Among all the Char Koay Teow in Penang I’ve tried, No. 5 Char Koay Teow is probably my favourite in my recent trip to Penang. But there’s one thing you need to know before you go:

Be prepared to wait.

The stall opens at 12pm, and I arrived at around 12.20pm. Even then, my queue number was already 13. And that was just the beginning. You need plenty of patience if you want to try No. 5 Char Koay Teow. We waited close to two hours just to get two plates of Char Koay Teow.

Thankfully, we had some cold drinks and side dishes to keep us occupied while waiting. But still, the weather was really hot that day. There is no air-conditioning, so you’re essentially embracing the heat while waiting for your food.

So, if you’re planning to come here, don’t arrive hungry and expect to eat immediately!

1. Fried Pork Belly

While waiting, we ordered some fried pork belly. The portion was small, but every bite was juicy and bursting with flavour. It was the perfect little snack to have while waiting for the main attraction.

2. Fried Mantis Prawn

We also had the fried mantis prawn, which was deeply flavourful. Again, the portion wasn’t particularly generous, but it helped to make the long wait a little more enjoyable.

3. Char Koay Teow

Topped with fresh cockles, the first thing I noticed was the wok hei. I had mine with a duck egg, which added extra richness to the noodles. The combination of smoky wok hei, duck egg and fresh cockles made this a very satisfying plate of Penang Char Koay Teow.

I do wish they had given us more cockles, but no complaints! After waiting almost two hours, that first bite was definitely worth the anticipation.

And since each plate of Char Koay Teow is cooked individually, the waiting time can easily stretch to two hours, especially during busy periods.

Is No. 5 Char Koay Teow Worth the Wait?

In Penang, not really, especially with the super long queue. I will only return only, if the waiting time isn’t too long.

If I see a two-hour wait again, I would probably skip it. Not because the Char Koay Teow isn’t good, but because Penang has plenty of other places serving good Char Koay Teow without requiring such a long wait.

So, if you’re a serious Char Koay Teow lover and have the time, give No. 5 a try. But if you’re on a tight schedule during your Penang food trip, you might want to think twice.

Ambient: 2/5

Price: $$

Food: Chinese, hawker food 

Service: Average

No.5 Char Koay Teow,

94, Jalan Macalister,

Sunshine City,

10450 George Town, Penang. 

Opens daily from 12.00pm to 8.00pm except Sunday

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Key Points

1. Do I need a reservation? 

No, it is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

2. Is there parking? 

Yes. There's a parking space right behind the stall itself. 

3. What is the estimated spending per person?

Expect to spend around RM20–RM40 per person, depending on your choice of appetisers, mains and drinks.

Written by,

FoodiesTravelblog

Ps: This is based on my personal opinion