Almost every single friend of my just can’t accept this type of Char Koay Teow. To them, it must be dry, and not wet, most important, it MUST be fried by Chinese. Well, try to be more open minded and be adventurous eh? If not, you will just miss out too many good food out there, and how can life be fun if that’s so? Live to eat, and not eat to live.

Maybe next time I should say, come lets go eat “wat dan hor“.

This time, it’s Abang Ismail Char Koay Teow, located just directly opposite of the big pink colored Bukit Mertajam Post Office.

Malay Char Koay Teow usually taste sweet. Although it might be thought as curry to some of you, but it’s taste totally different than curry. A usual small plate cost RM3, but how can that possible be enough for me? I usually order for the special version, which cost RM5, with extra egg on top and extra prawns. The prawns here are usually fresh and the size is quite big too.

Most people will tend to have some sour chili on top of their Koay Teow, which just totally enhance the taste of it.

As usual, I just love it. It taste so damned good, and I totally finish up all the gravy on my plate. Yummy! 9.0/10

Seriously, I despise you guys out there who say you love to eat and love good food, but dare not try, or don’t even bother to try this version of Char Koay Teow. Try it before you say you don’t like it!

Total Damage: RM5 for Special version

Operating Hours: 6.00PM till midnight

Location: Jalan Pasar, Bukit Mertajam

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And the name is Tiger Char Koay Teow! Roar! Not only the name is a tad different from others, they did add extra ingredients to their Koay Teow – Bamboo Clams.

Yea, bamboo clams. Really, people can be as creative as they can be, by simply adding new ingredients to the food they are selling to attract people to it. The days are gone that you can keep on selling the same old thing for years and years, no matter how delicious it is, you will need to change a bit or else your customer will get bored of it too. So hence the bamboo clams!

The special version with clams here cost RM6, price is consider cheap if compare to those premium ones. Taste wise? Quite near the top but certainly not the best I had taste. Although lard is used, and the “wok hei” is good, I still prefer Ah Leng and the now under-fired Lorong Selamat’s one.

One might ask, so how do the clams taste like? Personally I don’t really like it as I find that it doesn’t help much to enhance the taste of the koay teow. 7.7/10

We did tried the Lor Bak @ RM4 here which turns out to be really really average. 6.0/10

The Hokkien Mee here taste quite good though @ RM4.50. As you can see, the prawns given are quite big which is good.

Overall, Tiger Char Koay Teow is sorta special since I don’t know where else I can find fried koay teow with bamboo clams. However, it had since never came into my mind to revisit them again as since everytime I am in crave of Char Koay Teow, Ah Leng will be the place to go!

Total Damage: Char Koay Teow Extra ingredients – RM6

Lor Bak – RM4

Hokkien Mee – RM4.50

Operating Hours:8.00 AM to 2.30 PM

Location: Lebuh Carnavon, Penang

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It’s Sin Hwa Char Koay Teow, 1 of the top 3 in Char Koay Teow Penang according to some folks. This small old shop is located directly opposite of the Pulau Tikus Police Station.

Unlike the other 2 famous one – Ah Leng and the one in Lorong Selamat, it’s considerably cheap at only RM3.50 per plate. Besides, when I reach there at around 10 AM, the waiting time is zero as I am the only customer there.

The koay teow here is good and with enough wok hei, and very fragrant. Although the amount (and also size) and cockles is quite minimal since we order the normal version, but we still enjoy it. The prawns however taste like normal prawns, unlike the 2 premium one which is super big and sweet. 8.0/10

All in all, the Char Koay Teow here is really good stuff, and come with a cheaper price. You can also opt for the duck egg version by paying an extra of RM0.50 only.

Total Damage: RM3.50 per plate (Normal Version)

Operating Hours: 10 AM to 4 PM

Location: Jalan Burma, Penang

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As for my experience, this is by far the tidiest Malay version Char Koay Teow that I ever had.

But who cares? Most important is the taste right? Hm… it actually taste OK la, but also because it seems it was cooked till too careful, until the taste and “wok hei” is not there. Maybe I am used to really really good one already. 6.7/10

Zai Char Koay Teow, citarasa from Pulau Pinag, even Malay version are claiming themselves are from Penang!

Total Damage: RM3.50 for 1 person

Operating Hours: 7 PM to 11 PM

Location: Jalan Lencong Timur, Sungai Petani

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AND YES, you read it correctly, at 5.00 AM in the morning, they already start selling it, and stop selling at 10 AM. I was like in ZOMGWTF when Criz tell me this, eating Char Koay Teow at so damned early in the morning is just crazy and way too heavy for breakfast! Breakfast is supposed to be something light, healthy yet full, and not something that the total calorie intake will be 1/2 of you should have for the whole day!

We almost went there at 4.30am, but in the end I delay it till 6AM. When we reach there, the uncle already fried many plates of Char Koay Teow already. Criz told me that this Char Koay Teow stall fried a lot for factories workers, hence he had to open business so early so that the workers got something to eat during their breakfast break, which explains why he start selling so early. This stall also use charcoal to fried, which gives better burnt smell to the Char Koay Teow.

