+1 973-887-6989
Nestled in East Hanover, NJ, Penang Malaysian and Thai Cuisine offers a vibrant culinary journey through the rich and diverse flavors of Southeast Asia. Specializing in Malaysian, Thai, Indonesian, Singaporean, and Chinese dishes, this restaurant brings an authentic and delightful fusion that is sure to please adventurous food lovers and comfort-seekers alike.
The menu reads like a flavorful atlas of the region’s best-loved specialties. Start your experience with the Roti Canai Chicken, where the crispy, flaky flatbread pairs perfectly with a rich, aromatic curry sauce so good you’ll find yourself savoring every last drop. Another standout is the Penang Satay Chicken, grilled to perfection with a smoky char, though diners have mixed feelings about the peanut sauce — a reminder that the bold flavors here always invite lively personal taste explorations.
For those who crave something refreshing and texturally interesting, the Thai Lettuce Wraps provide a crisp explosion of fresh vegetables and tender chicken, complemented by a subtly spicy peanut sauce. Meanwhile, the slow-cooked Beef Rendang enchants with deep, complex spices folded into tender chunks of beef that melt in your mouth.
Seafood enthusiasts will appreciate the tangy and invigorating Seafood Tom Yum Soup, packed with shrimp, scallops, and squid swimming in a fragrant lemongrass and chili broth. Fans of noodle dishes should not miss the Thai Basil Noodles with Chicken, delivering a perfectly balanced harmony of savory, sweet, and spicy notes on every forkful. Traditional comforts like Hainanese Chicken Rice and the spicy Chili Chicken also take center stage, showcasing the careful attention to texture and seasoning that imbues every dish.
The dining atmosphere strikes a casual yet welcoming note. It’s a place where attentive and friendly staff make you feel at home, whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or settling in for a leisurely dinner. Reviewers appreciate the calm, unrushed environment—a rarity that invites guests to truly savor their meals along with their company.
Romy Baron-Cohen, a local NJ realtor, praises the consistent freshness and attentive service on her second visit, highlighting dishes like the Beef with Ginger and Scallions along with the enticing Mango Salad. Charles Starks fondly recalls his return after 20 years, noting how the restaurant’s offerings have only improved—remarking especially on how the Roti Canai now truly “pops” with flavor and leaves you wanting more of its accompanying sauce. First-time diners like Ritesh Mathur have also been pleasantly surprised by the extensive vegetarian options, commending their server for guiding them through a diverse selection beyond the usual veg dishes.
Whether you’re looking for a hearty Curry Beef Stew laced with warming coconut milk gravy, or the unique Pi Pa Duck — a crispy roasted duck served in a luscious hoisin plum sauce — Penang assures a rich tapestry of flavors that transports you far from the streets of East Hanover to the vibrant food markets of Malaysia and Thailand.
In short, Penang Malaysian and Thai Cuisine stands out as a solid, authentic, and reliably delightful destination for anyone eager to dive into Southeast Asian cuisine. Its inviting blend of flavors, welcoming atmosphere, and thoughtful service make it a treasured local gem waiting to be explored.
Not super fancy, but a solid choice and local. Staff was attentive & helpful - Food was good & fresh and on this (my 2nd) visit can say it is consistent!! I would easily go back for the Beef with Ginger and Scallions and the Mango Salad. The Satay was ok (personally wasn’t a fan of the peanut sauce). We arrived before the dinner rush and was packed by the time we left. Very easy to get to, and always plenty of parking in the lot.
Just ate at Penang after a long, long absence of about 20 years. This is just a surface impression, but I do think their food has improved over time, making what was already a good restaurant for the area into a great one. For example I remember the roti canai as just average back then, but the one we had this time really popped, and the sauce was good enough you wanted to finish it even after the pancake was eaten. The flavor and texture of the flat noodles in soup was perfect. The Hainan chicken was a little coarse, but I find that for some reason it’s impossible to get truly great Hainan roast chicken in North America, so not judging. Uber-friendly people, comfortable dining room. Definitely worth a return visit.
Authentic Malaysian cuisine in East Hanover of NJ. Like their unique way of making the fish head noodle soup.
First time trying this place after some apprehension on the number of vegetarian options. Beautiful day outside on a Sunday so we sat outside and our amazing attentive and engaging server, Kunga, took the time to explain all the dishes that can be made vegetarian (it is not just the veg section)! So off to the races- as we ordered plenty to try: Roti Canai - the curry we could drink! Wish there was a bigger or more roti but this was fantastic. Spring rolls - super crispy not greasy and 6 of them! Dipping sauce looked sweet but had a slight horseradish/mustard kick. Vegetarian Sesame Chicken - generous portion, great flavor and texture. This was a hit. Thai Basil Drunken Noodle- the lone “would not repeat” dish. Too sweet for our liking and compared to our other dishes, this one didnt pack the punch of flavor. My wife was able to salvage some with the spicy sauces we asked for on the side. Kari Sayur- Kunga said this one was popular esp amongst vegetarians. Remember that curry we could drink from the Roti Canai app? Well here it was filled with some veggies in a small “bucket”! This one was the star of the day. I only found 3 pieces of tofu and the veggies were mostly cabbage with some green beans- didnt matter - flavor was too intoxicating! Note get the coconut rice for all dishes instead of plain! Will definitely be back! Thanks Kunga and team!
Came in here with my sister and her boyfriend. Very quiet and calming atmosphere. Friendly service and they don’t rush you to eat! I love it! I had lettuce wraps with peanut sauce for appetizer and chicken basil thai noodles ( was a little spicy) and to drink I had my favorite drink, Thai tea Highly recommend!
Simply amazing and outstanding restaurant. They were packed for dinner and for good reason. The flavors in the food were u paralleled. I had not tried Malaysian food before this and it's now my new favorite. Just WOW. Staff there were super friendly and helpful, and we thoroughly enjoyed all our experiences there.
We weren’t planning on having lunch here but it was an incidental stepping ground. The atmosphere is great. I love that once we stepped in, more customers strolling in. I imagine the customers are much like me, finding a place to ease that home sick. I was weary about the authenticity of the food bc of the location as well as torn btw the Hainanese Chicken over rice vs Malaysian stir fried. I went with the stir fried and it was a GREAT choice. Although I imagine the Hainanese Chicken would be great too. (I will revisit and DEFINITELY try that!) We packed the left over and ate the rest upon getting home and dinner. They were DE-LI-CI-OUS still!!!! I can’t recall what my BF ordered but per the waitress (very nice and helpful) it’s one of the popular dishes! I LOVE the hot tea. And I get my own teapot so I didn’t have to ask for refills constantly!!! LOVE!!!!
Food was decent. I wouldn't recommend the honey squid. everything else was good