Why Char Kway Teow deserves more attention

Char Kway Teow rarely gets the international recognition it deserves. The richly spiced and coconut-sweet complexity is genuine, not simple, and the technique involved in using galangal correctly takes real skill.

Penang is considered the food capital of Malaysia and rivals Singapore for hawker excellence. I encountered it first in a Kuala Lumpur kopitiam and that context helped me understand it properly. teh tarik is the natural accompaniment and the combination makes the case for the dish. If you haven't explored this cuisine seriously, Char Kway Teow is the dish to start with.