What‘s Included

Meeting and Pickup

What To Expect

Sample Menu

Reviews

• The experience was great,...

  Timothy L,

  Nov 17, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  The experience was great, it felt like I was entering a local Penang family's home and learning their secret recipes. I took the Nonya class and I was the only student in that morning session class. The morning market tour with Mok was fun and interesting. He brought me around, showing me certain things which I knew and gave me more information or things that were new to me. The breakfast after was a very local experience which I enjoyed. The cooking class with Amy was great, I was able to ask as many questions as I wanted. We cooked kaya, pulut tai tai, curry chicken, jia hu char, char kway tiao, and chrysanthemum tea. Recipes were given at the end and I will definitely be trying all of them at home for my family.

• Absolutely amazing

  Odyssey35460662684,

  Oct 12, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Had a really great time touring the market with Mok, and learning how to cook some delicious food with Amy! Thank you so much for the amazing class!

• Enlightening introduction to Nyonya cuisine

  T7923QVjohnb,

  Oct 11, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Our class was on September 30th 3025; we selected the Nyonya cooking class because it was so distinctively of Penang. It was a great experience and now I’m home ordering belacan in order to make curry kapitan for my friends! The class began at eight with an exploration of Chowrasta Market including both general patterns of how locals shop and the specifics of items being sold at different stalls. We sampled ais jelly, fresh soy milk, and nutmeg fruit pickles before sitting down for kopi and breakfast foods. Our guide Mok fielded a great number of questions, food related and general, with dexterity and wit. He was also just generally helpful to improving our experience in Penang, including giving us a ride to the jetties after class. (Chowrasta market itself proved to be a great asset for our vacation, a great location for shopping plus snacks, and thus this tour improved our stay well beyond the remit of the cooking class) The cooking class itself is in a berth on the second floor of the market, a nice clean open space with lots of fans to counteract the heat of the day combined with the heat from the burners. Our course was six items from the local Nyonya cuisine, with a heavy emphasis on the blended nature of the food matching the blended nature of the culture—Chinese and Malay, with lashings of Indian and even British. The set included: chrysanthemum tea, a kueh (traditional rice flour sweet with a gelatinous texture) of coconut and pandan; char koay teow (noodles); popiah (fried wrapped parcels kin to sprungbrolls); and a local curry. Everything for each dish was carefully laid out at a station, minimizing mess and making the transition between dishes convenient and low-mess. The most technique intensive ingredients—wrappers and noodles—were premade by artisans from the market below. Aprons were provided, as were plastic gloves; the knives were actually sharp enough to do the work, which is a nice change. Our instructor Amy was very clear and concise explaining what we were doing, and her assistants were always on hand to provide assistance and facilitate the process by doing intermediate steps like heating oil for frying and monitoring items with longer cook times. The class’s skill level is introductory in the sense that you don’t need a prior knowledge of technique to participate, which was exactly what I was looking for as a vacation experience. They were all great things for a home cook like myself to try on weekend. The resulting meal was incredible—and make no mistake, listen when they tell you to not eat breakfast before this class—and I came away wanting to make all of these items at home. Afterwards we received both photos and the recipes through the WhatsApp, as well as copious advice from Mok on where to eat and what to do in Penang. It was a great experience. If I get back to Penang I’d absolutely take one of their other classes. Everyone leading the group was so generous with their time and attention independent of the class itself that it bears mentioning here—so helpful, so nice! Such lovely folks.

• The best cooking and local life experience!

  sabeenaq2020,

  Oct 11, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had an amazing tour and cooking experience with Miss Santi! It was a small class with my partner and one other and we had so much fun. We made two desserts and two main dishes. The tour around the market was excellent and we learnt so much! They also weren't kidding about breakfast, you have it with other locals which added to the experience with teh tarik and Kaya toast. Such a great experience! We can't wait to try making the chicken Rendang in the UK! Highly recommend going, you'll also be happy to learn any leftover food is shared with others in the market if you can't take it all (we couldn't as we were flying early the next morning). 100% a brilliant experience. PS. Spice Man is really photogenic, I understand why the aunties want to fix him up!

