Char koay teow (炒粿条), one of the Penang's most famous dish, it is also considered to be the best compared to the other states in the country. Look no further than Kafe Heng Huat in Lorong Selamat, Madam Soon Suan Choo's char koay teow claimed to be one of the best and she has been selling it for more than 41 years. Used to be by the road side next to Kafe Chuan Kee where one has to queue under the hot sun to order and collect your own plate of char koay teow. Ridiculous, but she has a legion of fans willingly to do that everyday! Since she has moved to herself owned coffee shop (Kafe Heng Huat) which is only a few doors down the road from its old premise, you don't have to queue up anymore.
Madam Soon's char koay teow fashion trademarks are her goggles and the famous red beret headgear that are easily recognized from far. Apart from whipping out world-class char koay teow, this grumpy owner is also well-known for her bad service and attitude! She even has a boycott campaign launched against her in the cyberspace via Facebook, you can read more about it here. Still, business as usual busy for her, it didn't affect her at all, you bunch of hardcore willing-buyers-supporters!
For the extra aroma, taste and oomph!, traditional charcoal stove is used here.
The crowd at 11.10am considering they open for business at 11am! It was already packed and congested with tourists waiting for tables.
Before I get to finish ordering what I wanted, the owner with the face as black as charcoal started screaming..."1 hour can wait or not!? If not then don't complain later!". Well, it's a norm here and you'll need to get use to their "friendliness" if you ever want to eat here.
About 45 minutes later, it finally arrived! Char koay teow (RM 9 for big! RM 7 for medium and RM 6.50 for small), served with four succulent plump juicy prawns, fresh cockles, bean sprouts, chives and chunks of crispy pork lard. The noodles was filled with wok hei fragrance from the usage of charcoal fire and pork lard. Sure enough, it was a little oily but tasted great! However, I remembered it was better many years before, not sure why. It's either my tongue is aging or the owner no longer fried the koay teow plate-by-plate due to the never-ending huge demands.
Verdict: If the waiting time isn't an issue AND if the price isn't an issue AND if the poor service with bad attitude isn't an issue as well, then you might have found your perfect plate of char koay teow. Personally, I don't mind waiting but I can't tolerate the bad attitude yet over-priced. I'm sure there are many more other char koay teow stalls that are better, cheaper and friendlier than this one.
Address:
108, Lorong Selamat,
10400 Pulau Pinang
Tel: 016-269 2222
Business Hours: Opens daily from 11am - 6pm. Closed on every Tuesdays.
Pork Free: No
Taste:
Value:
GPS: 5.416996, 100.324752
Map:
View Eat Lah Food Map in a larger map
Madam Soon's char koay teow fashion trademarks are her goggles and the famous red beret headgear that are easily recognized from far. Apart from whipping out world-class char koay teow, this grumpy owner is also well-known for her bad service and attitude! She even has a boycott campaign launched against her in the cyberspace via Facebook, you can read more about it here. Still, business as usual busy for her, it didn't affect her at all, you bunch of hardcore willing-buyers-supporters!
For the extra aroma, taste and oomph!, traditional charcoal stove is used here.
The crowd at 11.10am considering they open for business at 11am! It was already packed and congested with tourists waiting for tables.
Before I get to finish ordering what I wanted, the owner with the face as black as charcoal started screaming..."1 hour can wait or not!? If not then don't complain later!". Well, it's a norm here and you'll need to get use to their "friendliness" if you ever want to eat here.
About 45 minutes later, it finally arrived! Char koay teow (RM 9 for big! RM 7 for medium and RM 6.50 for small), served with four succulent plump juicy prawns, fresh cockles, bean sprouts, chives and chunks of crispy pork lard. The noodles was filled with wok hei fragrance from the usage of charcoal fire and pork lard. Sure enough, it was a little oily but tasted great! However, I remembered it was better many years before, not sure why. It's either my tongue is aging or the owner no longer fried the koay teow plate-by-plate due to the never-ending huge demands.
Verdict: If the waiting time isn't an issue AND if the price isn't an issue AND if the poor service with bad attitude isn't an issue as well, then you might have found your perfect plate of char koay teow. Personally, I don't mind waiting but I can't tolerate the bad attitude yet over-priced. I'm sure there are many more other char koay teow stalls that are better, cheaper and friendlier than this one.
Address:
108, Lorong Selamat,
10400 Pulau Pinang
Tel: 016-269 2222
Business Hours: Opens daily from 11am - 6pm. Closed on every Tuesdays.
Pork Free: No
Taste:
Value:
GPS: 5.416996, 100.324752
Map:
View Eat Lah Food Map in a larger map
o.o i want nice chao kuo teow!!!! xDDD
But have to withstand her charcoal face 1st! :P
So what is the best CKT in Penang then?
I wished I knew, I'm also pretty much a tourist sucker in Penang hehe. Maybe some Penangite can contribute some locations? ;)
I heard there's another CKT known as Ah Leng CKT somewhere in Lorong Selamat off Dato Keramat. For about the same price, you'll get mantis prawns, big prawns and duck egg!
You're doing a great job. But can you please post the date you visited each place so that readers know how up-to-date your blog is. This entry was shown as "Posted on 2.59 AM" instead of a date.
Thanks for highlighting that! Will change it ;)
May i know if the mobile number you gave above is the lady's number or the Kafe number?
If its the lady, then i wont bother calling :)
They own the kafe, so I think it's likely her number or her sister's number.
Best of the Best
Penang char kuay teow is the cheapest consider the fresh Sea Big Prawn that they give you. Each prawn may cost you RM2 to RM3 in KL or mamak store. At RM9 per plate no other place can offer this big prawn fry koay teow. Good wok hei, perfect ingredient and just nice to eat.