Lilys Vegetarian Kitchen
Image Credit: Lilys Vegetarian Kitchen
Wondering about the best vegetarian Char Kway Teow Penang? Here comes the Lilys Vegetarian Kitchen, offering meat-free and healthier dishes to foodies. Moreover, this eatery has air-conditioning, which could be a savior for the summer heat in Penang Malaysia! Besides, warm lighting and marble sets give off a carefree mood, it’s perfect for family gatherings!
Image Credit: Lilys Vegetarian Kitchen
Furthermore, there goes a tasty Char Kway Teow with different spicy levels. In addition, true, it’s dairy-free and eggless, but what to do, the taste is still a hit anyhow! Besides, thumbs up to tofu, not sure how could a simple tofu be this yummy. Furthermore, non-spicy lovers better go for the dark soy sauce version, that’s advice!
Additional Information: Address: 98, Lorong Madras, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang. Operation Hours: 11:00 am to 08:00 pm (Closed on Mondays) Contact Number: +60 4-226 3810 Website: Pam’s Vegetarian / Lily’s Vegetarian Cafe
Image Credit: Bee Hwa Cafe
Finding a Halal Chinese Char Kway Teow could be tough in Penang, but that’s not the story in Bee Hwa Cafe. Moreover, this long-standing coffee shop is so popular, selling the best Char Kway Teow for all ethnic backgrounds! In addition, stepping in makes patrons feel the nostalgic charm of old stuff and patterned flooring, that’s pretty cool!
Image Credit: Bee Hwa Cafe
Besides, the Halal Char Kway Teow Penang tastes the best straight away from the Wok! With crab sticks, fish balls, chili paste, shrimp, cockles, and garlic chives. In addition, crunching in chili chops for an extra hot and spicy kick, that’s how spicy lovers do! Notably, there are more Halal foods like Curry Mee and Hokkien Mee, they are all worth trying out!
Additional Information: Address: 10, Lebuh Dickens, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang. Operation Hours: 07:00 am to 03:00 pm (Closed on Sundays) Contact Number: +60 12-854 0005 Website: Bee Hwa Cafe
Bonus: The Best Koay Teow Basah in Penang
Remember how earlier I mentioned the term “Chinese char koay teow”? That’s because there’s a different version of char koay teow that’s conventionally viewed as Malay cuisine. Known as Koay Teow Basah (wet koay teow), the dish is often served with a slurpy gravy along with generous portions of fresh prawns and other ingredients. If that sounds like something you’d like, hit up Sany Char Koay Teow, often considered one of the best in Penang for this soupy version of char koay teow.
Operating Hours: Daily 7pm-12am
4, Lorong Mahsuri 2, Bayan Baru, 11950 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.
Southeast Asian rice noodle dish
This article is about the Chinese noodle dish usually served in Malaysia and Singapore. For the similarly named Indonesian noodle dish, see
Char kway teow (sometimes also spelled as char kuey teow, Chinese: 炒粿條; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhá-kóe-tiâu) is a stir-fried rice noodle dish from Maritime Southeast Asia of southern Chinese origin.[3][1] In Hokkien and Teochew, char means 'stir-fried' and kway teow refers to flat rice noodles.[4] It is made from flat rice noodles (Chinese: 河粉; pinyin: hé fěn; Cantonese Yale: hó fán) or kway teow (Chinese: 粿條; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kóe-tiâu; pinyin: guǒ tiáo; Cantonese Yale: gwó tìuh) of approximately 1 cm or about 0.5 cm in width, stir-fried over very high heat with garlic, light and dark soy sauce, chili paste, whole prawns, shelled blood cockles, chopped Chinese chives, slices of Chinese sausage, and bean sprouts.[5][6] Other common ingredients include fishcake and belachan.[6]
Originally developed and catered to overseas-born Chinese labourers in the Southeast Asia region, the dish has achieved widespread popularity within the region from the late 20th century onwards, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore. The dish has also acquired a reputation of being unhealthy due to its high saturated fat content, as it is traditionally stir-fried in pork fat with crisp croutons of pork lard.
