from the curries that we are used to in India. Mind you it isn’t as sweet as the curry at Gemas road which is probably why I liked this one more.
So would I recommend Roti Canai Transfer road? I would. The crowds are a big deterrent but they are a testimony to how popular the place is. But I had to pick my favorite breakfast spot, I would recommend Roti Bakar Hutton Lane over Roti Canai Transfer road.
Have you been to Roti Canai Transfer Road? Do you think it is worth the hype? Let us know in the comments below.
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