TAI TONG RESTAURANT
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Tai Tong Restaurant

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Experience the charm of old-school dim sum served via push carts in a lively, lantern-lit setting. A historic Penang institution.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
TAI TONG RESTAURANT

Tai Tong Restaurant

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Experience the charm of old-school dim sum served via push carts in a lively, lantern-lit setting. A historic Penang institution.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"The dim sum is delicious, the atmosphere is great, and the experience is unforgettable!"

TIP

Go Early for Best Selections

Visit during breakfast for the widest array of made-to-order dishes. Avoid peak times to skip queues.

Manage Expectations on Service

Service can be average; some staff are friendly, while others may seem less attentive.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 6PM

Cuisine

Dim Sum / Cantonese

Price

Mid-range

Phone

+60 16-774 6625

Address

45, Lebuh Cintra, Georgetown, 10100 George Town, Penang, Malaysia

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Old-School Dim Sum Experience

Authentic Old-School Dim Sum Experience

Step back in time with traditional dim sum served via push carts in a bustling, lively atmosphere. A true taste of Penang's culinary heritage.

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Lantern-Lit Ambiance

Lantern-Lit Ambiance

Dine under a canopy of colorful, handmade lanterns, creating a magical and Instagrammable setting, especially during festive seasons.

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Must-Try Unique Dishes

Must-Try Unique Dishes

Beyond classic dumplings, savor specialties like roasted pork bao and prawn & century egg porridge for a truly memorable meal.

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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Tai Tong Restaurant is a well-known, traditional Cantonese dim sum restaurant in George Town, Penang. It has been a favorite among both locals and tourists for decades, known for its old-school charm and authentic flavors. Location and Contact: * Address: 45, Lebuh Cintra, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia * Phone: +604 263 6625 or +6016-774 6625 Operating Hours: Tai Tong Restaurant typi...
@citycentretv
32 likes • 1.1K views

Go Early for Best Selections

Visit during breakfast for the widest array of made-to-order dishes. Avoid peak times to skip queues.

Manage Expectations on Service

Service can be average; some staff are friendly, while others may seem less attentive.

Eps 4: Tai Tong Restaurant 大東酒樓🥟🥢 Dumpling, siew mai, chicken feet & more — all tasty. The prawn inside the hakau tho 👀 sweet, fresh & bouncy! Wish they had some chili oil to go with it, would’ve been a perfect match! 🌶 📍 45, Lebuh Cintra, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ⏰️ 6AM - 2PM | 6PM - 9.30PM 🗓 Closed on Mon #penangfood #dimsumlover #malaysiaeat #penang #kuliner
@lenseav
13 likes • 348 views
#旅游攝影 # #大東酒樓 # #tai tong restaurant# #Georgetown # #penang # #2024 #
@tony.yew
161 likes • 1.7K views

Tissues Are Extra

Bring your own tissues as they are charged for. The single restroom might not be the cleanest.

Lunch vs. Dinner

Dim sum is best for breakfast/lunch. For dinner, they offer Chinese-style cuisine.

Penang culinary #penang #taitongrestaurant #georgetown #culinary #malaysia
@elizzzz84
20 likes • 1.7K views

Tips

from all over the internet

Go Early for Best Selections

Visit during breakfast for the widest array of made-to-order dishes. Avoid peak times to skip queues.

Manage Expectations on Service

Service can be average; some staff are friendly, while others may seem less attentive.

Tissues Are Extra

Bring your own tissues as they are charged for. The single restroom might not be the cleanest.

Lunch vs. Dinner

Dim sum is best for breakfast/lunch. For dinner, they offer Chinese-style cuisine.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Tai Tong Restaurant is celebrated for its authentic, old-school dim sum experience served via traditional push carts and its charming, lantern-lit ambiance. While many praise the fresh, flavorful dishes and the nostalgic atmosphere, some reviewers mention that service can be inconsistent and the food, while good, may not be the absolute best in Penang.

"Came across this one by chance because i stay at the hotel nearby. From the crowded customers gathered here since early morning invites me to give it a try. And yes, the quality and taste don’t disappoint me, making me come here for breakfast for 3 days in a row. Highly recommended if you like dim sum. But don’t come on Monday because they are closed."

Ben Werakit

"Waiting for about 40 mins to be seated. And we treated not a good care with the lady on the steam Dim sum stall. This aunty may have a hard time at home, she never get kind and friendly to us and other guests that time.
The fried dimsum good but not the best. We prefered to have the other place called Fu Er Dai, better place better taste and better services."

David Pina

"By chance we came across this Chinese dim sum shop just down the road from our hotel. We were told to come early to avoid the long queue, so we came at their opening hour at 6.30 am. The elderly staff manning the stations were outstanding. They were very friendly, courteous and advised us what to eat. The ambience was great with lots of hand made lanterns hanging overhead. The restaurant was clean, bright and airy. They still have the traditional push cart serving pastry and porridge. No wonder they kept on getting 5 stars ratings."

Andrew Lim

What People Like

Traditional dim sum via push carts
Charming lantern-decorated ambiance
Variety of authentic dishes

What People Dislike

Inconsistent service
Food is good, but not exceptional

Frequently Asked Questions

It's famous for its traditional old-school dim sum served via push carts and its festive lantern-decorated ambiance.

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Visit during breakfast hours for the widest selection. Wednesday brunch time might be less crowded than weekends.

Google Review

The restaurant is not halal-certified, as it serves pork dishes.

TikTok

Yes, they offer plenty of vegetarian options among their dim sum selection.

