Michelin Guide Penang 2026: Starred and Bib Gourmand Picks
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The Michelin Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2026 gives Penang two starred restaurants, both with one star: Au Jardin, a French tasting-menu room at Hin Bus Depot, and Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery, a Nyonya shophouse kitchen. The island also has 33 Bib Gourmand places, from hawker stalls selling RM6 laksa to family-run Nyonya restaurants.
This guide lists both starred restaurants plus six Bib Gourmand picks, eight places in total, verified in October 2026. Prices are in Malaysian Ringgit (RM).
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Au Jardin
One Michelin star. A French restaurant inside the Hin Bus Depot arts hub, cooking a multi-course tasting menu from seasonal produce, much of it from urban farms and small producers around Penang. Plating is precise and each course is explained at the table.
What to order: The tasting menu; lunch is the cheaper way in.
Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery
One Michelin star, held since 2023 and kept in the 2026 guide. Home-style Peranakan cooking from family recipes in a small ground-floor shophouse. Most mains cost RM15 to RM25, which makes it one of the cheapest starred meals in the country. Reservations need a RM200 deposit.
What to order: Assam laksa, pai tee (top hats), jiu hu char.
Tek Sen Restaurant
Bib Gourmand (listed by Michelin as Teksen). A Chinese "chu char" restaurant known for its double-roasted pork belly and claypot dishes. Queues build quickly at both services, and dinner ends early at 8 pm, so arrive near opening.
What to order: Double roast pork, salted fish fried rice, claypot dishes.
Ivy's Nyonya Cuisine
Bib Gourmand. A husband-and-wife Peranakan restaurant on Jalan Kedah with around 30 seats. Portions are generous; three to four dishes feed two people.
What to order: Assam fish head, lor bak, jiu hu char, pie tee.
Sifu
New Bib Gourmand for 2026. A Nyonya restaurant a short walk from Campbell Street, run by a chef in her seventies. The menu has about 40 traditional Peranakan dishes à la carte.
What to order: Ask for the day's Nyonya curries and kerabu.
Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow
Bib Gourmand. Flat rice noodles fried plate by plate over charcoal with prawns, cockles, bean sprouts, chives and egg. The charcoal gives strong wok hei. Expect a long wait at peak times.
What to order: Char koay teow with duck egg.
Penang Road Famous Laksa
Bib Gourmand. Assam laksa in a sour tamarind and mackerel broth, topped with shredded fish, pineapple, mint and prawn paste. It sits on the same lane as the Teochew chendul stall, so most people have both.
What to order: Assam laksa (large bowl).
Moh Teng Pheow Nyonya Koay
Bib Gourmand. A Nyonya kuih maker dating from 1933, making a wide range of traditional kuih.
What to order: Ang ku kueh, kuih talam, onde-onde.
Michelin Guide Penang 2026: what changed
Gēn no longer holds a star and is now listed as MICHELIN Selected, along with Kebaya Dining Room and Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang. Hameediyah and Line Clear Nasi Kandar, which earlier versions of this page called Bib Gourmands, do not appear in the 2026 selection. Auntie Gaik Lean's, previously described here as a Bib Gourmand, holds one star. For more cheap eats, see our Penang hawker food guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michelin stars does Penang have?
As of October 2026, Penang has two Michelin-starred restaurants in the MICHELIN Guide Kuala Lumpur & Penang 2026: Au Jardin and Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery, with one star each. Penang also has 33 Bib Gourmand places, recognising hawker stalls and affordable restaurants for good value.
Can you eat Michelin food in Penang on a budget?
Yes. Bib Gourmand picks such as Moh Teng Pheow (kuih from RM2 a piece), Penang Road Famous Laksa (RM6 to RM8) and Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow (RM8 to RM12) are among the cheapest Michelin-recognised meals anywhere. Even the starred Auntie Gaik Lean's keeps most mains between RM15 and RM25.
Do I need reservations for Michelin restaurants in Penang?
Book ahead for Au Jardin and Auntie Gaik Lean's; Auntie Gaik Lean's asks for a RM200 deposit to hold a table. Hawker stalls such as Siam Road and Penang Road Famous Laksa are first come, first served, and Tek Sen gets busy at dinner, so arrive early.
Are Gen and Kebaya still in the Michelin Guide?
Yes, but without stars. In the 2026 guide Gēn, Kebaya Dining Room and Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang are listed as MICHELIN Selected. Gēn's sister restaurant Communal Table by Gēn holds a Bib Gourmand.