Ah Shen Presgrave Street Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Speaking of duck egg char koay teow, one of the most popular spots for this upgraded version of char koay teow on Penang Island is a humble shoplot on Presgrave Street. Manned by local foodie Ah Shen, the stall sells smoky char koay teow (stir-fried over a charcoal fire for extra wok hei) topped with a sunny side up duck egg. The duck egg elevates the entire dish, giving it a richer, creamier flavour that goes well with the springy rice noodles and crunchy bean sprouts. Don’t forget the spicy sambal too!
Opening Hours: Daily 3–10pm
67b, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
Image Credit: Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
A visit to the Ah Leng Char Kway Teow Penang shows patrons a flavorful taste they can’t miss out on! It nestles in Tong Hooi Restaurant, not fancy, but giving off friendly vibes for good! Well, the food aroma of deep-fried pork lard speaks for itself once stepping near the stall, undoubtedly!
Image Credit: Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
Moreover, check out the portion guys, the chef just never pauses to add more prawns! Savor the stir fried rice noodles, it’s perfectly seasoned and wetter compared to others! Furthermore, foodies like the duck egg version, as it tastes extra richer and creamier. Hence, forget about the calories and tuck in more Char Koay Teow in Penang as you like!
Additional Information: Address: 343, Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang. Operation Hours: 10:30 am to 04:00 pm (Closed on Wednesdays & Thursdays) Contact Number: +60 12-498 3962 Website: Penang Ah Leng Char Koay Teow槟城驰名亚龙炒粿条
Presgrave Street Ah Shen Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Image Credit: Presgrave Street Ah Shen Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Presgrave Street Ah Shen Duck Egg Char Koay Teow is unbeatable when mentioning the best Penang Char Kway Teow Georgetown. Moreover, stir-frying over a charcoal fire, that’s how it tastes good with smoky flavors! In addition, not even mentioning Wok Hei, Ah Shen masters it all!
Image Credit: Presgrave Street Ah Shen Duck Egg Char Koay Teow
Besides, springy rice noodles have a perfect seasoning, undoubtedly! And, don’t forget to add on a Sunny Side Up duck egg, it levels the entire flavor to another standard! Moreover, though the shop is tiny, the bright setting presents visitors with a refreshing vibe. Hence, plan a visit today or opt for a grab-and-go, too!
Additional Information: Address: 67B, Lebuh Presgrave, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang. Operation Hours: 05:00 pm to 10:00 pm (Closed on Thursdays) Contact Number: +60 18-223 8810 Website: Presgrave Street Ah Shen Duck Egg Char Koay Teow 三條路亞勝鴨蛋炒粿條
No.5 Char Koay Teow
No. 5 Char Koay Teow is something of a hidden gem amongst the more famed counterparts in the George Town area.
Though it is situated right in the bustling and tourist-filled Macalister Road, the stall itself is wedged right next to a durian stall and in a corner of a small old-school hawker space within a carpark lot. It would be rather easy to miss if not for its signage and the whiff of woodsy fragrance.
We’ll warn you first – don’t come here too famished that you won’t be willing to wait for your food to arrive, because waiting is what you’ll have to suffer through first before you get that yummy CKT.
We arrived to find the stall empty and void of any wok hei action, and wondered if the stall was closed – except that there were several customers seated at the tables, seemingly waiting to devour some food.
Upon prodding some workers idling about the hawker area, we were told to grab a seat…and wait.
There didn’t seem to be any sort of queuing system here, so instead of waiting for someone to approach and take orders, head straight over to the cook, give him your orders, and you’ll have a glorious CKT in no time at all.
While No. 5 is known for its loaded seafood char koay teow, we opted for a small traditional plate with the usual ingredients that’s priced at RM10.
It would simply be unscrupulous of us to not mention how our first bite absolutely floored us. Though admittedly, that was hugely because of how we underestimated the lesser-known CKT spot.
No. 5 stands out with the robust flavour of the noodle dish that were perfectly charred at edges of their strips, but somehow they manage to retain the freshness of the rest of the ingredients. The prawns were firm and juicy, the cockles whole and not shrivelled up from the heat, the shreds of Chinese chives and bean sprouts unabashedly sturdy, crunchy, and flavour-intact.
The explosion of flavour got more intense with every bite, it gradually bordered on salty. It made us wonder if they did cheat with a magic sprinkling of MSG. Nevertheless, it is an outstanding Penang char koay teow dish that we wouldn’t hesitate recommending.
