Comfort Eating
On cold winter days, it’s all about the ultimate Chinese comfort food: congee. Winnie Chau seeks out the best rice porridge in town.
Something Fishy
Chinese fish is delicious, but it can be a pain to eat because of those tiny little bones. Thankfully, Congee King is thoughtful enough to debone theirs, leaving you with nothing but fresh, juicy fillets and an alleviated fear of choking. Six types of fish are stewed in the congee for hours, meaning that a strong flavor is guaranteed. Not fishy enough for you? Try Congee King’s signature boiled fish skin. Served cold and with a uniquely chewy texture, the dish is a perfect accompaniment to the main event. If fish ain’t your dish, the pig liver congee and rice dumplings are also excellent.
Congee King, 7 Heard St., Wan Chai, 2882-3268. Open Mon-Sat 11am-10:30pm.
The People’s Choice
Sang Kee is our all-time favorite congee shop, with its lunch queues often reaching around the block in winter months. Sang Kee also specializes in fish, from fish belly to fish bone, sliced fish to fish ball, it can all be had here. The huge chunks of fish brimming over the bowl are to be enjoyed with a Chinese coriander soy sauce. With over 40 years of experience, Sang Kee makes a famous congee base that can be enjoyed with almost any ingredient imaginable—crab congee, another firm favorite, is often sold out by by 1pm.
Sang Kee, 7-9 Burd St., Sheung Wan, 2541-1099. Open Mon-Sat 6:30am-9pm.
Offally Tasty
Ming Kee’s trademark chicken offal congee is served with kidney, liver, intestines and meat, all thrown into one bowl. It’s been a popular dish among locals and tourists for over 50 years. Ming Kee first started as an open stall near Mong Kok’s Macpherson Playground, when a bowl cost just 30 cents, and the shop moved to its current location on Temple Street seven years ago. It’s now run by the original owner’s grandchildren and the price of a bowl remains a reasonable of $20. Challenge your palate by trying their chicken testicles congee—if you dare.
Ming Kee Chicken Offal Congee, 32 Temple St., Yau Ma Tei, 2332-9818. Open daily 11am-midnight.