Best char kway teow in Penang ranked

Char kway teow (CKT) is one of Singapore’s most beloved hawker dishes. But just across the causeway lies an equally iconic version: Penang-style char kway teow, also spelled as char koay teow. Compared to Singapore’s version, Penang char kway teow is lighter, drier, and leans more heavily on seafood flavours.

While you can find a few renditions of the dish locally, nothing quite beats trying it at the source, so here are five popular char kway teow stalls in Penang, ranked from our least to most favourite.

The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.31 as of 5 December 2025.

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5. Bee Hwa Cafe

Bee Hwa Cafe has been around since 1992, serving up plate after plate of Muslim-friendly Penang char kway teow—this is the only entry on this list to not use pork or lard. It occupies a quaint, cosy space that’s full of old-school charm.