Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow, Penang – It’s good!

This aunty is probably the most famous Penangite in our country. One might even label her a celebrity. She’s known for her manners and of course, her food.

Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow – Penang

Any publicity is good publicity? Well, I’ll say bad publicity works better.

Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow – Penang-001

One has to admit that there are some people who would tolerate long waits, rude/brusque hawkers and sometime deplorable dining conditions (by the drains, etc) for good food. And thus these hawkers still thrive despite the notoriety.

Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow – Penang-002

I for one, never ate here when I was living in Penang. That was like decade ago. For research sake, I can’t possibly miss this infamous spot for my char kuey teow marathon.
Honestly I was rather put off by the reviews I read and the news of her arrogance.
I definitely didn’t expect to actually enjoy my plate of char kuey teow here!
Yes I said it. I actually like the overrated “Lorong Selamat char kuey teow”. It cost me RM8 and I didn’t even finish the prawns. It was the kuey teow that had me hooked. There, there, before you start to throw rotten tomatoes at me and say that I have ‘bad taste’ (which frankly I couldn’t give a shit), I’m judging the food as it is. Not because of foul-mouthed aunty nor the ‘superb service‘.

No doubt there are equally better stalls for char kuey teow and I’m still on the mission to find them! You don’t have to put up with the snotty attitude or the inflated prices (which frankly isn’t inflated if you take into account the prawns but solely as a plate of CKT then yes, it’s expensive), you have a choice to not patronise her outlet.
But my review stays, her CKT is good. Whether it’s worth putting up with her attitude or not is another matter. For me, I’ll gladly get my fix at Tiger Char Kuey Teow at Lebuh Carnavon (almost as good).
Review on Tiger CKT will be next! 🙂

Conclusion:
Notorious for her arrogance but can’t be denied that her Char Kway Teow is good in terms of taste. Smoky wok fragrance, NOT greasy and wet, big juicy prawns, plump bloody cockles (hell yes!), chinese wax sausages and whatever else you would expect from a satisfying plate of Char Kway Teow!

Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow – Penang-003

Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow – Penang-004

Wash it down with a glass of nutmeg juice, something quintessentially Penang.

Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow – Penang-006

Name: Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow
Address: Kafe Kheng Huat, Lorong Selamat, Penang
GPSN05° 25′ 1.6″ E100° 19′ 29.4″
Time: Afternoons – busiest from 2pm – 5pm
Day: Everyday.
Price: RM8 (small/regular).
NOTE: You will be told off if you ask too many questions or if you have specific requests. It’s either regular or large. She doesn’t entertain take-aways either.
Another thing that I noticed, she fries individual plates of char koay teow and not in bulk.

Last but not least would I re-visit now that I have tried it?
NO. I don’t put up with snotty attitude either.

******************************************************************************************************************************

I’m slowly but surely writing about the 8 plates of char koay teow I had in Penang. For the first 3 posts, you can read them as below.

1.Penang Char Koay Teow – Jalan Johor Hawker Centre (near Convent Dato Keramat )
2. Padang Brown Popiah, Char Koay Teow and Yong Tau Foo 
3. The famous and popular Penang Char Koay Teow at Siam Road 
4. Famous Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow – Penang

For good Penang food in KL, head to Penang One in Kota Damansara or Puchong. My review here –> Good Penang food in KL – Penang One. Their Char Koay Teow is from Kampung Jawa which is pretty famous in Penang as well.
I go to the Kota Damansara outlet almost twice every month. I shall update a post on my visits (many visits!) soon. Do note that it may not be the best (or similar to your favourite stall in Penang) but Penang One is still your best best for a good variety of Penang food under ONE roof, with air conditioning while sparing you the journey through and fro KL-Pg-KL.
Do avoid the lor bak here though.

This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. wah, that’s quite a power-packed CKT, with all the key ingredients included! though hmmm, no takeaway orders is a turnoff cos i like to tarpau my ckt sometimes … and i also like to ask for extra cockles, heh 😀

    1. Rebecca Saw

      Hahah! Then you know you’re gonna get an earful from her! 😛

  2. Rainier

    I AGREE with you!
    Maybe i was lucky that day,as i dint have to wait long for my ckt, nor she foul mouthed when i was there to give it a try.
    Nasib baik sedap! Otherwise ill be the one cursing her, since its rm8. Hahaha

    1. Rebecca Saw

      Oh you went!!??
      Did you try any other CKT that you can recommend to me.. hahah I should continue the hunt on my next trip! 🙂
      Yes, actually if you just order and take a seat and ignore her and eat, it’s fine really. 😀

  3. Cal

    That plate of char Koay teow does look promising. I won’t mind giving it a try as long as she doesn’t snap at me. Order & sit quietly for my food? Alright, got it.

  4. Lindsey

    So for a foreigner like myself and hubby we should visit her at least once yes?

  5. KJ Lim

    I agree. Wait is bad on weekends but not so for weekdays and tastewise is above average for sure.

  6. Genji

    It does look good!
    I usually go to one in PJ whenever the craving strikes (I been in Penang for a few months few years back for work) and now my “good” char koay teow in PJ pales in comparison to this plate I’m seeing here!

  7. george

    When is the next CKT trail-hunt? Do count me in. I’ll take care of the pictures for you!

  8. Brian

    Wow. The char kuey teow in this restaurant looks yummy. I think I should include it in mygo Penang website!

  9. Dear Rebecca,

    On my last trip to Penang, I tried her CKT and it was bloody good. I reckon if she did not have that bad attitude, her CKT will also taste like shit.

  10. Rose

    Hello, i think that i saw you visited my web site so i came to “return the favor”.I’m trying to
    find things to improve my web site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!

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