Char Kueh Teow is often the first thing people think of when Penang hawker food is mentioned. So whenever I have a chance to play host back at my home town, I always make sure the guests get a chance to get a plate of good char kueh teow.
It’s kinda like you should have chicken rice balls in Melaka, tomyam in Bangkok, ramen at Akihabara, or KFC in the state of Kentucky (ok just kidding about the last one, it sucked, I had.)

check out the size of them prawns on the char kueh teow!
The most famous of all the Char Kueh Teow places in Penang has got to be at Lorong Selamat, operated by this lady who now also owns Kafe Heng Huat.
As some of you might remember, this stall was previously operating at another kopitiam just a stone’s throw down the road (that is famous for its ais kacang), that shop now has another CKT stall operated by a guy, and to be frank, I think both stalls serve up equally delicious CKT.

yes, Elfie uses fork & spoon for CKT
Since it was going to be Elfie’s first taste of Penang char kueh teow last weekend, I decided to bring her, Jon, Jun, and Wai Meng to the original version at Lorong Selamat even though I had once decided to not pay the old lady a visit anymore due to their extremely bad service while still operating at the other kopitiam.
However, I have heard that they have improved ever since operating the new kopitiam, and true enough she wasn’t at all the angry old lady anymore. I guess a little bit of competition from the other guy helped too.

KY, Elfie, Wai Meng, Jon (also known as Don Juan), Jun
A plate of CKT here goes for RM 6.50, or more if you asks for extras. The photos you see here were the Rm 6.50 plates, with three really huge prawns that is properly marinated with salt to give it that extra kick, there’s also egg, cockles, Chinese sausage (lap cheong), chives, bean sprouts, and of course, a handful of kueh teow.
They are the best char kueh teow there is, the only way to improve this would probably be swapping the chicken egg with duck egg, and perhaps add a bit of lard? I’m asking too much, it’s about lunch time now, and I am hungry! haih…

Address:
Kafe Heng Huat,
Lorong Selamat,
Penang
GPS: 5.417183, 100.324831
Related Posts:
- KY eats – Penang Char Kueh Teow
- KY eats – Penang Kueh Teow Soup at Lebuh Armenian
- When Good Chinese Food turns Pork Free …
- KY eats – Dried Kuey Teow Soup at Mt. Erskine, Penang
- KY eats – Char Kueh Teow at PJ State




