Malaysia · month by month
George Town food calendar
What is in season in George Town, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in George Town
Peak seasonThe best of January: Kuih and nian gao, Thaipusam offerings and refreshment points, Thaipusam.
In season
- Thaipusam offerings and refreshment pointsJan–Feb
- Dry-season open-air hawker eveningsNov–Mar
- Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Eat it now
- Kuih and nian gaoLunar New Year
New Year treats.
Jan–Feb
On the calendar
- ThaipusamThaipusam
Penang's procession, with free drinks stalls.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- New Year closuresLunar New Year
Many hawkers close for a few days.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in George Town
Peak seasonThe best of February: Kuih and nian gao, Ramadan bazaars, Chinese New Year.
In season
- Thaipusam offerings and refreshment pointsJan–Feb
- Dry-season open-air hawker eveningsNov–Mar
- Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Eat it now
- Kuih and nian gaoLunar New Year
New Year treats.
Jan–Feb - Ramadan bazaarsRamadan
Night markets.
Feb–Mar
On the calendar
- Chinese New Year
6-20 Feb 2027 (expected); reunion dinners and yee sang
- ThaipusamThaipusam
Penang's procession, with free drinks stalls.
Jan–Feb
Plan around
- New Year closuresLunar New Year
Many hawkers close for a few days.
Jan–Feb
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in George Town
Shoulder seasonThe best of March: Ramadan bazaars and Dry-season open-air hawker evenings.
In season
- Dry-season open-air hawker eveningsNov–Mar
- Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Eat it now
- Ramadan bazaarsRamadan
Night markets.
Feb–Mar
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in George Town
The best of April: Hawker food.
In season
- Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in George Town
The best of May: Hawker food.
In season
- Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in George Town
The best of June: Durian and Hawker food.
In season
- Durian
Penang's famous Balik Pulau durians.
Jun–Aug - Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in George Town
The best of July: Durian and Hawker food.
In season
- Durian
Penang's famous Balik Pulau durians.
Jun–Aug - Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in George Town
The best of August: Durian and Hawker food.
In season
- Durian
Penang's famous Balik Pulau durians.
Jun–Aug - Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Plan around
- Closures
Haze risk Aug-Oct, rain Sep-Nov (On Penang); no sourced food closures
Aug–Nov
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in George Town
A hard monthThe best of September: Mooncakes, Hawker food and Mid-Autumn Festival.
In season
- Mooncakes
Sep-Oct before Mid-Autumn (15 Sep 2027)
Sep–Oct - Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
On the calendar
- Mid-Autumn Festival
15 Sep 2027; mooncakes, Esplanade event with food bazaar
Plan around
- Closures
Haze risk Aug-Oct, rain Sep-Nov (On Penang); no sourced food closures
Aug–Nov
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in George Town
A hard monthThe best of October: Nine Emperor Gods vegetarian hawker stalls, Mooncakes and Nine Emperor Gods Festival.
In season
- Nine Emperor Gods vegetarian hawker stalls
9 days of the 9th lunar month; 10-18 Oct 2026
- Mooncakes
Sep-Oct before Mid-Autumn (15 Sep 2027)
Sep–Oct - Deepavali sweets in Little India (murukku, laddu, gulab jamun)
Oct-Nov; Deepavali 8 Nov 2026
Oct–Nov - Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
On the calendar
- Nine Emperor Gods Festival
10-18 Oct 2026; hawker stalls go vegetarian
Plan around
- Closures
Haze risk Aug-Oct, rain Sep-Nov (On Penang); no sourced food closures
Aug–Nov
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in George Town
Shoulder seasonThe best of November: Deepavali sweets in Little India, Dry-season open-air hawker evenings and Deepavali in Little India.
In season
- Deepavali sweets in Little India (murukku, laddu, gulab jamun)
Oct-Nov; Deepavali 8 Nov 2026
Oct–Nov - Dry-season open-air hawker eveningsNov–Mar
- Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
On the calendar
- Deepavali in Little India
8 Nov 2026
Plan around
- Closures
Haze risk Aug-Oct, rain Sep-Nov (On Penang); no sourced food closures
Aug–Nov
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in George Town
Peak seasonThe best of December: Dry-season open-air hawker evenings and Hawker food.
In season
- Dry-season open-air hawker eveningsNov–Mar
- Hawker food
Char kway teow, assam laksa, all year.
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.