Char kuey teow

***Char kuey teow*** ('fried rice cake strips' in Penang Hokkien) is a Chinese fried noodle dish popular in Singapore and Malaysia. Its main ingredient is flat rice noodles known as *kuey teow*, which is stir-fried with soy sauce, chillies, *belachan* (Malay shrimp paste), prawns, blood cockles, bean sprouts, Chinese chives and other ingredients.

When it was first introduced, *char kuey teow* quickly became popular amongst labourers, as it was cheap and its high fat content made the dish a cheap source of energy. At the time, *char kuey teow* was typically sold by fishermen who doubled up as *char kuey teow* hawkers at night, using their daily catch to supplement their income.

Although *char kuey teow* is ubiquitous all over Singapore and Malaysia, the Penang variant, with its unique *wok hei* (fresh from a frying wok) flavour, is the most revered version and is even served in restaurants abroad. Needless to say, the best Penang *char kuey teow* can be found on Penang Island, with several hawker stalls in George Town claiming to serve the best Penang *char kuey teow*.

## Ingredients

What sets Penang *char kuey teow* apart from other variants is the absence of sweet sauce. As a result, Penang *char kuey teow* gives off a more *wok hei* flavour, compared to the sweeter Singaporean version.

In addition, Penang *char kuey teow* is normally fried with pork lard and may come with crunchy croutons of pork lard. Penang *char kuey teow* is also notable for the fresh seafood used, which are added into the wok at specific timings to ensure a fresher taste.

* Flat rice noodles (*kuey teow*)
* Soy sauce
* Oyster sauce
* Fish sauce
* *Belachan*
* Chilli paste
* Egg
* Prawns
* De-shelled blood cockles
* Bean sprouts
* Chinese chives
* Chinese sausages
* Fried pork lard croutons (*bak yew phok* in Chinese Hokkien dialect)

## Recommended Places

Char kuey teow is served in almost all hawker centres, *kopitiams* ('coffee shops' in Chinese Hokkien dialect) and *pasar malams* ('night markets' in Malay) throughout Penang. The following are among the more recommended *char kuey teow* hawker stalls that reputedly serves the best Penang *char kuey teow*.

* Siam Road, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 1500 hours - 2000 hours
* Low Eng Hoo Coffee Shop, Lorong Selamat, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 1300 hours - 1800 hours (closed on Tuesdays)
* Sin Guat Keong Coffee Shop, Kimberley Street, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 1800 hours - 2300 hours
* Ah Leng *char kuey teow*, Khoon Hiang Coffee Shop, Dato' Keramat Road, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 0900 hours - 1500 hours
* Tiger *char kuey teow*, Ping Hooi Cafe, Carnavon Street, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 0800 hours - 1400 hours
* Padang Brown Hawker Centre, Johore Road, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 1800 hours - 2230 hours
* New World Park, Swatow Lane, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 1200 hours - 1900 hours (closed on Wednesdays)
* Sin Wah Coffee Shop, Burmah Road, Pulau Tikus, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 1100 hours - 1600 hours
* Ah Leng *char kuey teow*, Lorong Zoo 6, Air Itam, George Town
	+ Opening Hours : 1800 hours - 2100 hours
* Sany *char kuey teow* (halal), Jalan Mahsuri, Bayan Baru
	+ Opening Hours : 1800 hours - 0200 hours

## References

1. http://www.themalaymailonline.com/eat-drink/article/the-famous-penang-char-koay-teow
2. http://www.penang-traveltips.com/char-koay-teow.htm
3. http://www.penang-online.com/pages/penang-hawker-food/char-koay-teow.php