Best French Toasts in Penang

Unlike most of the concealed cafes in Penang, this Australian-inspired cafe is extremely spacious and elegantly designed. Certainly a place for foodies to bookmark where the bar is set high for quality pastries, breads and luscious brunches. They serve one of the finest French toasts in town which acts as an instant mood-lifter in the morning; besides, it’s prepared by a chef who has several awards to his name. Classic French toast, sprinkled with vanilla powder and a side of impeccable fruit compote – a medley of strawberries, apples, etc., where the need for maple or chocolate syrup is negated.

This snug breakfast stall is tucked in the bustling Eng Loh Coffee Shop, located below the heritage-preserved Eng Loh Hotel itself. The coffee shop isn’t the most alluring of ambiences, yet it still manages to draw patrons with affordable and tasty food. This breakfast stall serves more than a dozen varieties with a blend of Asian and Western such as Garlic Toast, bread with half-boiled eggs and Roti Taiwan. The crowd favourite is certainly their French toast - classic white bread dipped in a mixture of egg and milk and sprinkled with a touch of sugar. The same way as it comes out from mum’s kitchen; simple and delicious. 

A French-Japanese restaurant, located on the ground floor of Gurney Paragon Mall, has been stocking up huge reputation for preparing the best desserts and unique pastas in town. The vibrant colours, fun quotes and contemporary interior allures your eyes before heading to your mouth. The jewel of the dessert bowl is their selection of ritzy French toasts, where many regulars don’t need a menu to place orders. The famous French toast comes with bite-sized charred toast, a smack of homemade whipped cream and maple syrup, while another contender is their French toast that is garnished with tempting caramelised bananas. You’ll definitely walk out of this restaurant with miam miam vibes, which means yum yum in French.

Drive down to the northern part of Penang Island to an open café that is welcoming the crowd with their big breakfast and brunch. Tucked towards the hillside, this small café is perfectly crafted for a getaway from city life. Their range of thick and fluffy French toasts comes with bacon, banana or both together. If that does not arouse your temptation, then give the Very Adult French toast a go, where stacks of French toasts are capped with sliced bananas, jam and drizzled in rich chocolate syrup – sinfully scrumptious! Despite the quirky name, it’s kids who largely go head over heels for this sweet heaven on plate rather than adults. This café lives up to its catchy caption – "where community begins"; it’s ideal for bonding with like-minded friends and family while sipping aromatic coffees and enjoying big meals. 

Located along Hutton Lane, this classic colonial building has been astutely turned into a comfy cafe, with gigantic mural wall paintings accompanied by vintage tiles, brick walls, vibrant furniture and high ceilings that will have you in awe. Notwithstanding their succulent Eggs Benedict which hogs the headlines all the time, their French toast deserves a thunderous applause too. Unlike many eateries, the French toast served here is chunky and thick, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with a generous topping of strawberries and bananas. Paired with maple syrup and cream cheese syrup, just dabble in delightfully. Before leaving this Instagram-worthy spot, try their desserts too for a sweet ending. 

Your salivation is certain to multiply now as the French toast here definitely extends your culinary quest. Kim Gary is an iconic restaurant serving authentic Hong Kong meals and has mushrooming zealots in Penang. Despite having numerous franchises, it’s still a battle to get a place to dine-in. One of the reasons is surely their classic Hong Kong-style French toast. To even hoist your appetite, it was ranked 38 in the World’s 50 Best Foods 2011 in CNN Go. Rich peanut butter sandwiched between two thick slices of French toast, deep-fried till golden, drenched in honey and a cube of butter. It’s served warm and you’ll drool looking at both the butter and peanut butter melting. Just ignore the calorie counts and chomp down this sinfully delicious French toast, each bite just sparks your palate. 

At the heart of the UNESCO heritage zone, Muntri Mews is a reputable boutique hotel, converted from 19^th century carriage houses. Parallel to the exclusive hotel, their Mews Cafe has a huge following from the locals and tourists. Undeniably, this restaurant tops the list for relaxation and sophisticated interior, infused with Chinese and European touches. The moment you walk past the iron gate, soothing vibes pulsate. Serving a mixture of local delights and Western cuisines, the food here ticks quality as well as quantity. Their French toast is curated with perfection; thick slices of charred bread served with slices of fresh banana and maple syrup, artfully presented on traditional Chinese porcelain. Either sipping your coffee at the outer garden filled with foliage of greens, or tucked inside admiring eye-catching artistic sketches that charm the wall, it’s solely about pampering yourself with extravagance of all senses.