Famous Ah Leng Char Koay Teow @ Jalan Dato Keramat, Penang
July 7, 2009 | 41,458 views If you’re wondering what’s so ‘leng’ (pretty) ’bout the Char Koay Teow (CKT) seller, you are in for a shock! 😉
OK, I digressed. Sue me. Hahaha …. I’m certainly in a sarcastic mood today. And thankfully it’s raining as of now, hence all sins washed away !!! Thanks be to the ones above …… or something.


Looks rather rundown, is it not? Don’t fret. You’ll notice a steady stream of customers in there. And rest assured you won’t be required to line up and carry your own plates!
Tastewise? The flat rice noodles was fried with plentiful of ‘wok hei’, aka ‘breath of the wok’ (sounds like some cheap kung-fu saga, no?) The quick frying/tossing techniques of the cook, plus the skilful handling of the heat from the stove, resulted in a most pleasing plate of delicious Char Koay Teow. Only in Penang, folks. Hard to replicate at home. 😉
Location : Ah Leng Char Koay Teow stall @ Kafe Khoon Hiang, Jalan Dato Keramat, Penang. Here’s a MAP.
Here’s those who have succumbed to Ah Leng’s CKT …… PenangTuaPui, VKeong, Makankings, Lilian, and many, many more. (Do drop me a msg if you’ve blogged about Ah Leng’s CKT, but no links here)
On another note : Guess what the Uncle’s slurping? 😉

Wow, char kway teow with mantis prawns? That's the first time I saw it. Wanna try it out!
After a tiring day you still have the energy to blog! Hebat! 🙂
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"required to line up and carry your own plates!" Which stall are you referring to uh?! Haha! *wink*
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Glad you managed to find this CKT stall and looks like you get to savour the JC too…slurp, slurp 🙂
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This is my favourite stall of ckt and of course I've blogged before. I guess the uncle is slurping some coconut meat?
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There's atr stall at Kimberly St – nites only tht adds mantis prawns too..but this one's better! 😉
Sighh..i'm missing my CKT..
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maybe he was 'leng' 20 years ago. i can imagine it. age is cruel. 😀
i spent 3 years in penang, but i too never knew of this place. i love food with creative twists, so that special ckt looks really appealing.
used to have to drive up and down for work a lot too, so i can empathise with u. luckily these days i'm in the office 95 percent of the time.
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Tis CKT looks like it could induce a heart attack, yet so tempting!
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A deeeeelicious writeup, espesh when I am reading it from the middle east!!!
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never tried CKT with mantis prawns…i want to try …….
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we ate at Ah Leng too, just awesome delicious, prawn, prawn and mantis prawn! awesome I think!
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I dont have the chance to try the mantis prawn version yet.
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Wow mantis prawns with CKT! Heavenly! I'm missing Penang already… *LOL* And don't worry, I have stayed there for more than 4 years too and never did notice this shop either. 😛
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That's my fav CKT@penang… yum yum…really missed tat so much..
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Wow.. the CKT looks so scrumptious!
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woah, kl-ipoh-penang. u've covered it all, dude! great!
reading the signboard, i think ah leng means ah loong (dragon) in cantonese. still, that plate of ckt looks damn leng (pretty in canto)!!
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I am really upset with myself! I've read about this countless times yet have not been able to find time during my too-brief weekends in Pg to go! What kind of a Penang-lang am I?? A hopeless one!
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Wish I could invite you to my friends occasion home party as he (a Penang guy but settle here) luv to cook. His favourite is this CharKT with duck eggs & uses his own spices (paste). He his generous with prawns,porketc. I luv his KT which is true to Pg wok & charcoal stlye frying.
He luv to invite few friends over occasionally.
Wish he could open up a stall here & is sure a crowd HIT, but then he is the regional Mgr of a Bank. Hopefully he dont read my comments here.
R u anyway near Antap Cafe?
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would like a plate of CKT with everything that you mentioned.
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mantis prawn CKT ar? So luxury meh~~ 😛
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char kway teow is always Yummy. but with mantis prawn?! a new try. haha.
agree with what sugar bean said. u are really hebat. if for me, surely will straight away go to the bed and sleep…
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Mantis prawns + duck egg? I can feel my arteries clogging…BUT I still want to eat!! =D
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I read all the above comments. For those who have not tried it, go and try it. It might not be the best CKT in penang(best is always arguable), but definitely one of the best and awesome one. 🙂
j2fkm, when did you come to penang? You travel a lot huh?
