Best Char Kway Teow in Singapore

Char kway teow in Singapore: a visitor's guide

Char kway teow in Singapore is a plate of flat rice noodles fried with dark soy sauce, egg and other toppings. The name means "fried flat noodles" in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect. It is sweet, smoky and filling. You will find it at hawker centres across the island, usually for just a few dollars.

What goes into char kway teow?

Cooks fry everything together over high heat. A typical plate includes:

• Kway teow, flat rice noodles, often mixed with yellow egg noodles.
• Dark sweet soy sauce, which gives the dish its colour and sweetness.
• Egg, cracked into the wok and stirred through.
• Chinese sausage, a sweet dried pork sausage called lap cheong.
• Fish cake, cut into thin slices.
• Cockles, small clams that locals call see hum.
• Bean sprouts and Chinese chives, for crunch and freshness.

Many stalls also fry the noodles in pork lard, which adds flavour and crispy bits. The Singapore version is usually darker and sweeter than the Penang style from Malaysia.

What is wok hei?

Locals often judge char kway teow by its wok hei. This Cantonese term means "breath of the wok". It is the smoky taste that comes from cooking fast over a fierce flame. Good wok hei is the mark of a skilled cook.

How to order char kway teow

1. Choose a size. Many stalls offer small, medium and large plates.
2. Say if you want chilli. Most stalls will ask. Say "less chilli" or "no chilli" if you prefer it mild.
3. Decide on cockles. Cockles are only lightly cooked. If you prefer them left out, say "no cockles" when you order.
4. Be ready to wait. Each plate is fried to order, so expect a short wait at busy times. Some stalls bring the plate to your table.

A plate usually costs around S$4 to S$7. Prices change, so check the board at the stall. Char kway teow usually contains pork, so ask the stall if you avoid pork.

Where to eat char kway teow

• Outram Park Fried Kway Teow Mee is a hawker stall in the Marina Bay & CBD area. It is easy to reach from city-centre hotels.
• Hill Street Fried Kway Teow is a hawker stall in the East Coast & Bedok area. Pair it with a walk or bike ride at East Coast Park.

Popular stalls often have queues at lunch, and some close once they sell out. Many hawkers also take one day off each week. Go early in the day for the best chance of a short wait.

Other hawker centres in these areas include Hong Lim Market & Food Centre and Bedok 85 Fengshan Food Centre. For more local dishes, browse our Hawker Favourites.

Hawker centre basics

• Find a seat first. A packet of tissues on a table means the seat is taken.
• Pay at the stall. Many stalls take QR code or card payments, but carry some cash too.
• Return your tray. Take your tray and plates to the tray return point when you finish.

Read How to Order at Hawker Stalls in Singapore for a step-by-step guide.

Similar dishes to try

• Hokkien Mee: yellow and rice noodles fried in prawn stock, with prawns and squid.
• Oyster Omelette: eggs fried with starch and small oysters until crisp at the edges.
• Fried carrot cake: cubes of radish cake fried with egg, sold white or black. Read White vs Black Carrot Cake: Which Should You Order?

FAQs about char kway teow

What does char kway teow mean?

It means "fried flat noodles" in Hokkien. Char means fried, and kway teow is the name of the flat rice noodles.

Is char kway teow spicy?

It is mostly sweet and smoky. Many stalls add a little chilli, but you can ask for none.

Does char kway teow contain pork?

Usually, yes. Most stalls use Chinese sausage and pork lard. Ask the stall if you avoid pork.

How much does a plate cost?

A plate at a hawker stall usually costs around S$4 to S$7. Larger plates cost a little more. Prices change over time.

Is it the same as Penang char kway teow?

Not quite. The Singapore style is darker and sweeter. The Penang style from Malaysia is drier and often comes with prawns.