Tek Sen Restaurant

We came on a Saturday at 11:30 am and didn’t have to queue at all, which surprised us given the restaurant’s popularity. Food quality overall was good. Everything was tasty. At the same time, nothing especially stood out. The service was quite fast, but they were also clearing up our plates as we finished dishes and we felt like they were rushing us out the door to fill the table with new customers. Not an issue, just something to be aware of - it’s not the kind of place to sit around for hours catching up with friends. A good place for Chinese food, but I personally wouldn’t queue up for it.

“Teksen Restaurant: Worth the Hype and the Wait!” Teksen is an absolute gem, but be ready for a wait—like, a long wait. The queue is no joke, so I highly recommend making an advance booking; it’ll save you from the line and get you to the delicious food faster. The menu is extensive, and as a foreigner, I couldn’t understand everything, but the staff were incredibly helpful. They walked me through every dish, making sure I knew what I was getting into. The atmosphere is traditional Chinese, giving it that authentic, old-world charm. The food? Chef’s kiss. Every plate we tried was spot on. Their signature double roasted pork with chili is a must-try; it’s no wonder this place is Michelin-recommended! The prices are reasonable, and they even accept credit cards, which is a plus. The drinks were great too, perfectly complementing the meal. If you’re planning to visit, my advice: make a reservation and show up early. This place is popular for a reason, and you don’t want to miss out!

To be absolutely clear, some of the best Chinese food we’ve ever had. The chicken and black bean, chicken in oyster sauce, and the spicy pork were absolutely delicious. Every dish was fantastic. The service, though, was a real letdown. We arrived 30 minutes early, and even though we were seated at the same time as others, it was clear our order was taken last because we were tourists. We were ignored a few times, which was frustrating and took away from the experience. It’s such a shame because the food is genuinely outstanding, and this place is a real gem. If you go, make sure you get there early.

If you come here, it's better to come a few minutes before opening hours if you don't want to queue for a long time. The service is quite good and I think the food tastes delicious. I ordered stir fried French beans with minced pork and dried shrimp, chicken with sour plum sauce, and home recipe double roasted pork.

To me, for a repeat visit, I would book first. Failing which, if the Q was less than 30min. 30-45 a toss up, more than 45 min, maybe next time. For a repeat visit. First visits are harder to define. They are organized quite well otherwise and you can peruse their menu while Q and give your order at the head of the Q to ensure your food comes faster. Their food, I would probably describe as traditional home cooking. None of those fusion modern concoctions. Therefore, it has its nostalgic appeal. Just expect a home style plating and don't presume to get one of those IG type visually beautiful plated dishes. But to be honest I loved their simple uncomplicated flavouring that reminds you of home cooking of yesteryears. Filling, delicious, feel good yumminess. You must order their stingray. The meat of their stingray is uncharacteristically tender and soft without the toughness I usually get in other restaurants. The curry for the stingray bathes and flavours it perfectly. The prawn is fresh, sweet and deliciously coated with sour tamarind for a perfect kick to the palate while the tofu is soft in a sea of light refreshing gravy. The kangkung with belacan provided a much needed salty spicy pungent contrast to the other dishes and the squid was nicely chewy with a good peppery after taste to enjoy in between your bites. The chicken was good but average while I found the pork too salty. Perfectly oily but due to the overwhelming salt can't be enjoyed by itself. This really needs rice to temper the taste. I would've loved it to be less drowning in salt. I fully recommend this place if you are ever craving a Chinese simple home cook dish experience but be sure to make a reservation in advance. However the price is a bit atas so be prepared.

Tek Sen is undoubtedly a very popular spot in Penang, and its reputation as a Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant draws large crowds. The food is flavorful, well-prepared, and enjoyable, with a good variety of dishes to choose from. However, given the long queues and the hype surrounding it, I personally felt that the experience didn’t quite match the high expectations. While it’s definitely worth trying if you’re in the area, I’m not sure it’s something I would wait that long for again.

Worth the hype! Arrive early or prepare to wait - it’s absolutely worth it, a gem of a restaurant! The stars on the menu will guide you to the favorites. Every bite is Phenomenal - order medium size dishes so you can taste more of them, 4 dishes is solid, 6 will provide an absolute feast for 2 diners.

The queue is very very long but the food is very very good. The food is traditional cooking style we eat during kids time. Recommend especially the tauhu but prepare to queue.

There is likely going to be a wait for Tek Sen but it's absolutely worth it. Food here is reasonably priced and everything is good. The nice thing is they are really efficient at turning the tables so likely the line will move quickly. Only minor gripe is the restaurant is open air to the outside so if it's really hot outside, it won't be that much cooler on the inside.

This is a very good food joint. Very simple atmosphere. Service is a bit disjointed but friendly and efficient. Food is very well executed. This is a joint worth checking out.

