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.)

penang char kueh teow
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.

lorong selamat char kueh teow
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.

big prawns at lorong selamat char kueh teow
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…

lorong selamat char kueh teow map

Address:
Kafe Heng Huat,
Lorong Selamat,
Penang

GPS: 5.417183, 100.324831

Lorong Selamat Char Kueh Teow, Penang
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50 thoughts on “Lorong Selamat Char Kueh Teow, Penang

  • December 4, 2009 at 1:20 pm
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    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…

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 1:54 pm
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    I went there too…
    Went to the uncle & not the aunty XD

    Nearby with tune hotel where I stay there last time ^^

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 1:59 pm
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    63T,
    For every famous place, there’ll be people who claims it’s overrated. hee-hee. 😛

    FeeQ,
    The uncle one’s nice too!

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 2:56 pm
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    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.

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 3:14 pm
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    TC,
    Yah, unfortunately the standard of Sister’s CKT dropped considerably over the years. Used to be one of my favorite joints.

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 3:37 pm
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    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.

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 4:02 pm
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    Never have enough when it comes to Penang food. I also remember got one that operates at night where they put in Mantis prawn.

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 4:19 pm
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    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 :P~~~

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 4:20 pm
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    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.

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 4:21 pm
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    oh this is the aunty with the goggles stall. oogling at the gigantic prawns.

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 4:26 pm
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    eiling,
    yess, safety goggle is the good!

    Reply
  • December 4, 2009 at 10:34 pm
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    Yeah~ I tried this, super duper yummy 🙂

    Reply
  • December 5, 2009 at 12:05 am
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    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!

    Reply
  • December 5, 2009 at 12:44 am
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    tat stall near penang famous cendol thr d, nice as lorong selamat d?

    coz ll go have try in tis weekend..

    nikelkhor.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • December 5, 2009 at 12:54 am
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    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 -> https://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!

    Reply
  • December 5, 2009 at 3:54 am
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    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. 😀

    Reply
  • December 5, 2009 at 10:59 am
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    yummy…
    delicioso…
    its seems that you really enjoy your visit there..
    love the pics..thanks for sharing..

    Reply
  • December 5, 2009 at 5:32 pm
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    your blog is so painful for me sometimes ky…. :(:(:(

    Reply
  • December 6, 2009 at 5:06 pm
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    have u try d duck egg CKT at BM?

    nikelkhor.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • December 6, 2009 at 6:13 pm
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    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).

    Reply
  • December 6, 2009 at 10:38 pm
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    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. 🙂

    Reply
  • December 7, 2009 at 12:45 am
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    find time come BM try la…hahaz…taste diffrent from penang d..

    nikelkhor.blogspot.com

    Reply
  • December 7, 2009 at 9:48 am
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    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!

    Reply
  • December 7, 2009 at 10:08 am
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    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. 😀

    Reply
  • December 7, 2009 at 1:01 pm
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    absolutely love the CKT here.. where’s the aunty with the big yellow plastic shades.. 😉

    Reply
  • December 7, 2009 at 1:56 pm
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    cumidanciki,
    Yaaa she’s there!

    Reply
  • December 7, 2009 at 2:25 pm
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    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..

    Reply
  • December 8, 2009 at 9:18 am
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    norick,
    Most penang hawker food’s pretty cheap, except some of the CKT stalls since they serve you BIG PRAWNS!

    Reply
  • December 8, 2009 at 10:18 am
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    ur blog is definitely not suitable for ppl who’s trying to watch their weight. damn u!

    Reply
  • December 8, 2009 at 10:31 am
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    Robb,
    You have no problem with your weight la, just muscle/fat percentage maybe. :X

    Reply
  • December 9, 2009 at 3:46 pm
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    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!

    Reply
    • February 23, 2011 at 2:51 am
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      CKT in KL?? Puhlease. Where can compare with CKT in Penang?? It’s like mun pei (mosquito thigh) compared to ngau pei (beef thigh). Mo-tuck-pei — no can compare!

      Reply
      • February 23, 2011 at 11:17 am
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        TK: hahaha yah u’re right, the comparison is not exactly spot on but what to do, no choice bahh

        Reply
  • February 19, 2010 at 2:56 pm
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    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 !!

    Reply
  • February 22, 2010 at 10:22 am
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    KL Visitor,
    HAhahaha yah that’s right!

    Reply
  • July 5, 2010 at 2:20 pm
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    Please don’t go to the CKT at Lorong Selamat. I am a Penangnite and we all boycott the Lorong Selamat char koey teow. She is simply too arrogant, she likes to tell off customer by saying, “I want to wait then wait, else no need to eat” and when you order she will give you one angry look. Please do not repeat your order or she will rudely tell you off. Also do not ask when will you koey teow be ready she will angrily ignore you or scold you. This is too much, she doesn’t realise that its we all, the customers, that give her the business, if one day more and more customers are pissed off, then she will have no more business.

    Char koey teow at other places in Penang are equally or I confidently say, nicer. The taste of char koey teow in Penang are quite similar. Why do we have to be insulted by her.

    Reply
  • July 5, 2010 at 4:37 pm
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    Tham ciak,
    these days not so bad already lor, pretty agreeable attitude already.

    Reply
  • September 23, 2010 at 4:08 pm
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    Yeah, boycott! Read today’s Star – 23 September 2010. Reader’s letter titled “Boycott arrogant hawker”. No need to pay to be insulted. We Penangites have this saying: “so eow kui-meh?”

    Reply
    • September 24, 2010 at 10:46 am
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      brudder: hahaha do it!

      Reply
    • September 27, 2010 at 9:10 am
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      Sherry: I think the lady has mood swings, sometimes nice, sometimes nasty

      Reply
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  • January 29, 2012 at 3:00 pm
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    I love Malaysian foods after looking at those pictures! I can’t wait to go to Malaysia (KL) in September 2012.

    Reply
    • January 29, 2012 at 9:00 pm
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      Jericor: hope you have a great time!

      Reply
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