Kafe Ping Hooi (Penang, Malaysia): A Kopitiam Housing The Famous Tiger Char Koay Teow

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This article is part of the Penang Food Trip series. Check out the installments in this series: Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery (MICHELIN-Starred Peranakan Restaurant) | Hameediyah Restaurant (Nasi Kandar) | Kafe Ping Hooi and Tiger Char Koay Teow (Traditional Coffee Shop with Popular Char Kway Teow) | Penang Road Famous Laksa and Teochew Chendul | Sister Curry Mee (Curry Noodles)

A kopitiam is a traditional coffee shop (“kopi” is coffee in Malay, and “tiam” is shop in Hokkien) commonly found in Malaysia, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries. It’s a space composed of different hawkers, and its owner typically sells beverages (so it’s mandatory to buy drinks).

Kopitiams are typically open-air and, fascinatingly, located in street corners, just like Kafe Ping Hooi in George Town, Penang (Malaysia).

Intermission: Are you planning a Penang trip soon? Can’t decide what activities to do yet? Then check out the activities in Klook!

I went there for two reasons. First, it’s just near our hotel. Second and more importantly, it’s home to Tiger Char Koay Teow.

To the uninitiated, Char Kway (or Koay) Teow (CKT) is a stir-fried (“char”) rice noodle (“kway teow”) dish and is one of the staple dishes of Penang. Compared to its Singaporean counterpart that uses chicken eggs, has yellow round noodles, and is on the sweeter side, the Penang variant uses duck eggs, sticks to flat noodles only, and is more on the savory side.

Tiger Char Koay Teow is always on the list of the best CKTs in Penang. Their version is smoky, savory, and stay-in-the-mouth spicy. The noodles are not as chewy as I want it to be, and it’s more on the bouncy side, which is totally fine with me.

Tiger Char Koay Teow (No Egg: MYR9; With Chicken Egg: MYR10; With Duck Egg: MYR11)

The duck egg adds an amazing creaminess, and the bean sprouts are plump and crisp. There are pieces of crispy pork lard, which is sinfully amazing!

I couldn’t settle with just eating CKT in Kafe Ping Hooi. So I tried the Lobak (or Lor Bak) of Lobak King.

Lobak, also known as Ngo Hiang, is a Chinese meat roll seasoned with five spice and wrapped in a beancurd skin (so to the Filipinos reading this, you can think of the Filipino-Chinese pork Kikiam). It is usually sold along with other deep-fried items, just like in Lobak King.

Lobak King’s lobak has a crisp beancurd skin and a strong five spice flavor. I also got the deep-fried pork belly, which is fatty and crisp, and the deep-fried tofu, which is crisp outside and smooth inside.

Lobak King’s items are good. But what brings it to the next level is the sauce. It’s sweet, spicy, and tangy!

Finally, I ordered Iced Kopi or coffee with condensed milk. It has more coffee than milk so it’s on the strong side. (I find the kopi of Malaysia and Singapore on the stronger side. I expect it to be on the milkier side. Was I ordering incorrectly? Please let me know on the comments section.)

And on the tables are packets of what I believe is Nasi Lemak (coconut rice), which is Malaysia’s national dish. You’ll only be charged if you open it.

Kafe Ping Hooi gives a true kopitiam experience, and Tiger Char Kway Teow makes amazing CKTs. When you’re in George Town, I highly recommend that you have one of your breakfasts here!

Address: 179 Lebuh Carnarvon, George Town, Penang, Malaysia | Operating Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 6:30AM-2PM (Note: The hawkers may have different operating hours)

Don’t forget to book your activities at Klook!