Lorong Selamat.

Competition is stiff between the two Chow Koay Teow stalls at Lorong Selamat, Penang. In one corner is the lady with the strange cap, in the other is the man with the outrageous goggles. They both take over an hour to serve you your equally scrumptious charcoal-fired wok-fried noodles with giant fresh prawns, Lap Cheong (Chinese sausage), Kerang (Cockles) and Kow Choy (Slender Garlic Chives).

While you patiently wait for your famous plate of Chow Koay Teow to arrive, you'll be glad to know that you're encouraged to order and try out other available Penang delights along Lorong Selamat, like Asam Laksa (Fish-based Spicy & Sour Soup Noodles), Lobak (Malaysian Tapas) & Prawn Fritters, Oh Chien (Mini Oysters Omelet), Popiah (Spring Roll), White Curry Noodles and more.

And to keep your mind off the wait further, while your Chow Koay Teow is being painstakingly fried, one plate at a time due to quality control by either master chefs, guys can try your luck at spotting some lovely ladies who'll dress up for a hearty meal here. For ladies, bring along your PSP or spend quality time with your iPhone – because good looking male Penangites are as rare as Filipino pearls.

Two more tips while you're at Lorong Selamat, one, you may want to bring along a deck or two of playing cards. And two, don't forget to leave some stomach space for the infamous dessert of shaved-ice with rose syrup, palm sugar, evaporated milk, assortment of beans, corn, jelly bits and roasted groundnuts – Ice Kacang, with ice-cream topping.

While in Penang, you may also travel to isolated spots for various popular local dishes if you have the time. If not, you can find most of everything you've read up on Penang hawker cuisine, right here at Lorong Selamat.