One of my top 5 favorite restaurants in Penang. There is always a line, especially at dinner, but they move tables through very quickly. I'd recommend the fried chicken with sour plum sauce and the homemade egg tofu. Be sure to look at the specials menu (written on a whiteboard in Mandarin). The braised duck special with yams is the best thing on the menu if they have it! The ambiance is typical of Penang, chaotic and a bit hot. The place is clean though and the staff is friendly enough.

Highly recommend going early or a time when the que is less. I tried calling but no answer. Service is fast, food is great!

The correct time for this restaurant open for dinner is 5:30 PM. We arrive at 5:45 PM already has a long line. We waited 45 minutes to be sit down. Waiting to order and food on table is another 45 minutes. Is it worth it? Yes. We ordered tofu, chicken, egg plants and shrimp. Food is good and cheap.

What an experience. The short wait outside was really entertaining, just watching the lady in charge discuss and control the situation. Also, we were supposed to make choices from the menu while waiting, so the 15 min wait Saturday night at 7 was nothing. The menu has a lot to offer, but so many reviews points to the Double Roasted Pork, so we had to try. Also the Stingray Curry was recommended and finally we went for the Pak Choi w shrimps and garlic. We found this a perfect composition, each part standing in its own right. Volume perfect for two people. The food is somewhat spicy, which makes you appreciate the large Tiger beer for sharing even more. When you are done eating, you should leave. More people are waiting to come in, and the floor manager is very diligent about getting your pay and seeing you out, but it's only fair and only performed in a kind manner. We completely understand the great ratings given to Tek Sek and were not in doubt about the 5 stars.

We have traveled the world and ate at all types of Chinese restaurants in different countries. But the best Chinese food we have ever eaten was at this unassuming casual open-door restaurant in Penang, Malaysia. Probably the food here is better than most high-end restaurants in the world. I don't mind going back to Penang just to be able to eat at this restaurant again.

Excellent eats! Order the double roasted pork! You'll want to return for more! 5 star

Amazing local food and services ! The line is moving fast and the restaurant is always packed, but definitely worth the wait.

First meal in Panag, our driver (Grab) recommended this to us since it's close to our hotel. We dropped our bags off and came here right away. It was very busy lunch time but we managed to get a table right away near the cash desk. Restaurant clean, service was quick and food was really good. We ordered several dishes to share and even had Chrysanthemums tea! Yum ! We ordered: * Mar pa Tofu * veggies sautéed * soup of the day Everything was so tasty we had to refill the white rice! if I am ever in Panag again I would come back

This place was recommended to us by our friend who is a Penang local. He brought us to this restaurant for dinner on our first night in Georgetown. The food was excellent and the flavours are on point. I enjoyed the stir fried pork dish that tasted like candied bacon. The stingray curry was also very good, and a local delicacy. Also one can't possibly go wrong with the sweet and sour fish which was very well made. I will definitely be back!

Tek Sen definitely met my expectations after hearing friends rave about it! The menu had a wide range of options, and the food -- at least the few things I tried -- was excellent across the board. The lively and bustling restaurant has a very simple, straightforward, and well-worn atmosphere. I found the staff to be friendly while also brusque and businesslike -- basically wanting to welcome new guests in and have us enjoy wonderful food, while also wanting us to finish expeditiously in order to make room for more from the waiting crowd of hopeful diners. If you don't make a reservation, join the scrum of people in front of the restaurant and try to work your way to the hostess who'll be mixed into the middle of the front of the crowd. Fair warning that it seemed like among those without a reservation singletons and pairs have an easier time being seated quickly due to the number of small tables around the sides of the restaurant. One note: I was a bit frustrated by a lady who sat herself down at my table, asked what I'd ordered, had the waiter bring a menu to her, confirmed what I'd ordered, asked what size plates I'd ordered, and then departed in a huff after I stated that I had ordered the smaller (medium) size plates. No, I did not know her, nor was it one of -those- situations. Apparently, she just walked into the crowded restaurant -- I'm assuming the staff did not send her my way -- and thought she could get a free meal from the person sitting on his own.

While this restaurant is touted as a "local" favorite, judging from all the signage and people in line, it's mainly tourists. I doubt very many locals eat here except on a special occasion, because many people we talked to, including the driver, had never heard of this place. And I can see why, dishes here, in comparison to even the other restaurant down the corner, are very expensive and portions are quite small. Soups are also individually portioned, not family style sharing. All that said, the food is actually quite good. It was the best I had in Penang (but that's not saying much since I was only a short stay visitor). It was the type of clean, clear cooking that suited my palate, especially after all the daily extra oily, spicy, heavily seasoned hawker eats. On the other hand, service and the whole ambiance was a bit offensive and rushed, waiting in line wasn't pleasant either. They know they're popular, and there's a long line to prove it, so they just don't bother being nice to you since they know you'll wait. Unlike the rest of Penang where I found the Malaysian hospitality quite endearing, they don't bother with it here. Try the belacan chicken wings. Not oily at all, and not salty like you'd expect. Crispy on the outside, still moist on the inside.