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Sugar Bean : saw it once in Taiping also, the food court by the lake gardens. blogging takes away the fatigue … 😉
cariso : u guess leh? heheheh …
ck lam : yeah, all thanks to you guys!
allie : you've blogged before? ok, will try to find your post later and link it.
TNG : KL cannot get the same right? ditto in Ipoh.
Sean : haha, forgot the mention. the ah leng does NOT refer to the word 'pretty' lah … my mistake for being a 'banana'. it's actually someone's name.
Hazza : not to that extent lah … hehehe.
Julian Si : still in Abu Dhabi?! wow … migrated there ah? go find yourself some meats!
Simple Girl : additional bite, pair rather well IMO.
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BBO : good, with enough spiciness to tingle, not burn.
Food paradise : oh, go try them before they increase the price again.hehehe … from the other reviews, it seems that previously the CKT's RM1 cheaper.
iamthewitch : really? hahaha … rather hidden lah, thats why.
xtine : beats those Macalister's and Selamat's, eh?
Selba : indeed ….
Nic : yeah, its Ah Loong. probably Hokkien lang, my mum said.
550ml jar of faith : dont call yourself that… i'm sure you'll find the time. soon.
HUlk : your friend in Ipoh one ah? aiya, wasted. fry me a plate, for sampling? 🙂
antap cafe? Citrus there? why?
foodbin : and more, right? LOTSA cockles too.
mimid3vils : something diff ma … Pg's version also got crab meat char koay kak sometimes.
ai wei : aiya, sometimes go to bed and sleep cannot solve matters geh … hehe. blog all nonsense out, feel much better.
Bangsar Babe : so fast clogging?! ahem. wonder WHO went for Tony Roma's buffet of RIBS leh ….hmmm… wondering …
soo sean : this was last month lah, old post. travelling is the norm liao. nonstop.
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Fren! If u r nearby, I could invite you to his next outdoor party again loh. Hope you can feature his dish here.
no worry, we are no crime lords.
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I want! I want!
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Hulk : crime lords?!! hahahah … how cool. I wouldnt mind!
wmw : get them! get them!
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Haha this CKT post is still lugging in my draft.
very nice ckt with wok hei. Mantis prawn is a good addition but some say the prawns are better coz it's more firm and juicy..goes well with the CKT.
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LOL! just near to my previous hostel near KDU! I never know there was such famous fried koay teow! Somemore with mantis prawn! WALAO!! Make me hungry just by looking at it!
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buzzingbee : prawns are forever the BEST accompaniment to a good plate of CKT. cockles a close second. the mantis prawns for extra oomph only.
Jackson Foong : now you're no longer in Pg? if yes, GO FOR IT!
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LOl, now i am at Kampar,Perak ad! Should find chance to go back penang to try it with my ex-hostelmate there!
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I came here late on the last day of my Penang trip, he closed already T_T
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Jackson : you're working in Kampar? throw me some recommendations lah! so I wont be like a lost lamb when I'm there!
Simon : go again! dont let the chance slip …
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Nope! I am a student. I failed my A level at penang(nothint to brag of… LOL!). So now i am taking foundation at UTAR, Kampar. The food here are just so so… not much suite my taste. Except few of them. Such as the laksa. I also heard some legendary fried koay teow at the pasar at night. But i never have the chance to try them. Maybe i will try them 1 day n blog about it n u come try! K?
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I’ve been staring at the pic of that old man for 3-5 minutes. I can’s figure it out! It doesn’t look like coffee as he’s holding something like a small plate! Confused -_-“
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 26th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
🙂
wanna know the answer?
it’s coconut jelly.
http://www.j2kfm.com/manjung-coconut-jellyjoez-coconut-jelly-a-father-sons-empire/
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sorry, it’s *can’t not can’s
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good food!
penang really has good food..
makes my tummy fat.. =P
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J2Kfm Reply:
November 26th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Ipoh also a lot. So we’re easily duped into walloping good food then.
Hahahaha …….
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[…] tasted on the island. I love the Pulau Tikus wet market’s version at night, and to some extent Ah Leng’s pricier offering as well. The Lorong Selamat and Macalister Road’s Sister’s versions were both out of my books, […]
[…] tasted on the island. I love the Pulau Tikus wet market’s version at night, and to some extent Ah Leng’s pricier offering as well. The Lorong Selamat and Macalister Road’s Sister’s versions were both out of my books, […]
[…] CKT from Lorong Selamat, Macalister Road, Penang Road, Pulau Tikus market, Kimberley Street, Ah Leng’s, and many more. But repeated visits to the same places […]
i’m so shocked as i just ate this morning. I shocked not for the taste of the kuey teow, is the price. So small portion cost me RM5. If compare to the kuey teow ate near by penang hill this morning also, the kuey teow with same ingredients, even add on chinese sausage, not much difference in taste, onli RM3.