By 63T on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
F-F-F-F-F-FFFFFFFFFISSTTT!!!!111 O-O-O-O-O-OMMMGGG! FML
Seriously, I think this lorong selamat CKT is too overrated. The one in Swatow Lane is just as good! Nom NOm NOM…
By FeeQ on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
I went there too…
Went to the uncle & not the aunty XD
Nearby with tune hotel where I stay there last time ^^
By KY on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
63T,
For every famous place, there’ll be people who claims it’s overrated. hee-hee.
FeeQ,
The uncle one’s nice too!
By TC on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
I had never tried Penang famous CKT till last 3 month after read from various blog about good CKT in Penang island. I have visited 3 CKT in the 2 days visit to Penang. Lorong Selamat CKT(the lady), Sister CKT and Ah Leng CKT. I would rate 1)Lorong Selamat and 2)Ah Leng CKT. The Sister CKT is totally not what I want.
By KY on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
TC,
Yah, unfortunately the standard of Sister’s CKT dropped considerably over the years. Used to be one of my favorite joints.
By ShaolinTiger on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
Yah most Penangkia always say this one is overrated, but no one has taken me to a better one yet.
For me this is still THE best.
By JD on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
Never have enough when it comes to Penang food. I also remember got one that operates at night where they put in Mantis prawn.
By Charlene on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
I remember certain CKT stalls would sprinkle crabmeat on top of each plate..back in the day, when I was growing up in Penang. That’s the best lahhhh
~~~
By KY on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
ShaolinTiger,
Hahah I agree.
JD,
Ooo I think nowadays mantis prawns are way too expensive to be included in CKT already..
Charlene,
Ah, the Sister’s still do that, but the standard’s been quite bad lately.
By eiling on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
oh this is the aunty with the goggles stall. oogling at the gigantic prawns.
By KY on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
eiling,
yess, safety goggle is the good!
By uLi on Dec 4, 2009 | Reply
Yeah~ I tried this, super duper yummy
By clement on Dec 5, 2009 | Reply
hi bro how are you? hope everything is good.
btw, naik harga already? it was 3-4 years was RM 5 per plate. now RM6.50. wow inflation so high.
Yet it taste good.
Nice post bro!
By nikel on Dec 5, 2009 | Reply
tat stall near penang famous cendol thr d, nice as lorong selamat d?
coz ll go have try in tis weekend..
nikelkhor.blogspot.com
By Chef Mel on Dec 5, 2009 | Reply
Penang CKT is just so so so good!
By 63T on Dec 5, 2009 | Reply
KY,
Famous? what famous? For all I know she’s only well known for her courteous manners, her economical price and wonderful service. In fact there’s a blogger who seems to agree with me awhile ago -> http://kyspeaks.com/2005/07/18/ky-eats-penang-char-kuih-teow/ How things can change!!LOL!
ShaolinTiger,
The problem lies not with the CKT but with the penangkias that u know. Go find NEW penangkia friends! LOLZ!
By KY on Dec 5, 2009 | Reply
uLi,
Yess!
clement,
Hahah yah, prawns used to be cheaper I guess.
nikel,
Yah that place is as nice!
Chef Mel,
Yesss!
63T,
Hahhahah yah, things changes, people changes, quality degrades, and sometimes they improve too.
By Vacation Deals on Dec 5, 2009 | Reply
yummy…
delicioso…
its seems that you really enjoy your visit there..
love the pics..thanks for sharing..
By pinky on Dec 5, 2009 | Reply
your blog is so painful for me sometimes ky….
:(:(
By nikel on Dec 6, 2009 | Reply
have u try d duck egg CKT at BM?
nikelkhor.blogspot.com
By Dylan on Dec 6, 2009 | Reply
BIG UDANG~!
By Marcus Lee on Dec 6, 2009 | Reply
I dont like the “famous” Lorong Selamat CKT due to their BAD attitude towards customers.
For Penang CKT, I would prefer the Ah Leng CKT at Kafe Khoon Hiang, short distance from the Dato Keramat’s football field. Though it is also eye-popping expensive at RM9.50/plate with duck egg + 4 prawn.
( Why Penang CKT can be so expensive? The prawn at such size only RM20/KG at supermarket. Are we all being slaughtered?
At my hometown Kuala Pilah Negeri Sembilan here we have 1 CKT stall (cockle & egg only no prawn) and I would rate it is one of the best 5 CKT in Malaysia i ever tried. Only RM3.50/plate.
It is located at the soon-to-open EconSave supermarket area (or Giant, not sure yet).
By KY on Dec 6, 2009 | Reply
Vacation Deals,
Yaa, thank you
pinky,
Hahahah don’t laa!
nikel,
I had tried duck egg ckt, but not at BM.
Dylan,
Oh yesss
Marcus Lee,
Ah, I was the same, but at least the attitude problem seems to be gone now. Will look for Ah Leng’s next time. Thanks for sharing.
By nikel on Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
find time come BM try la…hahaz…taste diffrent from penang d..
nikelkhor.blogspot.com
By J2Kfm on Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
over-rated? a bit. service? so-so. now still require us to carry our own plates?
but last time i rmbr they serve such plump and juicy cockles, they looked humongous!
By KY on Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
nikel,
Hahaha, will see how!
J2Kfm,
I find that the cockles aren’t so great here but the prawns are very yummy! Overrated? I don’t think so, service’s improved quite a lot, no need to carry own plates anymore.
By cumidanciki on Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
absolutely love the CKT here.. where’s the aunty with the big yellow plastic shades..
By KY on Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
cumidanciki,
Yaaa she’s there!
By norick on Dec 7, 2009 | Reply
wow thanks for letting me know penang hawker food can be so expensive… rm6.50? is like those operating in shopping mall price..i was expecting it to be like normal CKT price in city..i never been to penang to try on foods anyway..
By KY on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
norick,
Most penang hawker food’s pretty cheap, except some of the CKT stalls since they serve you BIG PRAWNS!
By Robb on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
ur blog is definitely not suitable for ppl who’s trying to watch their weight. damn u!
By KY on Dec 8, 2009 | Reply
Robb,
You have no problem with your weight la, just muscle/fat percentage maybe. :X
By Richysam on Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Still think that if you dont fancy the drive from KL the best CKT on our doorstep here is the old uncle wong CKT behind Hock Lee supermarket, Damansara heights. Meet me there on a Saturday morning if you like and we can compare the taste!
By KY on Dec 10, 2009 | Reply
Richysam,
Hahah yah I blogged about it before! http://kyspeaks.com/2009/05/21/char-kueh-teow-at-restaurant-seng-lee-damansara-heights/
By KL Visitor on Feb 19, 2010 | Reply
You will get bad treatment if the old char-kuey-teow lady is not in good mood… I vist once, but for sure will not go back !!
By KY on Feb 22, 2010 | Reply
KL Visitor,
HAhahaha yah that’s right!