老山东肉骨茶 Lao San Tong Bak Kut Teh — Restaurant in Penang

Lao San Tong Bak Kut Teh proves that you don’t need a hundred dishes on the menu to make a strong impression — you just need one thing done really well. And here, that one thing is bak kut teh.

The broth is beautifully rich and herbal, packed with flavour but not overpowering. You get a choice of various pork parts all cooked to tender perfection. There are also a few side dishes and vegetables to accompany the meal, but make no mistake: this place keeps it simple and focused, which is exactly what makes it shine. Quality over quantity.

What really stood out to me was the team running the place — almost all of them are locals. In a time when many restaurants are run by foreign labour, it’s genuinely refreshing to see a local crew taking pride in their work. It may even be a family-run business, and if so, that adds an extra layer of heart. It’s also encouraging to see younger Malaysians still willing to work in hospitality, doing honest work instead of chasing only “cosy” jobs. Respect.

Now, here’s a funny bit — my brother got confused by their signage and thought they were Michelin-starred. Took a little while to explain that they’re actually Michelin Guide selected, not starred. But hey — even getting into the Guide is an achievement, and after eating here, we both agreed they absolutely earned that recognition.

And can we talk about the real MVP? Endless chopped garlic and fresh chilli, without having to beg for more. They keep the soup topped up generously throughout your meal — no stinginess here. We even asked for extra soup to go with our takeaway leftovers and they happily provide us.

In short: great bak kut teh, warm service, and...

This ranks amongst the best BKT you can get in penang. If you are a BKT connoisseur then eating here is a must.

The first thing that strikes me is the hygiene. The place is clean and the staffs efficient, friendly and respectful. They come regularly to the table to refill the soup and you never need to lift a finger.

The BKT soup itself is superb. It comes piping hot with a great balance of spice, salt and herbal aftertaste. They don't overdo it by trying to overpower your sense of taste, this results in a light soup but delicious nonetheless. The aroma is fragrant and apetite inducing.

Ordering is easy. Just tell the waiter you want a mix and match. You just have to decide whether you want offal in it.

As with all great BKT places, the side orders are equally important. I ordered the taugeh, braised egg, tofu and of course the eu char kuih. I must fully recommend that you order the thai sauce fried tofu. The tofu is incredible. Sliced just right so that the crusty skin with it's soft centre gives you an unbelievable texture when you bite into it.

The environment is also very relaxed to dine in. Good airy movement of air as the whole restaurant is open. The only thing that disappointed me was the rice yam. Tasted...

Bak Kut Teh: RM10 / person (it's up to you how big portion you want to order) I order 2 person portion for 3 people since we want to try their side dish.

White Rice: RM1 (Big) RM0.60 (Small) Yam Rice: RM1.20 (Big) RM0.70 (Small) You Char Keow: RM1.20

Sauce/ Garlic/ Chilli Padi/ Tableware got to serve by own. Take from the small bar next to Cashier.

Salted Fish Toufu taste so so. Yao Mak Choi also also.

Pros: Free Flow refill soup Cons: Limited parking. Request to pay for RM3 even i park at road side (collected by opposite temple even it is raining day and CNY night market stall are close). Waited for some time for the staff to order. Business very good. Tho they have many ground staff n yet no one will come to entertain u until u keep asking them to come. (By the way im sitting just in front of their serving counter. There is no way for them to oversight we are yet to order)

Conclusion: Good to try. Not bad for their herbal soup. Staff attitude can be improve. Training needed for their staff. They did not assign their staff by section. So even they have many staff and still all seem like running around and oversighted the table just right in...