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J2Kfm Reply:
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:17 pm
Erm, there are some CKT costing almost RM10 per plate even …. guess people do pay for commercialization?
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LT Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 12:01 am
Ganan, I’m from Penang. All these “famous” CKT stalls are there for “non-Penang” customers. Local guys will not fancy them.. There are plenty of good & reasonable price CKT here at Rm3 to 3.50. With the price diff. you can add plenty of prawns, sotong etc. Just go Jelutong Market, Macullum St flats opp Pos Office, They are cheap & good. Well, I eat at these stalls almost every other week.
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J2Kfm Reply:
June 17th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Personally, I prefer Sin Hwa opposite of Pulau Tikus police station. No fancy ingredients, aside from duck eggs, but reasonable enough and
good with ‘wok hei’. What do you think?
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[…] of chili sauce and a dark reddish sweet sauce, or with gravies such as curry (some even with Ah Leng’s pricier offering as well. The Lorong Selamat and Macalister Road’s Sister’s versions were both out of my books, […]
[…] – The Hokkien Mee (Prawn Mee to you and me) with mantis prawns. Just like how Ah Leng Char Kuey Teow upped the ante with the addition of the ‘premium’ […]
just love it, the prawn is so delicious and crunchy. i ate at Jalan Zoo, the new location at night time.
Taste…iest
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Comments
MrLonely says:
February 4, 2013 at 4:36 pm
wow, so big de prawns.. i like char kuay teow too~
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Bangsar Babe says:
February 4, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Yeah, huge prawns. Super yummy.
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Constance Ant says:
February 4, 2013 at 4:39 pm
I have heard about this expensive plate of char kuay teow but never try it.
There’s one Hokkien Mee stall at Old Green House where you add many kind of ‘liu’ too!
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Bangsar Babe says:
February 4, 2013 at 5:34 pm
I think for the ingredients inside, it’s pretty reasonable. Old Green House? Got address ah?
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John K says:
February 4, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Wheres the day stall?
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Bangsar Babe says:
February 4, 2013 at 5:35 pm
It’s somewhere along Jalan Dato Keramat.
An opinion from a Penangnite who stays in Singapore.
Heard so much from Singaporean friends about this store, decided to try it out myself. Went to the store at Jalan Dato Kramat, Ah Leng’s son owns the store. To my opinion – OVER PRICED for the quality of CKT, $7 for normal, / $11.50 for special (price increased as mentioned in this website). I can’t deny the prawns were slightly larger in size, the mantis unfortunately were bad in taste, not fresh The noodles….average, if you pay one third of the price (approx. RM3/4.) you can get same quality or even better CKT accross the island! I had more than 100 plates of CKT since young, all around Penang, from stores away from city, market, residential areas….So conclusion – the quality of CKT in this store, frankly, nothing special, not worth trying and spend this amount, you can get better, it is popular and attracts many tourists because of online publicities.
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An opinion from a Penangnite who stays in Singapore.
Heard so much from Singaporean friends about this store, decided to try it out myself. Went to the store at Jalan Dato Kramat, Ah Leng’s son owns the store. To my opinion – OVER PRICED for the quality of CKT, $7 for normal, / $11.50 for special (price increased as mentioned in this website). I can’t deny the prawns were slightly larger in size, the mantis unfortunately were bad in taste, not fresh The noodles….average, if you pay one third of the price (approx. RM3/4.) you can get same quality or even better CKT accross the island! I had more than 100 plates of CKT since young, all around Penang, from stores away from city, market, residential areas….So conclusion – the quality of CKT in this store, frankly, nothing special, not worth trying and spend this amount, you can get better, it is popular and attracts many tourists because of online publicities.
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the prawn look so big
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Had 3 plates rm 11.50 +0.50 duck egg, not worth going not so great as publish by bloger just normal CKT. You can get some better in the island, only special is has same big prawn like lorong selamat. I rather paid rm 20 for 10 BIG prawn big ckt at lorong selamat.
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Full address please! Can’t find the location !
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Is it open during hari raya puasa? thx.
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I am so hungry now. Thanks for sharing the content and pictures.
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https://m.facebook.com/penangahlengcharkaoyteow
AH Leng char kaoy teow have moved to opposite RETORAN TONG HOOI
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https://m.facebook.com/penangahlengcharkaoyteow
AH Leng char kaoy teow have moved to RETORAN TONG HOOI (opposite KAFE KHOON Hiang)
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