The interior of the shop looks like this with cans of foodstuff stacked high. The shop probably has been fortunate enough not to have any accidents involving cans tumbling down and injuring customers within the shop. In any case, the shop does a pretty brisk business at all times given its very extensive range of food products.
After my colleagues had finished shopping, we went to Jonker Street for chicken rice brunch. We were prepared to go to either Chung Wah or Hoe Kee for chicken rice (with me leaning towards Chung Wah because I'd already eaten at Hoe Kee before) but when we got there about 11am, it was blazing hot and this, this was the queue we saw outside Chung Wah. I have to applaud those in the queue - it was so hot that I thought the soles of my sandals were melting yet there they stood patiently, waiting under the broiling sun to get into the coffeeshop.
We made a beeline for Hoe Kee which was thankfully far less crowded, provided shelter/shade for those in the queue and had some sort of system that moved customers along to tables pretty quickly. Thank goodness for alternatives - if Chung Wah had been the only chicken rice stall and it didn't take reservations...anyway, Hoe Kee. Despite the shop's facade per the pic below, the inside of the shop is spacious, clean and airy.
So, the lady told us they only had 3 dishes available - chicken rice, assam head and veg. I asked about the popular black bean soup and was told that it isn't available on weekends. So we ordered what the shop had. First, the assam fish. The Slog Reviews: 7.5/10. The fish was certainly fresh and cooked well - not too tough or undercooked with a fishy taste. However, I fear that my taste buds have been thoroughly spoilt by the assam fish head in Muar so this dish here didn't stand out at all. Definitely not a must-order dish but a nice complement to a meal which would otherwise be just chicken and rice.
No one goes specially to a chicken rice place at Melaka and not have the chicken rice balls. I am not sure where the chicken rice balls originated from but while it is available (though not popular) in Singapore, THE place to have chicken rice balls is Melaka. The lady asked how many balls the 4 of us would like and we didn't know so she suggested 25 balls for the 4 of us. The Slog Reviews: 7.5/10. The rice balls certainly looked delicious and 1 of my colleagues loved the softness of the chicken rice balls. However, I felt that the rice balls tasted pretty ordinary and I wouldn't go back to Hoe Kee for these chicken rice balls. The only edge these balls have over ordinary chicken rice would be that they are less oily I suppose and one would be able to measure the quantity of rice one has eaten.
As for the chicken, the Slog Reviews: 7.5/10. I'm not sure if it was the heat but the chicken wasn't particularly mouth-watering or tasty. Must try Chung Wah the next time I'm at Melaka.
The overall experience at Hoe Kee - 8/10 for the quick service, prompt delivery of meals, attentiveness of the staff and the decent food (and portions). The cost of the meal below was less than RM 50.
The restaurant's address and operating hours are:
Address: 4, 6, 8, Jalan Hang Jebat,75200, Melaka.
Off days: Wednesday of every fourth week of the month.
Operating hours: 8am till 5pm
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