Chao zhou Cuisine, also known as Teochew or Chiu Chow, is known for their simple dishes that…read moreemphasize the natural flavors of the ingredients. According to my experience at Chan Yee Heng, I can attest to that making this a great spot for those who prefer uncomplicated flavors. While I enjoyed the food and could appreciate the freshness of the ingredients, it was also fairly pricey by Hong Kong standards.
MY ORDER:
x2 Tie Guan Yin Tea (鐵觀音)
x1 Sliced Goose (鵝片)
x1 Shan Tou Fried Oyster Pancake (汕頭煎蠔烙)
x1 Fried Salt and Pepper Bombay Duck Fish (椒鹽九肚魚)
x2 Si Mao (long grain) Rice (絲苗白飯)
TIE GUAN YIN TEA: ($30HKD = $3.82USD) Translated as Iron Goddess Tea, is a type of oolong tea. It had a pleasant earthy flavor with a sweet aftertaste after every sip. While most teas are complimentary, we were charged for this tea. Notably, this kind of tea is known to be fairly expensive.
SLICED GOOSE: ($188HKD = $23.95USD) Cold marinated sliced goose is one of the most, if not the most, famous Chiu Chow dish. While the marinade was tasty as was the flavorful fat between the goose meat and skin, to be honest, I wasn't particularly impressed. Goose meat is a fairly lean meat, so it was not very tender. But, for the price and portion size, I figured they would have attempted to remedy that either via smoking or slow cooking.
SHAN TOU FRIED OYSTER PANCAKE: ($188HKD = $23.95USD) If you liked oysters, you'll love this! Fried in a simple eggy pancake, you're guaranteed to get a beautifully cooked oyster or two in every bit (hence making the dominant flavor here that of an oyster). There are so many oysters in this one pancake, you'll definitely get your money's worth ordering this.
FRIED SALT AND PEPPER BOMBAY DUCK FISH: ($188HKD = $23.95USD) Bombay Duck, contrary to it's name, is actually a fish (an ugly one at that)! When I ordered this dish, I knew I would be getting tender fried fish, but I didn't know how tender. Imagine the texture of tofu, and then imagine something softer than that and you'll get the texture the Fried Salt and Pepper Bombay Duck Fish had. Flavor wise, it is fairly mild with the most prominent flavor being the "sweetness of the sea". For those who are expecting the resistance you'd get from eating typical fish like Tilapia or Salmon, this may surprise you.
SI MAO (LONG GRAIN) RICE: ($30HKD = $3.82USD). It sounds fancy, but I didn't think it was too different from the rice I've eaten elsewhere. It was cooked well and very fluffy.
ENVIRONMENT: It is a small store with fish tanks near the back. It has an upstairs dining area. The decoration is sleek, simple and beautiful with references to the river towns of the province of Chao Zhou, China.
CONS:
- a bit pricey, but dishes are made with good ingredients
- the sliced goose's toughness was a bit of a disappointment to me
TIPS:
- being such a small store, it may be prudent to phone in ahead to reserve a spot for you and your party