Kwan Kee Claypot Rice — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

The first time I came here was 10+ years ago, it gave me an excellent memory both in terms of food quality and price, but the decoration was rather traditional HK restaurant and old. I came back again 2 days ago, the deco gave a fresh look with much brighter lightings. I ordered a pot of green vegeable which was served in about 10 minutes, it smelt so good that I ate immediately despite it was very hot. I also ordered a white eel clay pot rice (the same item as last time), and it took about 25-30 minutes before it was served. It is reasonable because this kind of pot rice was cooked after the ordered is placed. The cap of the pot was removed once it was put on the table, and I poured the seasoned soya bean sauce at once along the inner rim of the pot and let the pot cooled down for 2 min before I started to enjoy the delicious rice and eel. The seasoned sauce tasted a little sweet and not salty, that's good; the white eel was fresh enough and gave out fresh taste, the texture of it is soft enough, that's good; while the rice adhered to the inner wall of the pot was so crispy and gave out good smell similar to that of medium toasted bread, the rice further away from the inner wall was still juicy and soft, that's good cook timing which required rich cooking experience. After I finished the rice and the eel, I poured about 200ml of warm tea into the pot, rinsed it against the inner wall of the pot for about 2 min before eating the soaked tea rice, it was so yummmmmy that I felt with a full stomach and so satisfied with this meal. The quality was 100% persistent as last time. I hope I can go back very soon to try other pots!

NOTE: 1) if the cooking time of rice is too short, it won't give you yummy soaked tea rice, 2) if you ordered pot rice with pork, chicken or other dried meat, you should ask the waiter or waitress to leave the cap of the pot, and after you poured the seasoned soya bean sauce as mentioned, put back the cap immediately and wait for about 3-5 min...

This place truly is deserving of five stars. Yes the queue is over 90 minutes, yes the claypot takes at least half an hour to arrive, but boy is it a fantastic use of 3 hours of your life.

We arrived around 7.45pm on a Thursday and there was a queue of around 25 people ahead. We made it to the front and ordered the pork bone broth hot pot, white eel + pork ribs + extra sausage (lap cheong) claypot rice and a beef and egg claypot rice. Between three of us. You have to be hungry. And patient.

The pork bone broth arrived in five minutes and is a great prelude to the claypot. Really good flavour that develops over time (as long as you're fine with chicken feet and pork bone contributing to the flavour)

The main event was the claypot. I have to say the pork/eel/sausage is perhaps one is the most memorable and outstanding meals I've had anywhere, all for the cost of around HKD 150. When it arrives, pour three spoons of sauce over the rice and down the side of the pot and give it a bit of a stir as you hear it sizzle against the hot pot.

The combination of the eel and the pork is utterly delicious, but it is followed up with this mind-blowing rice crust stuck to the bottom of the pot. Ask for a metal spoon and gently prise away the delicious shards of crispy rice from the side. The pork fat from the ribs and sausage has dripped down to the bottom and adds an amazing fragrance, while the sauce you poured down the side caramelises with the rice to create this crispy yet sweet and salty and umami combination of flavours which perhaps is the most satisfying bit to eat. I'm a sucker for popcorn (and don't mind the slightly charred/black bits when you accidentally burn a bit at home), but the crispy rice at the end consists of this caramel popcorn like finale to what is an amazing dish. I certainly will be back here again when I am next in Hong Kong.

It's cash only, factor in a good 3 hours for your evening but the payoff is phenomenal...

Food: To be honest, this is very worth the super duper long waiting time. The soy sauce is good - fragrant but not just super duper salty kind. The rice is cooked oh so perfectly it was nice to bite on. The pot was still sizzling 5min on as I poured all the soy sauce around inside. I got the dual sausage claypot rice (HKD 95) and the ingredients were so tummy-fulfilling! The crusty rice at the sides and bottom can easily be scrapped, until at other eateries and other countries, where it feels like I am scrapping to clean the pot and get black scraps. No. Theirs is scrap with some bit of energy and the crusty bits comes out! Really nice. I did feel sleepy after the long wait, but when I left, I left with a happy tummy filled with quality food. So it is worth.

To manage time expectation: I arrived around 7.45pm on a weekday night and took me 70min to get a seat, approximately another 60min to get my claypot rice. But the appetisers (I ordered salt-pepper tofu) came within 10min. I see that if you order hotpot, food comes way faster.

Staff: They may look grumpy but no. I had good treatment from the staff. They did moved my seat once but it is alright cos my food wasn't here yet (they dont shift if food already served). They also apologised to my same table couple about shifting them over here, only cos the solo diner was gonna leave soon and they can have wider space once she is gone. Said it all with a smile.

Note: There is a minimum spending of HKD 100 per pax. So it is about 1 claypot rice per person (or add ingredients if the claypot is below the min amount). Not very cheap, but really taste good. I didn't know is a Michelin Bib Gourmand shop. Better bring cash - cant remember if they take other...