Lonely Planet has listed Penang as the Number One culinary hotspot in the world for 2014 - beating other popular foodie destinations such as Victoria (Australia), Lake District in the UK, Puglia in Italy and Oxaca in Mexico.

Late last year, Lonely Planet listed Malaysia as one of the world’s Top 10 Destinations to visit in 2014.

This recognition of Malaysia’s tourism sector by the ‘world’s largest and most popular travel guide publication’ has elated Malaysian Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

“We are deeply honoured and humbled for the 'double recognitions' accorded to Malaysia by none other than the Lonely Planet, the world’s renowned travel guide publisher.”

Nazri said that Penang as the world’s top culinary destination and Malaysia as a must-visit top 10 destination augurs well for the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014.

“This recognition attests to Malaysia’s rich and colourful diversity not only in terms of nature, scenery, culture, culinary but also the people. Our multi-racial population is our national pride and richest asset,” he continued.

Lonely Planet’s commissioning editor, Robin Barton wrote of Penang: “Malaysian hawker food has spread worldwide through food trucks and pop-ups but nothing compares to Penang. Its food reflects the intermingling of the many cultures that arrived after Penang was set up as a trading port in 1786, from Malays to Indians, Achenese to Chinese, Burmese to Thais. The state capital, George Town is its culinary epicenter.”

Lonely Planet also recommends that visitors must try Penang’s famed char kway teow, hokkien mee, assam laksa, skewered fish balls and desserts such as cendol and air bandung besides visiting the Esplanade Food Centre and the night markets in Jelutong and Macallum Street in Penang.

CNN Travel, in November, had also named Penang as having one of the best street foods in Asia.