George Town Street View: The Benggali Roti Seller

The Roti Seller

The traditional mobile bread (roti) seller on a trishaw in Penang.

Locally known as the Roti Benggali seller, Roti Bengali or the Benggali bread had its origin from Sheik Mohd Ismail, an Indian Muslim from Madras, who set up Roti Penggali (which meant bread shareholders in Tamil) with his friends back in 1920s. However, the word “penggali” was apparently mispronounced and later on, evolved into “benggali”. The name was stuck locally as such ever since. The loaf bread of white and soft crumb with thick crispy golden crust is a popular local choice here.

Penang Street Art (The Bun Seller)

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As a recent addition to Penang’s famous street arts, the Chinese ‘Pao Seller’ or Bun Seller art mural is painted at the side wall of Wil House, a hotel boutique converted from the old Great Shanghai Dry Cleaning shophouse located along Leith Street, George Town. This art mural depicts an old Chinese man selling the pao (or Chinese buns) from a wooden stall back then with just a fraction of the prices these days.

For the art’s location, please click HERE for the map.

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