Char kway teow (CKT) is one of Singapore’s most beloved hawker dishes. But just across the causeway lies an equally iconic version: Penang-style char kway teow, also spelled as char koay teow. Compared to Singapore’s version, Penang char kway teow is lighter, drier, and leans more heavily on seafood flavours.
While you can find a few renditions of the dish locally, nothing quite beats trying it at the source, so here are five popular char kway teow stalls in Penang, ranked from our least to most favourite.
The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.31 as of 5 December 2025.
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Bee Hwa Cafe has been around since 1992, serving up plate after plate of Muslim-friendly Penang char kway teow—this is the only entry on this list to not use pork or lard. It occupies a quaint, cosy space that’s full of old-school charm.
For an RM8 plate, the ingredients here are modest: fishball, crab stick, and a few prawns. The noodles are tossed even drier than usual, which does give a decent hit of wok hei, but the overall flavour turns out a little one-dimensional.
There’s barely any spice, too, which we later learned might be due to their use of a prawn-based broth instead of the usual pork bones. This explains the very potent, seafood-forward flavour—great if you love prawns, less so if your allergies kick in.
All things considered, Bee Hwa Cafe offers a respectful, old-school rendition of Penang CKT that’s defined by restraint rather than excess.
Address: 10, Lebuh Dickens, George Town, 10050 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7am to 3pm
Tel: +60 12-854 0005
Website
Bee Hwa Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow is a mainstay of the Penang food scene, having been around since 1979. The shop it occupies is quite ramshackle, but most of the customers don’t seem to mind—they’re happy with their messy plates of fried kway teow.
There’s a slightly longer wait here, but it’s worth it for what you get. Unlike the previous eatery, this one does have hum, though we found them to be quite small. They also use duck egg, which gives a slightly creamy texture, though honestly, it’s almost indistinguishable from a regular egg.
The noodles lean on the drier side, but don’t get as much wok hei as other versions. A small plate goes for RM11, loaded with big prawns, egg, and hum, but still no lup cheong. The prawns are impressively large, on par with what you’d get at Lorong Selamat. Overall, it’s a solid, old-school Penang char kway teow that hits the key notes without trying too hard.
Address: 343, Jalan Dato Keramat, Kampung Makam, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: Fri-Tue 11am to 4pm
Tel: +60 12-498 3962
Website
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow is not a halal-certified eatery.
Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow is often cited as Penang’s oldest char kway teow stall, and it’s easy to see why it’s still popular today. Part of the charm comes from the red-beret aunty flipping noodles with impressive speed. Just look at her go in the above image!
The noodles pack a spicy kick and some wok hei, though it’s not over-the-top—just enough to give the dish a hint of smoky depth. Prices range from RM12 to RM15, depending on extras, and the prawns are impressively large.
It comes with everything you expect, such as duck egg, massive prawns, egg, bean sprouts, and chives, with the only notable exception being hum. It’s an impressive plate of Penang char kway teow overall.
Address: 108, Lorong Selamat, George Town, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9:30am to 5:30pm
Tel: +60 16-492 1948
Website
Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow is not a halal-certified eatery.
Siam Road Char Koay Teow is famous for drawing crowds long before opening, and we arrived just five minutes past the start time to find 15 people already in line. A plate, ranging from RM8 to RM11, comes with everything you’d want: lup cheong, hum (the most generous portion of all the stalls we tried, though still small), egg, and prawns (on the smaller side).
The noodles are cooked over charcoal, but the wok hei isn’t as strong as expected, and the lighter-coloured noodles are heavy on light soy sauce, tipping the flavour slightly too salty. One standout touch is the hum, served slightly raw, which we liked, though the seafood-forward taste might be too strong for some.
Despite these minor quibbles, the dish is still an excellent rendition of char kway teow. It’s a solid choice for anyone chasing authentic, Penang-style CKT.
Address: 82, Jalan Siam, George Town, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 12pm to 6pm, Sat 10am to 6pm
Siam Road Char Koay Teow is not a halal-certified eatery.
Barefoot Char Koay Teow is a standout for its perfectly balanced plate at a shockingly affordable RM7.50. The stall is located in a hawker centre, and true to its name, the chef cooks barefoot, a quirky detail that adds to its charm.
The noodles are tossed on the drier side, giving a solid hit of wok hei, and the spice level is just right—enough of a kick to excite the palate without overwhelming it. This plate comes with duck egg, hum, lup cheong, and prawns (small but tasty), hitting all the right notes for a classic Penang char kway teow.
Overall, Barefoot Char Koay Teow serves a delicious, no-frills take on char kway teow and is easily the best on this list.
Address: Lebuh Herriot, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Opening hours: Wed, Fri-Mon 6:30am to 3:30pm
Barefoot Char Koay Teow is not a halal-certified eatery.
We couldn’t cover every must-visit char kway teow stall in Penang, but this is how the ones we tried stacked up.
For more eats in the Malaysian state, read our best Penang cafes guide. If you’re a fan of bak kut teh, read our best bak kut teh in Johor Bahru guide.
Photos and opinions by Marcus Neo.