Address: 94, Jalan Macalister, Sunshine City, 10450 George Town, Penang Opening hours: Mon – Sat 12pm-10pm (Closed on Sundays) Contact: 018-948 5680
No. 5 Char Koay Teow @ Jalan Macalister
Photo: @_meryling26 (Instagram)
CKT here may look simple but we guarantee that it surely packs a burst of epic flavours! As a famous spot, the queue will be so worth it once you’re feasting on your own plate of top notch char koay teow.
Photo: @dad_dish (Instagram)
No. 5 Char Koay Teow @ Jalan Macalister
Address: 49, Jln Macalister, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday (12 – 10 pm), Closed on Sundays
Siam Road Charcoal Char Koay Teow
You know the advice of visiting a famous eatery: come with plenty of tummy space, and also with plenty of patience.
The pioneer of charcoal-fueled char koay teow which once operated by the roadside and now a Michelin-approved stall, Siam Road Char Koay Teow is one of the oldest CKT hawkers in Penang, and arguably one of the very best.
We arrived half an hour before its opening time, and was already met with a short queue which grew exponentially when the hawkers arrived. The queuing and ordering system was rather seamless with the auntie’s sharp attentiveness and clear instructions for customers to keep things in order.
We all know of the elderly uncle, affectionately known as Uncle Tan, and the king behind Siam Road’s treasured plates of charred goodness. Since his retirement, his son has taken over the helming of the store and stove.
Melting from the heat in line wasn’t half as torturous as it would have been, if not for the uncle’s artisan display of frying the dish.
Unostentatious and laser-focused in his craft, he cooked in such a habitual efficiency, it was an awe to witness. The oil and pork lard triggers the sizzling, and in goes the rest of the ingredients in quick succession, interspersed with swishes of spatula and the addition of hot coals beneath the wok.
Rest assured that Siam Road’s char koay teow remains just as divine. A small-sized plate priced at RM9 is simple in its conception, with chilli-coated rice noodles interlacing thickets of eggs, decently plump and seared prawns, sweet lap cheong or Chinese sausages that have been singed in all the right corners, and fresh cockles that melts in your mouth.
The best part about this dish is its smoky wok hei aroma that is evident all the way till your plate is wiped clean, layered with the flavour of the pork lard which makes the dish sinfully moreish.
Our only gripe is for them to limit the number of orders per person – having a customer right at the front of the queue who smugly ordered 16 packets of CKT was not fun for the those at the back of the queue.
Address: 82, Jalan Siam, George Town, 10400 George Town, Penang Opening hours: Tue – Sat 12pm-6.30pm (Closed on Mondays & Sundays)
Tiger Char Koay Teow
Photo: @laykoon.lam (Instagram)
When in doubt, head to Tiger Char Koay Teow! Served with a generous portion of duck egg, prawns and cockles, you’ll definitely be in pure satisfaction here. Don’t forget to try some of their crowd-favourite Loh Bak, Loh Mee and Herbal Soup with Chicken Drumstick too!
Photo: @Ian Chow (Instagram)
Address: 179, Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday (7.30 am – 2 pm)
OO White Coffee Waterfall
Image Credit: OO White Coffee Waterfall
OO White Coffee Waterfall is a popular islandwide restaurant in Penang. Guess what, foodies will spot aromatic Char Kway Teow there. In addition, it tastes less oily featuring normal eggs, not duck eggs. Moreover, seafood lovers can add on cockles aka Siham too, isn’t it fantastic?
Image Credit: OO White Coffee Waterfall
Moreover, the dining ambiance is somehow enjoyable! The blue and white tone gives off a peaceful vibe, what a good match to the air-conditioned settings! Besides, don’t hesitate to enjoy more all-time favorite local treats. Hokkien Mee, Nasi Lemak, and Ipoh Hor Fun are all recommendable!
Additional Information: Address: 29 & 31, Jalan Gottlieb, 10350 George Town, Pulau Pinang. Operation Hours: 07:00 am to 08:30 pm (Open Daily) Contact Number: +60 4-226 3949 Website: OO White Coffee Waterfall
Char Koay Teow fans assemble! We’re diving chopsticks-first on a wok hei-worthy adventure where every CKT spot isn’t just a meal, it’s a whole new vibrant experience that always leaves you craving for just one more bite. Grab your chopsticks and follow along with us as we journey through the streets of flavour in Penang to uncover 10 best Char Koay Teow spots that are sure to satisfy all your CKT cravings!
