Chowrasta Market or Pasar Chowrasta is one of the two community markets in inner George Town.The marketplace is the usual watering hole for the local community, and it is usually positioned where major roads meet. In the case of Chowrasta Market, it is bordered by Penang Road, Chowrasta Road, Kuala Kangsar Road and Tamil Street.
Chowrasta Market is probably the most popular spot to get local titbits such as preserved nutmeg, tau33 sa3 pneah4 and other similar items. These used to be de rigueur on the shopping list of anybody, particularly ladies from other states, or their local counterparts before making a visit to their friends of other states. The stalls are still operating today, as before.
Chowrasta Market is the oldest market in George Town to still be functioning in the same spot. That area has always been a pekan, or village heart, when it was populated predominantly by various Indian ethnic groups. Originally an open air market, Chowrasta received its first proper structure when the George Town Municipal Council erected a market building here in 1890. That building is quite similar in appearance to the historic Sia Boey market building that is still standing today. The present market building was erected in the 1960s. It underwent a major facelift in 2012, which included adding a multi-story car park above the wet market area. This rear side makeover was completed in 2015, with full restoration was completed in January 2017.
