steamed chicken Archives - Between Bites - Bites of Food, Travel and Lifestyle

Boon Tong Kee Philippines

March 20, 2014 by Janey

The first time I tried Boon Tong Kee was in Singapore sometime 2010. It started as a small chicken rice stall in Singapore’s Chinatown in 1979 and since then has grown into an international franchise with branches in the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. There are 7 successful branches in Singapore but the branch I dined at is their first full-service restaurant at Balestier Road, which opened as far back as 1983.

Follow the Road to the Yellow Chicken at Wee Nam Kee

May 29, 2013 by Janey

Remember that Last Song Syndrome (LSS) after watching The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, one which Dorothy kept singing as she used it as a guideline to lead her to Emerald City. Follow the Yellow Brick Road? Well, my version lately is Follow the Yellow Chick Road.

After Anti-Gravity Yoga class at Beyond Yoga BHS Central, Isis and I walked the road that led to Wee Nam Kee, where we anticipated finding an emerald of a dish. The imported Yellow Chicken, deemed as the Wagyu of Chicken, that can get anyone fixed on a new high with Hainanese Chicken Rice.

I find myself back in the modern and clean interiors of Wee Nam Kee but this time, at their Serendra branch. From entering Manila shores some 2 years ago, the restaurant has already expanded to 6 branches. There are only two branches that serve the highly acclaimed Yellow Chicken, Wee Nam Kee Serendra and Glorietta branches. For something as good as this, it has every right to be a bit elusive.

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Wee Nam Kee, A Slice of Singapore

The restaurant’s interiors give off a clean-cut contemporary feel with beautiful bird cage drop lights, but more than the comfortable setting to bring family or close friends to, it is what’s placed on the table that’s the main highlight and loyal patrons keep coming back for. On a late Sunday lunch, the place was packed.

On the Table

Chili Crabs with Fried Mantou Bread (4pcs) – Price varies on weight

Wee Nam Kee has an extensive menu but we had to stick with its house specialties like their Singaporean Chili Crab and Cereal Prawns to accompany what we targeted for that day – Yellow Chicken.

Isis had her eyes set on this dish as soon as she opened the menu and even if I had crabs the day before, I did not back down. Wee Nam Kee serves a mean Chili Crab dish that has all that sweet spicy mixture of garlic, shallots, sesame sauce, ginger, oyster sauce, tomato and of course chili sauce that I don’t mind getting my hands dirty on.

By now, you know the drill, soak up the chili crab sauce with the fried mantou bread and if there’s a drop on your plate, mop it off and place it in your mouth.

No wasting that red sticky goodness that strikes just the right punch of sweet and spicy. I also love that the good-size crab had hefty meat inside that’s not overcooked but tender and still retained its integrity. I could finish heaps of white rice with this or a basketful of fried mantou.

Wee Nam Kee in Manila, A Slice of Singapore

November 18, 2010 by Janey

Wee Nam Kee is one of the well-known and most visited Hainanese Chicken Rice spots in Singapore alongside Boon Tong Kee and Tian Tian. With the birth of Mrs. Kee’s and STV’s Hainanese Chicken Rice Set (Stevie) for pick-up orders as well as the rise of Tao Yuan and Shiok specializing in Singapore cuisine (which highlights HCR), it’s quite evident that appreciation for chicken rice is developing. It’s high time that young restaurateurs’ Linfred Yap and Wyser Co brought to Manila the local franchise of Wee Nam Kee.

Wee Nam Kee’s interiors give off the old-fashioned street food alley vibe with wood-colored roofs paralleled on both sides of the dining area and beautiful bird cage drop lights.

At the far end of the restaurant is a glass display of beautifully roasted and steamed chickens –which also provides a peek into the kitchen. Other Chinese emblems add to the traditional look but on the whole, the restaurant has a contemporary feel.

Wee Nam Kee Steamed, Roasted or Soy Chicken

Personal Set (P168) served with Chicken Soup

Small – Quarter (P248)

Medium – Half (P488)

Large – Whole (P888)

The trifecta of sauces is paraded cleanly on the tables presented in a see-through flask. It’s the familiar sweetened soy sauce, chili sauce and pounded ginger that add plural layers of taste to the chicken.

In this case though, Wee Nam Kee’s soy sauce is not as thick as I had expected and less syrupy too.

I prefer a bit thicker soy sauce with a touch of sweetness as it plays a good sweet salt contrast against the heat of the chili and floral zing of the ginger.

On the Table

Steamed and Roasted Chicken Combination and Chicken Rice

Wee Nam Kee’s chicken is prepared in the traditional Hainan way of cooking chicken, suffusing it in its natural chicken juice and boiling it in the broth that’s continually reduced and re-boiled to make the perfect stock.

The appetizing semi-oily rice, fairly fragrant, boasts of high flavors. Put a mix of all the three sauces according to your preference and it makes the experience anything but boring. It’s also served with slices of cucumber that cleansed the palate for another round of Hainanese chicken spoonfuls.

Taiwan Pechay PHP 190 +

The vegetable was cooked just right still retaining the deep green color and its crunchy texture.

Cereal Prawns 4pcs PHP 375 +

Cereal prawns were medium-sized and was quite a tasty dish. Everyone on the table gave their aye’s on the cereal prawn and wished there were more to share. The cereal flakes were fine, delicate and highly seasoned perfect for continuous munching.

Barley Drink

I’d just go for water next time.

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Wee Nam Kee has made its name originally in Singapore as a top contender for serving the best Hainanese chicken rice but it’s not all just that. Their cereal prawns are also a must-order. Interestingly, all their ingredients were sourced locally. What seems so simple turns out to be a perfected dish by those who mastered that specific style of cooking. And Wee Nam Kee brings that mastery to Manila finally for us to enjoy a slice of Singapore.

Wee Nam Kee

Restaurants at the Ayala Triangle Gardens,

Makati Avenue, Makati City

(632) 846 8924

Wee Nam Kee Album

Oh Hello Again Singapore! (1^st of 3)

Small but Incredible Shiok

Tian Tian in Day 2 Singapore Lah!