Lorong Selamat is one of the places in Penang best-known for its “char koay teow”, and an on-going 30-year rivalry between Mdm Soon Suan Choo (aka ‘Lady in Red Beret’) and Mr Dueh Leng Guan (aka ‘Man in Black Goggles’). Both offer deluxe (read, expensive by Penang standards) version of the Penang-style “char koay teow” which comes with large, very fresh prawns.
- Mdm Soon Suan Choo (aka ‘Lady in Red Beret’), 68 - as well-known for her fiery temper as her “char koay teow”. She won’t hesitate to give any demanding or even hesitant customer a tongue-lashing on the spot!
- Mdm Soon’s "char koay teow’ - greasy, lard-laden, smooth “koay teow” noodles, crunchy beansprouts, egg, chives, Chinese waxed sausage and ultra-fresh large prawns.
- Mdm Soon’s “char koay teow” is one of the best I’d tasted in Penang. She’s been doing this since 1975 - 40 years now! If Mdm Soon sells 500 plates of “char koay teow” per day, and if she works 340 days a year, she’d have fried 6.8 million portions of her famous “char koay teow”!
- Mdm Soon operates out of Kafe Heng Huat, 108 Lorong Selamat, Georgetown, 10400 Penang.
Opens 11.30am - 6pm daily, except Tue.
- Mr Dueh Leng Guan (aka ‘Man in Black Goggles’) - the more down-to-Earth and friendlier of the two “char koay teow” personalities on Lorong Selamat.
- Mr Dueh’s "char koay teow’ - less greasy but with a generous scattering of golden-fried lardons, more Teochew-like lumpy “koay teow” noodles, also with crunchy beansprouts, egg, chives, Chinese waxed sausage and ultra-fresh large prawns.
- Mr Dueh’s style of “char koay teow” attracts his own legion of fans, but I lean more towards Mdm Soon’s version. It very much depends on your personal taste. Mr Dueh’s version is also spicier.
- Mr Dueh operates out of Low Eng Hoo Coffeeshop on 84 Lorong Selamat, Georgetown, 10400 Penang. Opens 12 noon - 6pm daily, except Tue.
Mdm Soon used to operate out of this same coffeeshop until just about 7 years ago, when she moved down to her own spot in Kafe Heng Huat.
