Char kway teow is a one-plate wonder in my opinion. Particularly when it’s stuffed full of wok hei, juicy cockles, and crunchy brown prawn bits. I’ve been pretty lost since my favorite Jalan Batai Char Kway Teow stall in Klang closed. It has therefore been difficult to find another excellent plate. My colleague suggested this location, and the person behind the wok is Sunny Teh.
“Penang Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow” is written on the sign of the stall, which is tucked away in a corner of this enormous coffee shop. He was originally from Penang, but moved here in search of better opportunities after the Covid-19 pandemic roughly two years ago.
He traces his lineage back to Lorong Selamat in Penang, to the renowned Goggle Man Char Kuey Teow.
That being said, the evidence is right there on the plate.
His char kway teow is exceptionally skilled with his wok. It was flavorful and had that crucial wok hei, but what I liked most about it was that it wasn’t oily.
That greasy aftertaste that requires frequent cups of coffee to eliminate bothers me.
Not that you don’t get burned areas, but it’s under control. The eggs, for example, are golden brown, but occasionally they have a darker color that leans toward a burnt flavor.
I asked for extra cockles and they were plump freshly shucked ones. It’s bliss since most stalls serve the tiny frozen molluscs, which are tasteless and rubbery.
It’s RM8.50 for a normal portion. If you wish to add larger prawns, it’s RM11.50. There’s also a duck egg version, where the normal sized prawns is RM10 and the larger prawns is RM13.
Penang Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow, Kedai Kopi Say Hoi, 48, Jalan Kas Kas 3, Taman Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Open: 6am to 2pm. Closed every second Wednesday of the month. The stall is closed on December 27. Tel:016-3235651.
* This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal.
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