Where in Penang can you get a plate of authentic char kuey teow with robust flavors and sufficient wok hei? It’s a simple dish with noodles, pork lard, oysters, and bean sprouts, yet a delicious plate of char kuey teow is a godsend!
*wok hei: smoky flavor released from cooking at high heat with a blackened wok
We’ve listed some of our go-to spots. Some of these stalls have been in the business for years, all for excellent reasons!
1. Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow
Hailed by the BBC as the “Humble King of Noodles”, Uncle Tan Chooi Hong never fails to work his magic with every plate. Using traditional charcoal to cook the noodles, his signature dish has a heavenly flavor that’s full-bodied with a smoky aftertaste.
Just expect a crowd during peak hours, although the food is well worth the wait! At least there’s more seating now since the renovation in 2018.
PS: Shorter queues after 1:30pm
- Location: 82, Jalan Siam, George Town, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang
2. Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
Established in 1979, this generational char kuey teow store is sure to keep you coming back for more.
Large, juicy prawns, creamy duck eggs and bits of crispy deep-fried pork fat make this rendition extra special!
Especially busy during lunch hour, this family business shows no sign of slowing down!
- Location: 343, Jalan Dato Keramat, Kampung Makam, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang
3. Tiger Char Koay Teow
Tiger Char Koay Teow opens early so if you can stop by here for a local breakfast!
If you like your char kuey teow lighter and less burnt, head over to Tiger Char Koay Teow. While some say it’s overrated and lacks wok hei, others swoon over the dish with extra chili and added cockles.
There is also the choice between duck eggs or chicken eggs for your plate of char kuey teow!
Moreover, the waits here are quite short, which gives this stall another plus point!
Note: Try the lobak stall while you are here!
- Location: 179, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
4. Ah Shen Presgrave Street Famous Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Ah Shen Presgrave St Famous Duck Egg Char Koay Teow may well be the best that you can find in Penang at night!
For ~RM7, it makes for an affordable and delicious meal with succulent prawns, duck egg, cockles, spicy sambal, and even char siew in the mix!
- Location: 67b, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
5. Heng Kee Presgrave Street Char Koay Teow Stall
The char kuay teow at Presgrave Street Corner Heng Kee Char Koay Teow 三条路炒粿条 next door to Ah Shen Presgrave St Famous Duck Egg Char Koay Teow is good too.
Especially if you don’t like yours too salty, oily, or burnt. What’s not nice here are the diluted drinks.
We ordered Char Koay Teow with mixed eggs (both chicken and duck). There’s also a stall selling oyster omelette here – it’s not bad, just a little soggy.
Come before 6pm if you can help it so that finding a table will be less stressful.
PS: We don’t like the drinks here. Either too sweet or too diluted.
- Location: 67D, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
6. Left-handed Char Koay Teow
Helmed by a friendly leftie uncle, he cooks up a storm with flaming flair to boot.
His flavorful char koay teow (CKT) is pork-free and stir-fried with cockles, egg, bean sprouts, chives, and prawns!
Savor succulent prawns with bits of charred meat and noodles – all rich ingredients that work perfectly well in the dish.
Originally located beside a famous cendol stall in Penang, Left-handed Char Koay Teow now claims a restaurant of his own!
Note: You can get cendol at this restaurant too!
- Location: 79-G-11, Ivory tower, Kampung Jawa Baru, Off, Jalan Dato Keramat, 10150 George Town, Penang
7. Hillside Ah Soon Cafe – Ah Soon Char Koay Teow
Students from the nearby college come here to eat this yummy char kuey teow that is full of wok hei and not oily. They still use a charcoal fire to cook their namesake dish.
Founded in 1983, this simple outdoor café under a tree started as a humble roadside stall.
The CKT here is brimming with fresh plump prawns, pork lard, bean sprouts, slivers of Chinese sausage, and cockles! We found this dish to be tasty and authentic. Although we do think the one at Heng Kee Presgrave Street Char Koay Teow Stall tastes better.
To interest their growing number of patrons, they’ve also added new dishes like Koay Teow th’ng (kuey teow noodles in soup) and fish ball soup to their repertoire of Penang delicacies.
PS: They have nutmeg juice here and we highly recommend getting it on a hot day!
- Location: 26, Jalan Sungai Kelian, Tanjung Tokong, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Pulau Pinang
8. Chulia Street Char Keow Teow
While there are tons of street food along Chulia Street, this stall truly stands out:
It’s hard not to, with a telltale long queue and the aromatic waft of charred ingredients lingering in the air.
This simple rendition of the classic char kuey teow is wok-fried with chicken or duck eggs!
Note: Quality tends to drop if there’re too many people
- Location: Chulia Street, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang
9. Duck Egg Char Koay Teow (鸭蛋炒粿条)
You can still find great char kuey teow over on the mainland. One fine example is this char kuey teow with fried duck egg, a generous helping of small prawns, and sufficient wok hei!
While some prefer their char kuey teow to be less oily, this charcoal-fried noodles boasts oodles of fragrance with the right balance of heat!
It is supposedly the best in the area so be prepared to wait for it.
Note: This is a modest roadside stall
- Location: Jalan Pasar, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
10. Duck Egg Char Koay Teow (阿兴鸭蛋炒粿条)
A veteran in the business for the past 35 years, this duck egg char kuey teow is nestled inside Mei Le Hwa Coffee Shop (美麗華海鮮餐室), now named Restaurant EIGHTY SIX.
The sifu (master chef Ah Heng) behind this dish can whip up a serious fireworks display with his frying skills!
Fried with rich duck egg, silky noodles, and a sweet sauce that’s simply irresistible, it’s best savored with a sunny-side-up duck egg (hor pao tan)! As the runny egg oozes down the noodles, you’ll get a juicy and satisfying explosion of flavors!
Note: Waiting time expected.
- Location: 2741, Jalan Kulim, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Conclusion
Don’t leave without trying the best char kuey teow in Penang!
The secret behind this dish is the skill of the chef, a charcoal fire, or special ingredients like duck eggs or homemade sambal! Regardless, you can find great char kuey teow at literally any hour in the city!
Other Famous Dishes To Try
Char kuey teow is only one of the many dishes that Penang is most famous for! Don’t miss these other suggestions on where to go to try them!
Restaurants In Penang
Want something else other than local food? Try these restaurants for lunch or dinner instead.
