2026 Guide ยท Penang
Updated October 2026 ยท 8 spots
โก Quick answer
The best Char Kuey Teow in George Town is Siam Road Char Koay Teow (Jalan Siam, George Town). Also great: Sister Yaoโs Char Koay Kak, Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow (Kafe Heng Huat) and Ah Leng Char Koay Teow.
Jalan Siam, George Town, Penang
Michelin Guide 2026 ยท Bib Gourmand
Order: Charcoal-fired char koay teow with cockles, lap cheong and prawns
Old-school charcoal wok, one man, one dish, and a queue that forms before he even lights up. Michelin Bib Gourmand three years running, and for many Penangites this is the benchmark plate of smoky, lard-kissed koay teow.
Lorong Macalister, George Town, Penang
Michelin Guide 2026 ยท Bib Gourmand
Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026
Order: Wok-fried radish-and-rice cake (char koay kak)
Three sisters run the char koay kak stall their father started in 1963, frying Teochew rice cakes with plenty of wok hei. Bib Gourmand.
Lorong Selamat, George Town, Penang
Order: Spicy duck-egg char koay teow with jumbo prawns
The famous lady in the red beret has been frying here since the 1970s, making this one of Penang's oldest and most talked-about CKT stalls. Pricier than most and the wait can be long, but the fat prawns and fiery, smoky noodles keep the legend alive.
Jalan Dato Keramat, George Town, Penang
Order: Duck-egg char koay teow loaded with big prawns and cockles
A Penang name that comes up in every serious CKT debate since 1979. Plates come heavy on seafood with fat prawns and cockles, and the duck egg gives the noodles a rich, silky finish.
Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang
Michelin Guide 2026 ยท Bib Gourmand
Order: Made-to-order CKT with blood cockles and lap cheong, add duck egg
Fried for some four decades at the same busy Penang Road kopitiam, now passed down to the next generation. Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2024, and handy too, since you can chase it with cendol next door.
Tanjung Bungah, George Town, Penang
Michelin Guide 2026 ยท Bib Gourmand
Order: Wok-hei-packed CKT with optional over-easy egg (or even cheese)
A third-generation family stall out in Tanjung Bungah that earned a fresh Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2026. Every plate is fried one at a time, so expect a wait, and expect it to be worth it.
Lebuh Dickens, George Town, Penang
Michelin Guide 2026 ยท Bib Gourmand
Order: Pork-free, lard-free char koay teow with a prawn-stock base
Since 1992, Bee Hwa has fried a Penang-style CKT without pork or lard, so everyone at the table can share a plate. Prawn stock instead of pork bones gives it a punchy seafood flavour.
Lebuh Herriot, George Town, Penang
Order: Dry-fried CKT with duck egg, cockles and lap cheong
The cook works the wok barefoot, and the plate is as no-nonsense as he is: dry, smoky, nicely spiced and cheap. Topped a 2025 ranking of Penang's best, ahead of several Michelin names.
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