Three of Malaysia’s quintessential dishes can be sampled under one roof in George Town, Penang. The clamorous Joo Hooi cafe is a clearing house for belt-busting bowls of asam laksa (a spicy fish noodle soup made with tamarind, mint, pineapple, and chili) and char kway teow (noodles slicked with soy sauce and stir-fried in pork fat alongside prawns, blood cockles, bean sprouts, and Chinese chives). For dessert, you gotta order the cendol: shaved ice drenched in coconut milk and piled high with pandan jelly noodles and adzuki beans. At Joo Hooi, you can try all three for about $3 USD.

475 Jalan Penang (at Lebuh Keng Kwee), George Town, Penang, Malaysia; no phone.