Many Penang locals call the Char Koay Teow, stir-fried rice noodles, one of the best street foods you can have on the island.
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow 槟城驰名亚龙炒粿条 found within Restoran Tong Hooi on Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town, is a celebrated spot having been around since 1979.
So what’s Char Koay Teow?
The dish is usually fried in high heat with prawns, chicken or duck eggs, over a hot stove skillfully, creating this distinctive ‘wok-hei’ (breath of the wok) which makes every mouthful hugely satisfying.
The Penang style is usually sweeter and lighter than Singapore’s dark version.
If you are on a search, some of the well-known names in Penang include Siam Road Char Koay Teow, Tiger Char Koay Teow, Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow, and Mei Le Hwa Duck Egg Char Koay Teow.
Ah Leng’s Char Koay Teow serves up Regular Char Koay Teow without duck egg (RM11), Regular Char Koay Teow with duck egg (RM12.50), and the Special Char Koay Teow (RM16.50).
I would say go for the version with duck egg.
The dish is moderately spicy by default, but they accommodate spice levels to suit individual preferences.
Note that the stall has been taken over by the next generation, and is cooked using gas stove rather than charcoal.
While it is hugely popular amongst both locals and tourists, the good thing is you can wait in the comfort of the perpetually-full coffeeshop (you have to order drinks though).
The waiting time could be from 30 minutes to an hour. Patience, my friend.
Was it well-worth the wait? I found the kuay teow noodles fluffy, well-separated, and imbued with a moderate amount of ‘wok hei’.
The use of duck egg, which I would recommend, added a richer and creamier layer to the flavour profile.
Is this the best Char Koay Teow in Penang?
I am not quite sure, as I thought it could have slightly larger portion with more flavours, but I did like the delicate spiciness.
Just a little bit of kick, but not too much.
The huge draw for me were the prawns (think I counted two?), which were incredibly fresh, imparting a crunchy texture.
If you order the Special Char Koay Teow, the inclusion of mantis shrimps adds another dimension to the dish.
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow 槟城驰名亚龙炒粿条
343, Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang (Within Restoran Tong Hooi)
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 4pm (Mon – Tues, Fri – Sun), Closed Wed, Thurs
Google Maps – Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
Other Related Entries
Siam Road Charcoal Char Kuey Teow (Penang, Malaysia)
Click HERE for more PENANG Food Entries
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