  

• Authentic cuisine with warmth

  Heidi P,

  Sep 11, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We did the cooking class together with the market visit and it was just a fantastic experience! Walking around the market with Mister Mok was really interesting! We tried a variety of things and got to know new vegetables and fruits. Cooking with his wife Amy is really an experience, she can explain very well, the dishes are very well selected and her very friendly and warm nature makes you feel at home. We learned a lot and it tasted great! I can only recommend this cooking class!

  

  

• Immersed in Penang: Meeting Traders, Cooking Classics, and Savoring Every Bite

  W655CHtheresaf,

  Aug 24, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The tour of the morning market was really insightful. We ate breakfast at the market and had some of the delicacies there. We got to try out Penang-only specialties and were personally introduced to some of the traders and their goods. Afterwards, the cooking class started in the building really close to the market. We used ingredients that we bought before. We got very interesting information about the history of Nyonya/Chinese cooking and their respective cooking techniques. In total we made 3 main dishes, 1 local tea and a typical Malaysian dessert. During cooking, the steps were equally divided between the participants, so there was always something to do. Additionally we got advice on where to get the best/ most originally flavoured sauces (brand) and how to properly handle the dough and frying equipment. The food did taste incredibly delicious and was full of flavour. While cooking, they were very considerate of me not being able to eat spicy food and the recipes could be adjusted accordingly. When I was hit with a dizzy spell (because I am not used to the weather), everyone did their best to make me feel better. Even though we were not able to finish all of the food, leftovers could be taken back. During the course pictures were taken of us, which we received afterwards. We also got some recommendations on what (food) places to visit while in George Town/Penang. Overall I really enjoyed the cooking class and market tour and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is planning a trip to George Town.

  

  

  

  

• Great cooking class and market tour

  neeves2025,

  Aug 23, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had a fabulous day with Penang Chiak cooking class. The trip to the morning market with Simon was really interesting and we had a nice breakfast at the market. We very much enjoyed our cooking time with Amy. She explained things well and told us a lot of history of Penang as well. The food we cooked was delicious and way too much to eat for lunch so they packed the left overs and we had them that evening. Simon, Amy and her husband really made us feel very welcome.

• A fabulous dip into Penang culture with kind and knowledgable locals

  Voyager19059587785,

  Aug 14, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had a fabulous day with Chef Amy, Mr Mok and Simon! We received a very interesting tour of the market with Mok and Simon, who introduced us to various stall holders, explaining the different ingredients and how they were prepared and made. We had a small local breakfast, small to prepare our stomachs for the amazing food to come! We then went to the well organised cooking area, which was clean and well ventilated and two extra staff on hand to help. Amy explained all of the dishes we would be making, then patiently guided us through the hands on experience of cooking delicious spring rolls, chicken Kapitan, chrysanthemum tea, char kway take, and Pandan and coconut dessert served with fresh mango. All of the sauces and spices were made from scratch with fresh ingredients and everything was thoroughly and enthusiastic explained. We so appreciate how generous Amy, Mok and Simon were with their time, knowledge and skills. We highly recommend this experience!! Thankyou!!

  

  

  

  

  

• Highly recommended and enjoyable morning!

  jamierN4757VT,

  Jul 27, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Would definitely recommend attending this cooking school. I arranged the booking at fairly short notice, and started the Nyonya cooking class at 8am. Mok and Amy were great instructors, with Mok giving an informative tour of the Chowrasta market while picking up some ingredients we would then go on to use later in the morning. I was in a class of 6, and we made a good range of dishes with good instruction were able to get hands-on at all times. The food we made was delicious and we were supplied with recipes after the class to recreate them at home. Mok also took photos and videos throughout the class (with our permission) which he then sent on afterwards.

• Wonderful experience with...

  Clare D,

  Jul 22, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Wonderful experience with Amy and her husband. First the market tour and then the cooking of 4 dishes. Lots of fun and only 5 of us in our group. Mr Mok was very informative about Nyonya culture and gave us a car tour of George Town before dropping us off at Chew jetty. He also took loads of photos and videos of the experience. Totally recommend and worth the money.

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