[Penang, Malaysia] Chowdown in Penang - Day Three (Cecil Street Market, No. 5 Char Koay Teow, KTG Cafe, 888 Hokkien Mee, Tek Sen)

klyeoh · March 30, 2026, 4:35pm

Another day in the UK Chowhounds’ Penang food odyssey - we started off with breakfast at 1) Cecil Street Market, where we zeroed in on three of its most popular street food options.

Sio bak (crackling-skinned roast pork) from Stall No. 5.

Koay teow th’ng from MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-listed Lum Lai Duckmeat Koay Teow Th’ng.

Wantan mee from the popular Flying Wantan Mee stall.

We then adjourned to 𝗡𝗼. 𝟱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗞𝗼𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝗼𝘄 on MacAlister Road, currently the foremost 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳 𝘬𝘰𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘸 hotspot in town.

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A popular side-dish, called “Chung Ling Eggs”, is a tribute to the stallowner-chef’s alma mater, Chung Ling High School. The eggs, scrambled with pork lard and seasoned with fish sauce, are reminiscent of a popular dish served in the school’s cafeteria.

Our next stop was 𝗞𝗧𝗚 𝗖𝗮𝗳𝗲 on Lorong Selamat, for one of the best-tasting 𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘬𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨 in town, with their home-brewed rose syrup (they also pioneered the addition of sarsaparilla to 𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘬𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨).

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KTG Cafe also serves a very good 𝘫𝘪𝘶 𝘩𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘺𝘦 - cuttlefish with kangkong/water spinach.

Afternoon tea was 𝘏𝘰𝘬𝘬𝘪𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘦𝘦 from the ultra-popular MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-listed 𝟴𝟴𝟴 𝗛𝗼𝗸𝗸𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗲 on Presgrave Street. Very good to run into the 73-year-old owner-chef, Madam Goh Poh Kim.

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Also at the same location, just across the road from 888 Hokkien Mee is Chew Kean Hoo’s char koay kak (pan-fried radish cake) stall. One of the best-tasting street food to be had anywhere!

Finally, dinner was at another MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-listed restaurant - this one is the legendary Tek Sen Restaurant. Very good to get to meet 74-year-old owner, Mr Choo Sam Ken (eldest son of the founder, Choo Tek Sen) again, as he is rarely at the restaurant nowadays, as it’s being managed by his son, Choo Wei Yean.

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