Hot on the heels of nasi kandar arrive these equally tasty rice dishes.

Rice is an important part of Penang’s rich culinary culture. We have it for breakfast, we crave it for lunch and we are quite hungry for it come dinner time. Penang has many variations of rice dishes. The late Anthony Bourdain may have fallen in love with nasi kandar but did you know that there are other equally delicious rice dishes apart from nasi kandar? Drop everything and dig into these underrepresented rice dishes in Penang.

Nasi Dalca

Ask long-time Penangites and they will tell you that nasi dalca is the most celebrated rice dish after nasi kandar. Also known as nasi ganja to the locals, the rice is cooked with lentils, onions, potatoes and carrots and spiced with star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom. It’s savoury, it’s creamy, it’s delicious! This uniquely northern rice dish is usually eaten with various side dishes such as fried chicken, mutton kurma, vegetables and a good dose of kuah dalca. It’s a local favourite you would not want to miss.

Where to try: Restoran Kassim Mustafa
Address: 12, Chulia Street, 10200, George Town
Operating hours: 24 hours

Worth the trip: Nasi Dalca Bawang
Address: Pasar dan Kompleks MBPP, Jalan Rajawali, Bayan Lepas
Operating hours: 6:30pm - 10:00pm (closed on Saturdays)

Nasi Tomato

Cooked in tomato paste, ghee, milk, spices, garlic, onions and ginger, nasi tomato boasts a distinctive aroma and creamy aftertaste. It is often served with an assortment of side dishes such as ayam masak merah, gulai sotong, daging masak hitam and more. An addition that’s highly recommended is the jelatah – thinly sliced cucumbers, pineapples and onions mixed in vinegar for an extra zing!

Worth the trip: Nasi Tomato Batu Lanchang
Address: Flat Taman Seri Damai, Lintang Batu Lanchang
Operating hours: 10:30pm - 2:00am

Nasi Ulam Nyonya

While it is the daintiest rice dish on the list, there’s nothing simple about nasi ulam nyonya, a Peranakan aromatic herbed rice dish. According to Pearly Kee, the author of A Nyonya Inheritance and Pearly’s Nyonya Pantry, preparing nasi ulam nyonya takes time and patience. Fresh ingredients such as lemongrass, torch ginger (bunga kantan), kaffir lime leaves, daun kadok and others are sliced thinly and then tossed with cooked rice. Nasi ulam nyonya used to be a specialty to the Nyonya community during celebratory events such as birthdays or weddings but today, it is on the menu in many Nyonya restaurants in town.

Where to try: Moh Teng Pheow
Address: Lebuh Chulia (Jalan Masjid), 10200, George Town
Operating hours: 10:30am - 5:00pm (closed on Mondays)

Nasi Melayu

Set down your fork and spoon – nasi melayu is best eaten with hands. There is no specific rule to what makes nasi Melayu what it is – essentially it is white rice with an extensive spread of Malay dishes. Those who prefer a little heat may add gulai ayam, curry fish head and beef rendang to the mix. Ulam or fresh vegetables served raw or blanched are the trademark of nasi melayu; there’s usually a vast selection of freshly picked local herbs such as ulam raja, daun cekur, daun selom, pucuk gajus, petai, pegaga and daun kaduk to be eaten with a dollop of freshly made sambal belacan. Grilled fish is often paired with air asam, a condiment made of bird’s eye chilli, onions, diced tomatoes, kerisik, belacan and tamarind juice.

Where to try: Nasi Melayu Lidiana
Address: Medan Selera Tanjung Bunga
Operating hours: 7:00am - 9:00pm (closed on Sundays)

Worth the trip: Minah Restaurant
Address: Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Taman Tun Sardon, Gelugor
Operating hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm (closed on Mondays)

Nasi Lemuni

Ask any out-of-towner if they have heard of nasi lemuni and chances are the answer is "no". This uniquely northern rice dish is not only delicious, it is also very healthy. According to Chef Nurilkarim Razha from Jawi House Cafe Gallery, nasi lemuni is traditionally eaten as a confinement dish for new mothers in the northern Malay community. It is believed that daun lemuni enhances blood flow, balances hormones and improves one’s digestion. This rice dish is cooked with daun lemuni (Vitex trifolia) and is often accompanied by sambal, fried anchovies, toasted peanuts, hard-boiled eggs and cucumber. Today, one can find nasi lemuni in many Ramadhan bazaars during the fasting month.

Where to try: Jawi House Cafe Gallery
Address: 85, Armenian Street
Operating hours: 11:00am to 10:00pm (closed on Tuesdays)

Worth the trip: Nasi Lemuni
Address: Kompleks Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang Lebuh Nipah (opposite Kayu Nasi Kandar)
Operating hours: 8:00am to 1:00pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)