Ingredient appreciation — what makes Char Kway Teow special

What sets Char Kway Teow apart is the handling of belacan shrimp paste. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the fragrant and aromatic result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Penang is considered the food capital of Malaysia and rivals Singapore for hawker excellence. The a mamak 24-hour restaurant atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had Milo as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Char Kway Teow is the place to start.