Top In Asia | Wahong Cafe, Penang

The char kuay teow at Wahong Café is said to be one of the best in Penang. I’ve been on a lookout for a worthy alternative ever since Ah Leng passed away from dengue a few years ago. Wahong Café is located in Bayan Lepas and caters to the workers and those living in the area.

People come as early as 5am to eat at Wahong Cafe

We made sure to arrive as early as possible – 6am – because I was told the queue and waiting time is very long during peak hours (8am onwards). The regulars are at Wahong Café as early as 5.30am; mostly after their night shift at the factories nearby.

Duck Egg Char Kuay Teow

The char kuay teow is slightly on the saucy side, and the duck egg gives it a creamy texture and flavour. It gives off a similar vibe to Ah Leng but in terms of wok hei and flavour, it falls short. Granted it’s a decent plate of char kuay teow, I feel there isn’t enough wok char and overall oomph.

Kuay Teow th'ng

I spotted some of the regulars ordering the kuay teow th’ng so I followed suit. The broth is light and clear, while the rice noodles are silky. Decent, but not to my fancy. I preferred the chee cheong fun, which was fragrant from the prawn paste.

Penang curry mee

The Penang curry mee from the same chee cheong fun stall is a tad light in terms of broth thickness and flavour. This came with pig’s blood, cockles, brown cuttlefish and prawns. I didn’t fancy thing as there was hardly any kick.

Chee cheong fun

Hot coffee, soft boiled eggs and kaya butter toast

Coffee is bold and aromatic, which I enjoyed. The kaya butter toast and soft boiled eggs are standard fare so there’s nothing to shout about. Overall, the char kuay teow doesn’t have enough pulling power for me to justify another visit. But if I’m in the area, I wouldn’t mind having it.

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Ambiance: 5.5/10

Price: 6/10

Food: 6.5/10 (Non-Halal)

Verdict: Decent char kuay teow but be prepared to wait during peak hours.

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