Besides Char Koay Teow, they also had fried mee as the option.

Fried Rice is available here too. The fried rice is so so to me only as it’s a bit too sticky to my liking. 6.0/10

And finally, back to the Char Koay Teow. The Char Koay Teow here is by far the cheapest in tow. For a normal plate, it’s only RM2.80, and for those who opt for extra prawns, it’s only RM3.80! Where in hell can  you find such cheap Char Koay Teow these days? Especially if you compare to those crazy RM9.00 per plate version.

Although the prawns here are not as big as Ah Leng and Lorong Selamat, but the freshness is there, and they gives more prawns to compensate the smaller size, at a way way way WAY cheaper price! One can also opt for using duck egg at extra RM0.50 only! The Koay Teow here is also not as oily as most another place, as it’s a bit drier than others. Although it’s healthier, but I prefer oilier version more.

1 might ask, at such cheap price, the Char Koay Teow good or not ar? Well, all I can say is, I personally still love both Ah Leng and Lorong Selamat more, but this doesn’t means this one is bad. Besides, it might not look reddish and spicy (as I had ask for extra spicy), but it’s really spicy. 7.5/10

However, if you were to ask me to come and eat here again at 6AM, then it’s no way man. I will come at 8.30 AM, but 6AM is just too early for such a heavy meal.

Finally, thanks to Criz again for bringing me to this place. Looking forward for you to bring me eat eat again in the near future! Thanks Ya!

Total Damage: RM3.80 for Char Koay Teow

Operating Hours: 5.00 AM to 10.00 AM  (Closed on Monday)

Location: Cecil Street, Penang

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However, although I know the Char Koay Teow here is good, I banned this place for many years ago. This is because most of the time I was there few years back, I need to queue up waiting the aunty frying, under the bloody hot sun! Besides, the queue is never short, and most of the time you need to queue up to 45 minutes or more! This is madness!

Until recently I had removed them from the ban list as they had shifted out to a new coffee shop – Kafe Heng Huat. Although there’s only 1 stall in this coffee shop, which is the Char Koay Teow, you can order other foods such as O-Chien, curry mee, rojak and many more from the coffee shops nearby to here. Well, actually some of the store waiter will be lurking inside the coffee shop and asked you will you want to order from them.

Ever since the Char Koay Teow moved to here, one no longer need to queue up for their koay teow, they can seat inside and wait for it. This is so much better, although the waiting time is still hell long (1 hour) if you come at the peak hour (around 2pm to 3pm).

Since I hate waiting, and also due to the coffee shop is small and too packed, making it way too hot and uncomfortable to sit and wait inside for long, I decided to came early at around 11am when they just start business. However, I notice something wrong when I was there. The aunty with goggle is missing! There’s someone frying the koay teow, but it’s definitely not her! However, since I am here, I still order it and thought, well maybe I just need to wait awhile for the real cook to appear.

However, this is not true! The mysterious cook took our order, and proceed to fried it for us! Only until she finish frying, the main cook appear, but it’s all too late. Only till then, I notice that the mysterious person who fried it is actually the assistant of the goggle aunty all this while. She is the one that took your order normally, while the main cook focus on frying only. Since she had been beside the main cook for so long, definitely she had learn a thing or two right?

Fortunately for  us, yes, the assistant skill is good. The Char Koay Teow is not bad and was way above average than the normal one. 7.7/10

Since I am unhappy that I can’t taste the real cook skill, I decided to come back few days after this. This time, it was the real cook who is frying it. Notice the difference? Yea, it does looks redder and more appealing. However, that’s not just about it. Although the assistant skill is already good, but there’s still a huge difference in terms of skill between both of them. The real one got way more “wok hei”, and taste really really nice. This is a plate of awesome Char Koay Teow that will ask you to come back often! 9.3/10

This is the real cook, she ain’t wearing any goggle yet since it’s still early, but if you come late at around 2pm, you will definitely spot her wearing a huge yellow goggle. Well, unless she decided to change the color to red or something else.

The Ice Kacang here is consider ok ok only. Not enough ingredients la. Check out for the unrounded ugly pentagon bokeh too 6.0/10

Yet another shop in Penang that will charge people for not ordering drinks.

The rojak here is not bad too. I like this type of black sauce rojak more rather than those with too much prawn paste. 7.5/10

The Char Koay Teow stall, and the red wording down there initiates that you can order food from nearby stall to here.

Basically, the Char Koay Teow here is really good stuff. Awesome as I can say. Just come earlier and eat it during lunch time. Come at around 11.30am to 12.30pm for lunch, forget about having it during tea time and you shall enjoy a great awesome plate of true Penang Char Koay Teow, where the waiting time is very very short! Just remember, don’t come too early or your Char Koay Teow will be fried by the wrong person like my case! I am truly ashamed with it, sigh…..

