Hainan chicken rice, beef rendang and other Southeast Asian classics for under US$12 at Asam Chicken Rice in Sheung Wan
- Asam Chicken Rice specialises in Hainan chicken rice and other treats from around Southeast Asia
- The dishes were authentic affordable and full of flavour and the drinks were silky smooth
In case the name of the restaurant wasn’t enough to let you know the speciality of Asam Chicken Rice, the row of cooked chickens hanging in the window should give you a strong clue.
The walls are decorated to look like the rows of shophouses you might find in the fashionable areas of Malaysia and Singapore.
Our hot drinks (HK$10 with meals, or HK$25 if ordered separately) were served before the mains. Both the Nanyang coffee and teh tarik (“pulled tea”) hot milk tea, were silky and smooth. While the coffee was creamy with a hint of caramel, the tea was heartwarming and strong.
The chicken rice (HK$88, US$11.30) came with the bones removed (even from the wing!) and was served on a wooden tray with seasoned rice, the traditional trio of dipping sauces and chicken broth with wax gourd and straw mushrooms. The chicken was lovely: lean but tender and juicy, and went well with the ginger, chilli and sweet dark soy sauces. The rice was a little soggy.
