A recent colorful mural is created to celebrate the legacy of Tan Bak Juah, a well-loved char koay teow hawker known for cooking barefoot over a charcoal stove—a tradition passed down from his father. Painted by local artist Vincent Phang on McNair Street, the tribute honors Tan’s decades of dedication and highlights the charm and heritage of Malaysia’s street food culture. This char koay teow stall is located inside the nearby Cecil Street market.
Located at Zoo Road in Ayer Itam, this main branch of Ah Leng Char Koay Teow can be found at a residential housing area and off the main roads. Ah Leng, the man itself, can usually be seen frying his Char Koay Teow during the evenings (the stall opens in the evening). There is another branch located at Dato Kramat Road, George Town which is usually manned by his children.
Char Koay Teow is the top and most popular food which one must try when visiting Penang. There are also quite a number of Char Koay Teow stalls in Penang with each stall having their specialty sauce and ingredients. Liked by both locals and foreigners, Char Koay Teow is made from flat rice noodles, which are stir-fried over very high heat with soy sauce, chilli, and most often, with eggs and prawns too.
