Penang Cooking Class: Master Malaysian Cuisine with Market Tour

Market tour, breakfast, and hands-on cooking of Penang's signature dishes

A 4 to 5-hour cooking class in Penang where you tour a local morning market, eat breakfast, and learn to make Malaysian dishes (Char Koay Teow, Kueh Pie Tee, Roti Canai, fish head curry, or one of six other regional recipes) with a live guide in English. Morning classes include the market tour. All ingredients and kitchen tools are provided. You choose one cuisine type at checkout: Chinese Hawker, Malay, Nyonya Chinese, or Indian.

Options for this experience

4 options

From US$ 94 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Indian Cooking Class 08:00 and 13:30 Guide in English Morning Indian cooking class with a local market tour and breakfast included. Duration is 5 hours. Note: the afternoon class at 1:30 PM lasts 4 hours and does not include the market tour. Please eat lunch before class.

Cooking classes featuring Nyonya Chinese cuisine 08:00 and 13:30 Guide in English Morning Nyonya Chinese classes include a local market tour and breakfast. Duration is 5 hours. Note: the afternoon class at 1:30 PM lasts 4 hours and does not include the market tour.

Cooking class on Chinese hawker dishes 08:00 and 13:30 Guide in English Local market tour and breakfast are included for the 8:00 AM morning session only. Street food cooking class covering Satay and Peanut Sauce, Char Koay Teow, Curry Noodle, and Hokkien (Prawn Noodles). Note: consult the instructors about the menu. Duration is 5 hours. Note: the afternoon class at 1:30 PM lasts 4 hours and does not include the market tour. Please eat lunch before class.

Malay Culinary Experience 08:00 and 13:30 Guide in English Market tour and cooking class with breakfast

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What’s included

• Morning market tour (for 8:00 AM classes only).
• breakfast.
• all ingredients and kitchen utensils.
• live instruction in English.
• hands-on cooking of multiple regional dishes within your chosen cuisine type.

Times

• Every day 08:00 13:30

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Before you book

Group Private

Live guide English Another language? ›

Audio guide English and French

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. You can choose from 8 pickup points.

Book up to 12h before

Ages Adult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Not recommended with heart problems Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Penang Chiak Cooking Classes

Prices and times updated today

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The experience

The morning market tour sets the pace. If you book the 8:00 AM slot, you walk through a Penang market while merchants haggle and vendors prepare street food. The point is to see what goes into the dishes you'll cook later, not just to taste. You'll eat breakfast there, then move to the kitchen at Penang Chiak for the hands-on part of the class.

The cooking itself is the core. You pick one cuisine type when you book: Chinese Hawker Food, Malay Culinary, Nyonya Chinese, or Indian. Within that choice, the class covers multiple dishes: Char Koay Teow and Penang Hokkien Mee if you choose Hawker; Roti Canai and Banana Leaves Indian Set if you choose Malay; Kueh Pie Tee and Choon Piah if you choose Nyonya; Dosai, Masala Chicken, and Fish Head Curry if you choose Indian. All ingredients and utensils are there. You bring the willingness to learn. The guide teaches spice handling as technique, not just flavor: that distinction matters in Malaysian cooking, and it's what separates a class from a tasting.

The session runs 4 to 5 hours total. Schedules are set by booking request, so you're not joining a fixed departure. You arrange the time that works. Public transportation is nearby, and the space is wheelchair accessible.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What dishes will I actually cook in the Penang cooking class?

The dishes depend on which cuisine you choose at checkout. Chinese Hawker includes Char Koay Teow and Penang Hokkien Mee; Malay includes Roti Canai and Banana Leaves Indian Set; Nyonya Chinese covers Kueh Pie Tee and Choon Piah; Indian covers Dosai, Masala Chicken, and Fish Head Curry, among others. You learn multiple recipes within your chosen cuisine type.

Does the morning market tour happen for all class times?

The morning market tour is included only for classes that start at 8:00 AM. If you book a different time, you skip the market and go straight to the kitchen for the cooking portion.

What's included in the class, and what do I need to bring?

All ingredients, spices, and kitchen utensils are provided. You bring an open mind and willingness to learn: no cooking experience is required. Breakfast is included for morning classes that include the market tour.

How long does the cooking class actually take?

The full session runs 4 to 5 hours, including the market tour (if you book the 8:00 AM slot), breakfast, and the hands-on cooking instruction.

Can I book a private class, or is this a group experience?

Classes are tailored to your booking request or private reservation, so you arrange the timing and group size that suits you rather than joining a fixed schedule.

Is the Penang Chiak kitchen accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, all areas and surfaces at the venue are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby.