Following the BBC article on Singaporeโs Hainanese chicken rice being threatened by Malaysiaโs export ban of chickens shared by @Harters recently, I couldnโt resist going for a chicken rice meal here in Penang.
40-year-old ๐ง๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ (sic), operated by the Lee family, is a popular eatery in Penang which specializes in Hainanese chicken rice and Cantonese-style roasted meats.
Currently run by the third-generation of the family, the popular eatery was founded by 56-year-old Alor Setar-born Mdm Lee Lean Chan, and her husband, 64-year-old Penang-born Lee Siwee Seng.
Mdm Lee had grown up helping her parents run their Hainanese chicken rice stall in Alor Setar, Kedah, in the 1970s, before they emigrated to the neighboring state of Penang in the early-80s to run a chicken rice stall inside the iconic 106-year-old Kek Seng Kopitiam on Penang Road. By 1985, Mdm Lee and her husband took over the daily running of the stall from her parents.
They expanded their family business in the 2010s, with the help of their 3 sons, Chee How, Chee Xiong and Chee Yik, and their chain has 5 branches in Penang. Besides Hainanese chicken rice, ๐ง๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด ๐ฅ๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ is also popular these days for their Cantonese-style roasted meats: char-siew (Cantonese-style caramelized BBQ pork), siew-yoke (crispy-skinned roasted pork), roast chicken & roast duck.
Our lunch was at their Green Lane branch.
We were pleasantly surprised by how delicately fragrant and tasty their chicken rice was - good enough to be eaten on its own, sans the condiments and accompanying poached chicken and roasted meats.
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Poached chicken - we were surprised that it came smeared with minced ginger, and topped with a scattering of chopped green scallions: more a Cantonese-style accompaniment than Hainanese. Very tasty, with the perfect texture.
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Roast chicken - this is actually their bestseller, and was perfect with their chicken rice.
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Char-siew and siu-cheong (Cantonese-style waxed sausages) - I actually enjoyed the slightly sweet siu cheong the most, its caramelly-sweetness complemented the slight saltiness of the siew yoke (crisp-skinned roasted pork).
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Siew yoke - crisp-skinned roasted pork, very- very well done here, and one of the best Iโd came across in town.
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Poached chicken livers and gizzards - these were some of the must-haves when we have a Hainanese chicken rice meal back in Singapore, and we couldnโt resist ordering them here.
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Watercress, chicken feet & red dates soup - this was their daily soup, served gratis with every order of a chicken rice meal.
A good lunch - just MYR 68 (US$15.50/ยฃ12.40) for a 4 persons, inclusive of chilled soft drinks.
Address
Tong Seng Roasted House (ไธๅ็ง่
ไนๅฎถ)
14, Jalan Mas, Taman Guan Joo Seng, 11600 Jelutong, Penang, Malaysia
Tel: +6014-666 6313
Opening hours: 8.30am to 4pm, Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun. Closed on Thursdays.
