Published Nov 03, 2009 Updated Nov 12, 2024 Char Kuey Teow is a popular Malaysian hawker food dish made with flat rice noodles stir-fried with shrimp, bloody cockles, Chinese lap cheong (sausage), eggs, bean sprouts, and chives in a mix of soy sauce seasoning. A great Char Kuey Teow beckons you from blocks away; the tempting aroma fills the air and lure diners in from afar. The very thought of that smell is enough to set my stomach rumbling. Somehow, Char Kuey Teow (or its abbreviation “CKT”) from outside of Penang is simply an inferior shadow of the real stuff—lack of wok hei, too dark in color, and/or wrong taste and texture. And that’s the very reason why Malaysians from out-of-state would go to Penang—just to have a plate of Char Kuey Teow.
Flat rice noodles Bean sprouts Blood cockles Chinese chives Chinese sausage Garlic Shrimp Egg
Ingredients For Chili Paste
Dried red chilies Fresh red chilies Shallots Oil Salt
Ingredients For Sauce
Soy sauce Dark soy sauce Fish sauce Sugar Salt Ground white pepper
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients. Great things, especially a perfect recipe, is worth waiting for. Of course I’ve made Char Kuey Teow many times, but I wanted to share the ultimate Char Kuey Teow recipe, and this is it. So, what are my secrets?
Get the freshest ingredients—fresh and crunchy bean sprouts, freshly-made noodles, big, fat, succulent shrimp/prawn, bloody cockles (I love my Char Kuey Teow with them, without them, it’s not quite the same!), etc. Wonder why the prawn in Penang Char Kuey Teow are always so succulent, juicy, and sweet? I believe some of the most famous stalls treat their prawn with sugar and ice water, or perhaps they are just very fresh. Use lard if you can. That’s the secret for the rich silky taste. Very hot wok. Control your timing of cooking and hence control your “wok hei.”
Char Kuey Teow is seriously scrumptious and I don’t see why it can’t be as popular and well-known as Pad Thai or Pad See Ew and the likes on the global stage. I strongly believe that one day, the world will discover the delicacy that is Penang’s Char Kuey Teow. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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