We visited the Kakilang CKT CBD branch for lunch today and it didn’t disappoint. Even though it was still early lunchtime, the place was already busy, which is always a good sign when it comes to food. Ordering was easy via QR code, with payment made at the counter. We tried the classic char kway teow, lobak, nasi lemak, sarsi, and the house Lao Han Guo drink. All drinks were just $2.50 extra with a main. The food arrived quickly and was excellent across the board. The signature char kway teow had a strong wok hei. I selected the “extra wok” option and it delivered, with generous toppings. The nasi lemak was also very good, with special mention to the rice, which was spot on. The lobak was crunchy and tasty, though slightly on the oily side. The Lao Han Guo drink was surprisingly wholesome and paired nicely with the meal. Overall, a great place to visit. If you cannot get to the Balwyn branch, the CBD branch of Kakilang CKT certainly lived up to expectations and is well worth a return visit.

I know declare kakilang our must-go restaurant in Melbourne! It's the closest to authentic penang char kuey teow, good enough to satisfy cravings. The wok hei is apparent. Deep, intense flavour. The prawns were fresh & juicy. We also ordered kuey teow soup. Very kids friendly. Not too bad, it was just alright but their homemade pork crackling elevated it to another level! Drinks — nothing to shout about, but if you crave ckt, here's kakilang for you! May take some time for your food to arrive, so perhaps the restaurant would consider preparing something like drawings & pencils or papers for kids to fill their time while waiting. The location is also convenient. Tram will stop at Swanston/ Bourke st, in front of kmart so just walk for a bit (same row with kmart) and tadaaa it's there!

I’ve walked past Kakilang so many times but never tried it because I’ve always been loyal to my usual Char Koay Teow spot. Today I saw a promotion and finally gave it a chance. Their Penang Famous Char Koay Teow is genuinely delicious. Perfect seasoning and a deep wok hei that tells you the CKT is the real deal. The Teh Tarik was also a pleasant surprise smooth, flavourful, and not overly sweet, which I really like because Teh Tarik is often too sweet for me elsewhere. The staff were welcoming, and despite it being dinner time, my food and drink came out really fast.

Went to Kakilang for dinner. The char mee and char koay teow ended up tasting exactly the same when the mixed noodle option was selected, which was a bit odd. That said, both dishes were flavourful and generously portioned- I just wish they had a touch more smokiness. The mild spice level was surprisingly hot (enough) for me. The cendol was deliciously fragrant, and service was pretty quick.

We’ve been to Kakilang CBD a few times, mostly in the morning for their breakfast which is pretty good value for money. This time we tried their regular dinner menu, except we did not end up ordering from there. Instead we tried their winter specials consisting of Sar Hor Fun and Chicken Herbal Soup. The Sar Hor Fun was a slight twist to the more common Wat Daan Hor (flat rice noodles in an egg gravy). Kakilang’s version added rice vermicelli. It was very good. I’d be happy to have it again. The Chicken Herbal Soup tasted like the herbal soups that Mum and Dad makes. It was very, very good, let down only by Chinese mushrooms that were still quite firm, in fact one piece seemed not quite cooked through. Other than that, the chicken maryland in the soup was tender and the soup’s flavour cannot be faulted for the price. I ordered a Cendol as dessert. Kakilang does a very good version of that classic Malaysian dessert.Recommended.