Lonely Planet: Penang Is 2014 Top Culinary Spot

British dailyThe Independent reported that Lonely Planet has listed Penang as the top culinary spot for the year 2014. It is indeed impressive that The Pearl of Orient beats other top culinary spots in the developed countries like Victoria in Australia, North West Spain, Lake District in United Kingdom, Puglia in Italy, Georgia and Oaxaca in Mexico to bag the crown.

Lonely Planet's commissioning editor Robin Barton said Penang was known for its hawker fare and some of the "must tries" include char kway teow, Hokkien mee, and asam laksa.

Malaysian hawker food has spread worldwide via food trucks and pop-ups but nothing compares to the origin of it all - Penang.

"Its food reflects the intermingling of the many cultures that arrived after it was set up as a trading port in 1786, from Malays to Indians, Acehnese to Chinese, Burmese to Thais. The state capital Georgetown is its culinary epicentre," said Barton.

He encouraged food hunters to explore the Esplanade Food Court, where good hawker food comes with great seafront location.