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Popular choices include shrimp dumplings, rice noodle rolls, egg tarts, and unique items like roasted pork bao.

10 Best Dim Sum Spots For The Early Birds In Penang

Reservations are generally not needed; they have a queueing system during peak times.

Google Review

It is considered a mid-range restaurant, offering good value for the quality and experience.

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Well-known amongst both the locals and tourists, this wonderful dim spot tucked right in the bustling and hustling street of Georgetown has got to be the most Instagrammable breakfast spot during the month of the lantern festival. With dangling and colourful handmade lanterns hanging from the ceiling, it adds to the happening vibes of the whole place. One of the few items you have to try here has got to be their dumpling soup and also chee cheong fun with big fat prawn as the fillings.

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A favourite haunt for groups of families or friends after a hiking session, Tai Tong Restaurant has long been the place to feast on a vast variety of dim sum delights post-workout. Tai Tong Restaurant has been operating since the 1950s, making it the oldest dim sum restaurant on the island and a time capsule. You’ll see aunties pushing trolleys of stacked dim sum containers through a maze of tables and display counters, and shouting out orders over the noisy and packed space.

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Two of the most popular local joints in George Town are just a stone’s throw away from each other: Tho Yuen Restaurant on Lebuh Campbell, and Tai Tong Restaurant around the corner on Lebuh Cintra. Both places offer a huge selection of different dumplings (dim sum) and steaming hot and fluffy pao – stuffed with delicious marinated meat and other flavours. These places will not serve alcohol but fresh Chinese tea, a better combination anyway.

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Penang is famous for incredible Dim Sum, and you’ll see locals flocking to the most popular establishments to feast on these Chinese-influenced dumplings for breakfast. One of the most famous places to visit to sample Dim Sum Penang-style is Tai Tong in the historic old town. Trolleys of bite-sized steamed dumplings are wheeled amongst the tables, and you can pick whatever you’d like to try from the stacked steamer baskets as they pass by.

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Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. Tai Tong Restaurant serves scrumptious dim sum, in a plethora of mini dishes. There are ‘har kau’ or prawn dumplings, fish balls, 'siew mai’ or pork dumplings, fried carrot cake, steamed prawns wrapped in hor fun skin with scallion sauce, char siew covered in yam paste and deep fried, and Chinese tea, like teh Kuan Yin, puh-er, jasmine, oolong tea and more.

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Located along Lebuh Cintra, De Tai Tong Cafe (大东酒楼) is a popular Chinese restaurant (coffee shop in a shop house) that serves traditional dim sum in the morning till 2pm and Chinese-style cuisine after 6pm. It has been around since the 1950s and is still a favourite spot among locals. One of the nostalgic sights in Tai Tong is the grannies pushing carts of dim sums to you and you just point at what you want.

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If you’re ready to eat again after your morning’s food tour, head back to the old town for dinner at Tai Tong. This place is super popular with both George Town locals and tourists, and my food tour guide pointed it out as a famous dim sum restaurant. It’s a rustic, local place — think dim sum on wheeled trolleys where you point at what you want, plastic chairs and metal tables, and bright neon lights.

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It's famous both for its delicious dim sum and the very cute old ladies (aka “aunties”) who wheel around a trolley of these little Cantonese prizes. You pick which dim sum you want from their trolleys and bon appetit!. They have lots of yummy varieties of dim sum along with delicacies like chicken feet (just try them before judging!), soups, noodle dishes and plenty of vegetarian options.

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Tai Tong Restaurant is known for its dumplings, and you may order trays upon trays of them in a variety of flavors, including salted-egg and seafood. They have continually served dim sum, and the quality has remained the same. Despite the fact that it is well-liked, cozy, and some foreigners may not like the open shophouse that faces the street, the Chinese food served here is excellent.

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One of the oldest dim sum establishments in Penang to date, Tai Tong Restaurant still stands strong and lively as a breakfast spot that locals and tourists flock to for a mouth-watering dim sum experience. Who doesn’t love it when the restaurant’s service is fast and the food is good?. We definitely love their siew mai, prawn rolls, egg tarts and molten egg custard buns here!

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With such a spread, you know why Tai Tong deserves to be listed among Penang’s best restaurants (image courtesy of Tai Tong’s Facebook). The speciality here is dumplings, and you’ll get trays and trays of different choices, from seafood to salted-egg based. I have been coming to have dim sum here consistently since moving to Penang in 2009, and the quality has not declined.

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Address: 45, Lebuh Cintra, 10100 George Town, PenangHours: 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM; 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Tuesdays closed)Google Rating: 4.2. For a nostalgic dim sum experience that brings back old-school traditions, Tai Tong offers pushcart dim sum served directly to your table. The Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings) is a must-try, featuring plump shrimp wrapped in delicate skin.

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This dim sum eatery in a Georgetown corner shop was established in the 1950s and is a go-to breakfast spot for the locals. The prices are reasonable with a large selection of food, but it’s their dim sum that’s the star of the show. Tai Tong is mostly a self-service restaurant, so help yourself to the food displayed at the counters.

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David then gets the opportunity to experience the Chinese influences in Malaysia by dining at a traditional Dim Sum restaurant, Tai Tong. Dim Sum are bite-size portions of ready-made food served in small steamed plates. What’s great about dim sum is you can sample a variety of dumplings, buns, and small plates

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I ate at Tai Tong last year but this was the first time in 16 years that I had had their dim sum, and it hadn’t changed. Sure, it lacked the sophistication of slicker modern day Chinese eateries, but their succulent mouth-sized bites were adequately rendered. After second helpings, Richard was defeated.

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