Durian Central Macalister — Attraction in George Town

If you’re in Penang and fancy indulging in the king of fruits without sweating it out in a roadside stall, Durian Central Macalister might just be your durian haven. This place offers the rare luxury of choice – dine in comfort in an air-conditioned room or go old-school in the open-air section, depending on your tolerance for both heat and durian aroma.

They’ve got the little details sorted too – free water, salt to cut the richness, and even plastic gloves to spare your hands from the lingering scent of glory (or horror, depending on your camp). A thoughtful touch for those wanting to enjoy the experience without wearing it home.

Now, about the fruit – we had the Black Thorn variety, and it was absolutely top-notch. Rich, creamy, and everything a good durian should be. The quality is solid across the board, though the prices lean a little high – understandable in part due to the premium varieties on offer, but still something to brace your wallet for.

The only real letdown? The restroom. Shared with the neighbouring hawker stalls, it’s more “squat and hope for the best” than “clean and convenient”. Best to go before you arrive, unless you're keen on a true Malaysian street dining experience in every sense.

All in all, Durian Central offers a well-curated durian indulgence with a dash of modern comfort. Worth a visit if you’re chasing quality fruit in a cooler, cleaner setting – just don’t expect spa-like facilities to come with your...

This place is great if you want good durian with great people running it. No jipping on durian here! We came as tourist to Penang for a couple of days and 2 days in a row we went here because it felt comfortable, had good people and most of all great durian.

First of all it's a very intimate small place. We've eaten at durian man in KL and it's an institution with many ppl serving. This one had the same uncles/boss people that we saw the day before. They remembered us from the day before! They're also super nice they talked to us they found us the right durian. Both times my partner and I were so full but we still wanted durian and we asked for small black thorns and they went through a couple to find us one we felt right eating, haha. They also make sure they give us all the durian flesh!

We always sat inside at the air conditioned place. No coconuts or any other drinks besides water which they provide as much as you want.

Their service is great, so nice, sweet, attentive. And great durians. We had black thorn twice and they were top notch tasting! The second night we had the best black thorn we've eaten so...

I’ve been living in Penang for three years, and this was by far the worst durian shop experience I’ve had. Even though durian season is over and I expected higher prices, when I casually mentioned that the durian seemed “a bit expensive,” the owner rudely replied, “Then go eat Thai durian.”

As someone who has lived here for years, not just a random tourist, I know the quality of Malaysian durian, I know Musang King and Black Thorn are premium, and I also know prices go up outside of peak season. But that doesn’t excuse the arrogant and dismissive attitude from the owner.

Even if customers don’t fully understand pricing, treating them with respect is basic business practice. With this kind of attitude, I honestly hope this place closes down soon.

Avoid this shop if you want a pleasant durian experience in Penang. There are plenty of better options with good durian and much...