In local parlance, Penang Hokkien mee is known by Penangites simply as "Hokkien mee", while the Kuala Lumpur stir fried variant is called "Hokkien char". Penang Hokkien mee is particularly ubiquitous in Penang, as it is served by hawker stalls and "kopitiams" (traditional Chinese coffee shops) throughout the state. While both the Penang and Singaporean versions are commonly known as "hae mee" (), and consist of prawns as their main ingredients, the two variants are prepared differently. The Singapore hae mee is stir fried and has a lighter colour, while the Penang variant is cooked in a prawn-based spicy broth.