When in Penang food seems to just come to you at every corner and everything tastes better than the one before. With street food being so cheap why bother going to a sit down restaurant? As the previous Yelpers has mentioned, it can be really nice to actually sit down at a 'restaurant' after a full day of just 'hawking' at various street stalls. Plus, the food at Tek Sen is so good, it is definitely a must eat in Penang. When asking a few locals about this place, we received a few confused look and not a lot of people appear to know it. Although I imagine it's probably more to do with the price range rather than the quality ( prices at Tek Sen is more expensive than other local eats although still cheap for tourist standard) When we arrived at Tek Sen there definitely was no shortage of queue and the tables kept filling up. As I said the dishes were all definitely winners. And it is definitely a must try restaurant in Penang

I am so excited to be the first to review Tek Sen on Yelp. This place has been written about in multiple food guides and is a local favorite. Despite the popularity, the quality has remained unchanged and the food is amazingly delicious. My first few days in Malaysia were filled with yummy food but none that "blew my socks off" until we came to Tek Sen. Just the thought of their double roasted pork makes my mouth drool... Their menu is in English and Chinese, and they also have daily specials but those are written on the wall in Chinese only. Food: 5/5 You absolutely must get the double roasted pork with chili padi! It is sweet and sticky, crunchy and goey and absolutely delicious!! Go for the large portion because you will devour the whole thing. We also had their specialty fish curry (with sting ray) and it was tasty, but it is a very different type of curry, it was more on the sour side which I loved but my husband didn't. Also recommended is anything with sambal sauce and also the stir-fried bitter gourd with egg. If you are unsure what to order, the menu has helpfully marked their most popular dishes but you can also just ask the waiter. Service: 3/5 Standard Asian service. The staff are efficient and friendly, but they are not going to come to your table to check on how you are doing. Atmosphere: 4/5 After days of eating at hawker stalls, I was totally ready to sit down in a restaurant and have my order taken. It is very clean and they recently expanded, as from the outside there is still a sign for the previous cafe there. Value: 4/5 This will be more expensive than eating at hawker stalls, and perhaps you are paying for the comfort of having your food served to you but it is totally worth the price. The food is so delicious and one that I would highly recommend! That pork has secured a spot on my list of "best thing I ever ate" TIP: Come early or late (but definitely not around 7-8pm) because it is always packed!

Just flew in Penang and was recommended this place. It was so good only tried deep fried tofu w shrimp (A+, just umami), Mapo tofu(A, super flavorful), double roast pork w chili (B, like candied bacon bbq flavor), and soup of the day (A, just nourishing hearty). I'd recommend to anyone.

A long queue when I brought my parents out to dinner there last night. We came early but latecomers were ushered in first. Rule to serve customers is always first come first serve basis. I complain about it, they did apologise for the inconvenience but they really need to improve their service. If the table is empty already, why still let the customers waiting outside and queue? what's the point? Barbecue pork, kangkung with belacan, homemade tofu are their signature dishes. Really nice, spicy and flavoury.

Good place, but is super crowded! It's definitely a tourist spot now, but we definitely enjoyed our experience there. Our favorite was a double braised pork dish - it was like candied bacon!!

Okay this totally lives up to the reviews. Delicious! We heard about it from our taxi driver in Singapore and he said his friend had the best food in Penang. Sure...... but this place was divine. The restaurant was jam packed but our group of four got in within five minutes. Do yourself a favor and have the double pork with the padi. And make it the XL size. You're gonna wish you had. It is sweet and crunchy and almost tastes like candy. The vegetable dish was really perfect. Fresh vegetables with a light sauce that let the veggies shine. Nothing overpowering. I wish we'd tried this the first night we got to Penang instead of the last! But I'll be back for sure!

This famous and popular restaurant. Recommend you book it's always busy home cooked style Malaysian dishes.

Consistently serving great local favorites. Try their home made tofu with scallops, twice cooked pork, and belacan chicken, and kangkong belacan. Pomfret fish curry was okay but not worth its 38rm price. Come early as this place always full.

Highly recommended for an authentic family style meal in town! Come early to avoid the long queues.

Wonderful, tasty Chinese food at reasonable prices! My friend & I enjoyed our final supper meal in Penang with takeout. We had steamed soy sauce fish, fried pea green shoots & steamed preserved egg & pork dish with rice for only 60 ringgit. The portion sizes of the dish were perfect for the two of us. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

Welcome to the house of Arrogance, Rudeness and Unfriendly Customer service! The anti-Penang Hospitality Restaurant. If you wish to be treated with disrespect, hurry and make your way here! Stand in line and then get your dose of arrogance plus a heap of bad manners! That what this restaurant is about. I am a local Penangite and would never again go to this restaurant even if you pay me to do it. Their food is good but you can find equally good food at other joints where they appreciate you giving them the business. Be warned!!! Should be negative stars if I could give them that!

Super good, highly recommended to do a reservation before you go, else the queue is Super Long especially on weekend. I like the 梅菜扣肉 and 火肉 very much a