Bukit Mertajam's food scene is firmly local and largely unexplored by tourists. The town's mix of Hokkien Chinese, Malay, and Tamil communities makes for a varied range of food stalls and small restaurants. Char koay teow — the flat rice noodle dish fried with prawns, cockles, and egg — is the signature street food of mainland Penang, and several well-regarded stalls operate in the old town. Look for the smoky wok char at evening hawker centres around Jalan Pasar and near the bus station.