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Motormouth From Ipoh

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Famous Ah Leng Char Koay Teow @ Jalan Dato Keramat, Penang

Really, really exhausted from today's work. It's routine, yup, but the lethal combination of arduous journeys, winding roads, the torturous climate, and the incessant waiting rendered us almost incapacitated for the hours spent down south. It's been some time since I've been ranting, so let me be ...... or else.

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.


An almost perfect plate of Char Koay Teow @ RM5.00. Additional RM0.50 for duck egg to be used instead

Thanks to CK, Ken and Lingzie, I got very, very specific directions to this famous CKT stall situated along Jalan Dato Keramat in Georgetown, Penang. Normally, we just whizzed past this shop without even noticing its existence!

Yup, all 4 years of my life spent in Penang, and not even on one solitary occasion we noticed this place. Kinda pathetic eh? Or put it simply, I was merely too careful when I was driving, to be distracted with sights and sounds, or glancing around; 360 degrees. Hehehe ... yeah right.

A plate of Ah Leng's SPECIAL Char Koay Teow (more prawns, and addition of mantis prawns!) @ RM9.00, additional RM0.50 if duck eggs are used.
Choking yet?

So, this unassuming coffee shop, or "cafe" (very loosely used term here) named Kafe Khoon Hiang houses only 2 stalls. Or 3, but I can't be bothered to remember as of now. There's an economy rice stall, and Ah Leng CKT stall, which is opened from morning til afternoon only. Seems like they closes on Thursdays (info from PenangTuaPui's site).

Penang's version of CKT has always been the BEST amongst all the other versions in the other states. Or country, for that matter. Notice the singular 'country'? :)

Ah Leng's version is brimming with ingredients, from the usual suspects (prawns - REAL plump ones, cockles, and egg -chicken's/duck's, chives and bean sprouts) to the rather unusual (but most welcomed, of course!) mantis prawns (lai liu har or he ko). Of course, extra ingredients at extra charge. No free lunches, OK?!

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? ;)

34 comments:

Sugar Bean said...

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! :)

cariso said...

"required to line up and carry your own plates!" Which stall are you referring to uh?! Haha! *wink*

ck lam said...

Glad you managed to find this CKT stall and looks like you get to savour the JC too...slurp, slurp :)

allie said...

This is my favourite stall of ckt and of course I've blogged before. I guess the uncle is slurping some coconut meat?

Rebecca Saw said...

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..

Sean said...

maybe he was 'leng' 20 years ago. i can imagine it. age is cruel. :D
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.

Hazza said...

Tis CKT looks like it could induce a heart attack, yet so tempting!

Julian Si said...

A deeeeelicious writeup, espesh when I am reading it from the middle east!!!

Anonymous said...

never tried CKT with mantis prawns...i want to try .......

Big Boys Oven said...

we ate at Ah Leng too, just awesome delicious, prawn, prawn and mantis prawn! awesome I think!

Unknown said...

I dont have the chance to try the mantis prawn version yet.

iamthewitch said...

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. :P

xtine said...

That's my fav CKT@penang... yum yum...really missed tat so much..

Selba said...

Wow.. the CKT looks so scrumptious!

HairyBerry said...

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)!!

minchow said...

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!

Hulk said...

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?

foodbin said...

would like a plate of CKT with everything that you mentioned.

choi yen said...

mantis prawn CKT ar? So luxury meh~~ :P

ai wei said...

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...

Bangsar-bAbE said...

Mantis prawns + duck egg? I can feel my arteries clogging...BUT I still want to eat!! =D

soo sean said...

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?

J2Kfm said...

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.

J2Kfm said...

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.

Hulk said...

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.

wmw said...

I want! I want!

J2Kfm said...

Hulk : crime lords?!! hahahah ... how cool. I wouldnt mind!

wmw : get them! get them!

buzzingbee said...

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.

Jackson Foong said...

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!

J2Kfm said...

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!

Jackson Foong said...

LOl, now i am at Kampar,Perak ad! Should find chance to go back penang to try it with my ex-hostelmate there!

Simon Seow said...

I came here late on the last day of my Penang trip, he closed already T_T

J2Kfm said...

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 ...

Jackson Foong said...

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?