Before we dive into this one, I’m just going to stat by saying that – this was one of the BEST meals I had in Hong Kong. In fact, it was so awesome that I went there two days in a row! 😛
Wai Kee was a name that kept popping up when we asked y’all for recommendation for makan in Hong Kong. It was clear that Wai Kee was a MUST VISIT!
On my first day in Wan Chai, I was a bit late and they were closing. So I went back the next day bright and early for an early lunch at 11am. The place was actually easy enough to find. It’s located at the ‘Cooked Food Centre’ within the Bowrington Road Market.
Think of it like macam the hawker centre part of the market 😀 This also means a pretty hustle and bustle atmosphere especially during the peak hours but trust me – it’s totally worth it.
There are a few things that Wai Kee is famous for but undoubtedly top of the list is their HK Roast Duck! The #1 top seller is definitely the #1 top thing you should try when you’re here. They serve it a few ways including with rice or noodles… But you’ll probably wanna order an extra side of Roast Duck (or even a whole duck if you’ve got a big group!) to savour 😀
It can be quite a rarity to find a good Halal Roast Duck am I right? And while there are more options for us nowadays even back home in Singapore, I have to say there’s just something exquisitely different about the Roast Duck I had at Wai Kee.
The roast duck was succulent and a joy to chomp down. The skin had a slight crisp to it which was very welcome and added to the texture of this delicacy. There was also a thin layer of duck fat which really added to the flavour profile. While the duck was very flavourful, there was absolutely no gamey taste which is a major no-no in my books. Great news then that we don’t have to call foul on this fowl 😛
I enjoyed the excellent Roast Duck with Rice (and also ala carte as an side dish) but I do wish I had tried it with noodles instead or perhaps even a mix with Wai Kee’s Soy Sauce Chicken which did look very inviting. Oh well, mybe next time
PRO TIP: Be sure to enjoy the tender, juicy Roast Duck with the sweet plum sauce that comes with every serving.
Another must-have at Wai Kee is their Curry Mutton. At first, I did not think to try this when I saw it on the menu. But when I looked around at the other tables, all the locals were having it so that means it’s gotta be good right!
I had tried HK-style Mutton Curry at another makan place in Hong Kong (read about my visit to Islam Food) but if I had to choose between the two, I’d say that Wai Kee has the edge when it comes to Mutton Curry.
The curry was very flavourful with bold spices and a little bit of a hint of spiciness. But that great curry flavour goes so well with the mutton that has been cooked for hours to achieve this level of supreme tenderness. You’ve heard of fork-tender right? Well, this was chopsticks-tender – pulls apart from the bone with little effort!
Best enjoyed piping hot and with a serving of rice and veggies 😀
We’d like to remind you to be sure to have some vegetables to ensure a well-balanced diet 😛 They’ve got some leafy veggies at Wai Kee but if you’re game, we’d recommend to try the Simmered Turnip! Not exactly the most flavourful lah but sedap especially when enjoyed with the curries 🙂
They’ve got other stuff on the menu too like Steamed Fish (subject to availability), Wanton Noodles and even Marinated Duck Wings and Webs if you’re up for it!
Well, whatever you have at Wai Kee, you’re almost definitely guaranteed a great meal. Plus you get to experience how it’s like eating shoulder to shoulder with the locals in a pretty busy environment. Be sure to say hi to the boss of Wai Kee who is a Muslim convert. No matter how busy he seems, he’s always happy so stop and have a quick chat!
WAI KEE 清真惠記
Stall #5 Bowrington Cooked Food Centre 1/F
Bowrington Road Market, 23 Bowrington Road
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2574 1131
Operating Hours:
11.00am til 6.00pm DAILY
This meal we visit ourselves (like macam anonymous ah) and pay own money one.
All information (including prices, availability of item on menu and Halal status of establishment) are accurate at the time of posting. All photos used in this site are property of The Halal Food Blog unless stated otherwise.