Total Damage: RM9 per plate for extra prawns

Operating Hours: 11am to 5pm

Location: Lorong Selamat, Penang

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Ever since I was small, I would loved to have my breakfast here, as I don’t really know where to find a good plate of Char Koay Teow for breakfast that time. However, their quality had degraded over the years, and the consistency is not there too. Sometimes when you are lucky, the plate of Koay Teow you get will be nice (as in above average only). If you are not, the plate of Koay Teow you get will be very very normal, which makes you wonder, is this really one of the most famous in Penang? Besides, although the prawns used was consider big, but I find that the prawns is tasteless most of the time, and in most cases, not fresh. The same goes to the crab meat, it’s more like a decoration to me as it’s tasteless too. 6.6/10

I don’t know when it started, but the reason I came here is not for the Char Koay Teow already. It’s of the superb awesome ultimate O-Kuih (Yam cake). This O-Kuih is really wonderful, as the proportion of yam is so much higher than flour. The O-Kuih is top up with dried shrimps, fried shallots and spring onion. Eating it all together with the chili sauce, it’s just awesome for all yam lover! It’s definitely 1 of the best O-Kuih in town! I had known many people had dapao (take away) it back to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore after eating it. It’s a Must Try! 9.1/10

Another thing that I love to eat here is the braised chicken feet. Chicken feet is consider the smoothest part of a chicken, but since it’s dirty in nature, most people find it disgusting. Hence it’s your lost of dare not to try the best part of a chicken! 8.3/10

Eating chicken feet is always a mess….hence…..

The attitude of both the sisters is quite arrogant too. Most of the time they will tell you have to wait very long ar, although they don’t have much customer inside the coffee shop, and you still get your food in less than 20minutes. Besides, I also heard that their attitude is even worse in the past, until someone dump some cow shit into their wok, only their attitude change a bit, but I am not sure how true is this.

The stall that sell awesome awesome O-Kuih.

Again, if you are planning to try the best Char Koay Teow in Penang, this is not a good place. I order this is also for the sake of blogging only, as I am already in love with Ah Leng. However, do come here for the O-Kuih ya!

Total Damage: Char Koay Teow – RM4, O-Kuih and braised chicken feet – RM7

Operating Hours: 7am to 12pm

Location: Mcalister Road, Penang.

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However, how is an above average Char Koay Teow going to satisfy us? We simply want the best, and Ah Leng Char Koay Teow at Jalan Dato Keramat is definitely one of the best in Penang!

A normal plate of Char Koay Teow usually consists of prawns, cockle and  egg. However, did you notice something extra in this plate of Char Koay Teow? Yes, it’s mantis there! I certainly never see any other stall gives you the option to add mantis besides here at Ah Leng! You can also opt for duck egg instead of the normal chicken egg, and all of these extra certainly enhance the taste of this Char Koay Teow to its maximum. Fark the cholesterol, enjoy it first and think later!  Besides, a plate of Char Koay Teow won’t do good if it used all the best ingredients but lack of “wok hei”. Luckily, this is not a problem here at Ah Leng at all.  9.5/10

Besides, did I mentioned that the prawns is huge? Yes, it’s big, fresh and juicy! Yummmmyyyyy!!

One shall also note that, most of the famous Char Koay Teow stall in Penang is quite expansive. The same goes to Ah Leng, where the ultimate special version (duck egg, extra prawns and mantis) comes with a hefty price at RM9.50! The normal version also cost RM5, but to me, it’s worth every penny that I paid! Besides, for the past few times I visit Ah Leng at around 9am to 10am, the waiting time is always less than 30minutes. Compare the attitude and waiting time to Mcallister road and Lorong Selamat, it’s really hell and heaven. Ah Leng Char Koay Teow is plain awesome!

Total Damage: RM9.50 for the Special version, RM5 for normal

Operating Hours: 8am to 2pm, close on Tuesday

Location: Kafe Khoon Hiang, Jalan Dato’ Keramat, George Town

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The scenario was like that, I decided to give this Malay CKT a try since it’s really fragrant when it was cooked. Since I decided to take away, I stand there and watch how it was cooked. The procedure is basically the same like how normal CKT was fried, until suddenly the cook pour in 1 big spoon on god know what sauce into it.

My jaw almost dropped, and was stunned for few seconds….then was like what the hell? However, after ate it, I am in love with it! Hell yea! 

Back to topic, loads of thanks to Vkeong for introducing this, the famous Malay Char Koay Teow at Alma, Bukit Mertajam.

The stall is just beside the main road, Jalan Rozhan. If you pass by, just by looking at the whole stretch of table, you already know that there’s definitely something great here.

Although they had 2 to 3 chef cooking, but seems they still had a hard time to keep up with the amazing crowd, as we still have to wait for some time for it.

Well, this is how the char koay teow looks when served. LY jaw almost dropped down too when she saw it, guess it will happened to almost every Chinese (that never eat the malay version before) if you tell them that we are eating char koay teow but this was served.

However, although it score a great big ZERO on presentation, but the taste is really amazing, SUPERB! A Must Try! food in Penang! 9.3/10

Total Damage: RM5 per plate for the large version

Operating Hours: Dinner (After 8pm to 9pm I supposed)

Location: Jalan Rozhan, Penang

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