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Char Koay Teow
Char koay teow – my favorite Hawker food
RM12 ‘Keh Liao’ Char Koay Teow @ Bee Hooi Coffee Garden, Penang
Jan 28th
Just when I thought Char Koay Teow in Penang wouldn’t get more expensive, I stumbled upon one that sells a ‘keh liao‘ (added ingredients) version that has a price tag of RM12 while the normal version is RM5.50. FYI, the most expensive Char Koay Teow I ever had prior to this was at Ah Leng that cost RM10. And coincidentally, this stall at Bee Hooi Coffee Garden along Kimberley Street is where Ah Leng used to operate before he moved to his current location.
Even though I knew the noodles would have a tough time competing with the caliber of Siam Road‘s, the curiosity got the better of me. I simply had to see for myself how this could top Ah Leng’s. So after I placed my order and sat down, I paid close attention to the cooking.
And just as I had predicted, the extra cost goes into having much bigger prawns and having an extra ingredient – mantis shrimps. There weren’t any cockles, which is weird so my only guess is that it was hard to get any supply during CNY.
Char Koay Teow @ Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa, Pulau Tikus
Jun 19th
I could still remember my first time having the Char Koay Teow at Kedai Kopi Sin Hwa opposite the Pulau Tikus police station. It was particularly memorable due to the non-existant parking space (near to market) and the coffee shop was unusually stuffy with little ventilation. And of course, the Char Koay Teow is kind of special too, as it comes with squids and you have the option of ‘upgrading’ it to a duck egg version for extra 50 cents.
Instead of relying on the seafood sweetness achieved by using huge prawns, Sin Hwa’s Char Koay Teow is red hot, which focuses more on wok hei and spiciness – the oomph factor. And not to mention cheaper too compared to those selling at a crazy price of RM7-RM10 per plate.
Penang Char Koay Teow @ Sun Hin Loong Restaurant, SS2
Feb 15th
Being unable to look for a Char Koay Teow that tastes as good as those in Penang is one of my major frustrations in food while working in Klang Valley. So I am glad to have found one that is able to fry up an authentic tasting plate of Penang Char Koay Teow, which is ironically so near to me all this time – the stall in Sun Hin Loong at SS2 just next to Watsons.
I know this might be old news but this entry is actually dedicated to you Penangites out there who are working in Klang Valley like me. If you wish to have a fix of some authentic Penang Char Koay Teow, this is the place to be.
There are countless Char Koay Teow stalls in Klang Valley that include the word ‘Penang’ into their stall name but the taste is always far from being close. After a while I just gave up the search totally. But recently a close friend managed to convince me to try Sun Hin Loong’s, because his recommendations usually won’t go wrong.
Mantis Prawn Char Koay Teow @ Sin Guat Keong, Kimberley Street
Oct 29th
The Char Koay Teow stall outside Kedai Kopi Sin Guat Keong is one of the oldest in Penang that has been around for more than half a century. Currently manned by Ah Sean, the stall was actually started by his father, which was later passed on to him. Besides being the pioneer to include mantis prawns in their noodles, they are also one of the four ‘Kings’ (King of Seafood) I mentioned before at Sky Emperor Chicken Feet Koay Teow Soup post.
Here, a plate of ‘keh liao’ Char Koay Teow is RM5 and above, depending on how much additional toppings requested. Compared to the other Char Koay Teow in Penang, this one tasted a bit moist and had a strong, sweet seafood flavor. One plate is always not enough for me. But if you like your noodles drier you should notify him when ordering.
