Tho Yuen

Probably one of the best sar hor fun you can find in Penang is at Tho Yuen Cantonese Restaurant. This iconic and humble eatery has stood the test of time, consistently serving some of the best classic Cantonese dishes. Prices are reasonable. The premises have since been upgraded with air conditioning, making dining more comfortable. Highly recommended for those yearning for the nostalgic flavors of Penang’s yesteryears.

We tried three dishes and every single one was a hit: • King Prawn Crispy Noodles – perfectly crispy noodles topped with juicy king prawns, bathed in a smooth broth with a slightly gelatinous texture that’s full of flavor. The contrast between the crunch and the sauce is outstanding. • Fried Crispy Noodles – a simpler version but just as delicious, with fresh seafood and vegetables. • Stir-fried Rice Noodles & Vermicelli – wok-fried to perfection with that signature smoky “wok hei” aroma, flavorful and well-seasoned. We paired everything with an aromatic chrysanthemum tea, light and refreshing, perfect to balance the rich flavors. The staff were incredibly friendly, making the whole experience even better. The vibe is authentic and local – exactly where you want to be to taste real Penang flavors. They also serve famous dumplings in the morning, which we didn’t get to try but came highly recommended. An absolute must-visit for anyone wanting to eat like a local and enjoy dishes truly worth the trip.

Tho Yuen is one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Georgetown, and it shows with plenty of regulars and tourists alike. The menu is extensive, and the staff are used to serving foreign customers so ordering is straightforward. Prices are about average for the area. Food is just what you’d expect from a typical Chinese place in Georgetown, decent and consistent but nothing that really stood out for me.

Tho Yuen – one of those classic old-school Chinese restaurants that Penang folks have been visiting for generations. It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy a comforting dim sum breakfast with a pot of hot tea to start your day. Besides dim sum, they offer a variety of stir-fried noodle dishes, from Wat Tan Hor to Dry Hor Fun, and even fried rice. Every dish we tried was packed with wok hei—that signature smoky aroma you can only get from high-heat wok cooking. I was told that, back in the day, they used to place spittoons under the tables for customers to spit into—a common practice in old-style eateries. Thankfully, for hygiene reasons, that’s no longer the case. Otherwise, it might have driven people away in today's dining culture.

It has been a few years since I went back to Tho Yuen. A local traditional Chinese restaurant serving dim sum (morning), noodles and dumplings that has been around for decades popular with many locals and families, including my grandparents from my mother’s side. In keeping with time, the restaurant has been freshened up but still has its old charm and look, with some improvements. It’s now air conditioned and it looks nice and clean. The food is still the same. Consistently good and taste the same as how I remembered each time I ate there. The price is very reasonable. There is no service charge and no. SST. All in for what we had came to RM$62. Sar hor fun (dry version), crispy noodle (medium), dumplings and fish balls, choy sum (medium), and pu-erh tea. I probably ordered too much for 2 of us 🤣😋.

My childhood restaurant. Used to be traditional Cantonese yum cha place but since 2023 when they first got Michelin award, this had become tourist place. Their food standard had dropped, not as tasty as last time. Their food price also been upgraded to Michelin standard. Their mooncake also priced at Michelin standard. When i back to Penang, i always eat here.

Loved the dim sum, early morning. A great selection and I can see why it's earnt a bib gourmand from the Michelin guide. Recommended.

I came here for dim sum with high expectations, given their Michelin standard, but was quite disappointed. Maybe they're good for their regular stir-fry dishes. I tried the ee fu mee, which tasted good, but the portions were small and lacked ingredients ie "liau". For the Dim sum, I tried the siew mai, pork ribs, and prawn beancurd rolls, which tasted above average, but the size was small too for the price. The egg tarts and egg cakes were below average. The service was slow on a busy Sunday, and I sat near the entrance. Since it's dim sum served in a push cart style starting from the back to the front, by the time the cart reached the front, most of the items were gone and not replenished. This occurred for each cycle of all the carts, even when I reminded the server to offer me some of the dishes that were gone. But since the food was mediocre, small in portion, and big in price tag, I didn't bother getting more anyway. I won't return, as there are many other better, friendlier, and more value-for-money options elsewhere.