Best Chicken Pot Diners in Hong Kong
Still huddling around a regular hotpot table this winter? Add an extra spicy step to cure the cold weather blues with Chongqing chicken pot: A big serving of juicy, bone-in chicken pieces cooked in a bubbly, aromatic spicy sauce. Eat that first, then add broth to create a mouthwatering hotpot base for your favorite ingredients. This red-hot delicacy has seen a range of trendy new variations in recent years. Here are our top picks.
Go-to Gai
Follow the yellow bright sign (or the distinctive aroma of chili broth) to Gai Bo (literally “Chicken Pot”) at the Smithfield cooked food center, which—you guessed it—serves up signature chicken pot, as well as hotpot and claypot rice, making it a great go-to spot to get your fill of Hong Kong winter delicacies. You can opt for chicken pot served “dry” in a stone pot ($78 half/$138 whole chicken), or take the more traditional route with a mala-numbing hotpot broth. Whatever your fancy, you’ll be chowing down on pieces of succulent chicken, skin on, soaked in a golden, savory and manageably spicy seasoning. Feeling adventurous? Try other strange offerings, such as crocodile meat ($88/$168) said to be good for the respiratory system in traditional Chinese medicine.
2/F, Smithfield Municipal Services Building, Smithfield Rd., Kennedy Town, 9309-5526. Open daily 5pm-midnight.
Come Come Chongqing Chicken Pot
Come One, Come All
Come Come Chongqing Chicken Pot is among the chicken pot restos that started the trend in Hong Kong. These days it has eight branches in the SAR, from Yuen Long to Tin Hau. Choose a half or whole portion of spicy chicken pot ($128/$198; varies at different branches), and order your favorite ingredients. Aside from plenty of Sichuan side dishes, it has all the normal hotpot offerings such as fatty beef slices, fish and a full range of vegetables, meatballs and tofu. The most unconventional thing on the menu just might be ostrich meat ($55), which seems to be only found at the Tai Wai branch.
Various locations, including 11/F, Kyoto Plaza, 491-499 Lockhart Rd., Causeway Bay, 2891-9017. Open 6pm-2am.
Chicken Run
The Chinese name of this store, “mai zau gaai” is a play on Cantonese slang for “Don’t miss out.” And indeed, you shouldn’t miss out on the weird and wonderful offerings at Running Chicken. There are only two choices here, and the fiery mala Sichuan chicken pot ($118/$158) will seem quite plain pitted against the “Golden Cheese” chicken pot ($128/$168). With this, meat is first marinated and stir-fried with a blend of spices, then cooked with an oozy cheese sauce. After you’re done devouring the chicken, servers will add a special house broth made with a mix of chicken, pork bone and fish stock blended with a secret cheese sauce. It’s surprisingly not greasy, and goes well with the myriad seafood, tofu, vegetable, and meat and fishballs on offer. Make sure to add noodles at the end of your meal.
383 Castle Peak Rd., Cheung Sha Wan, 2813-8522. Open daily 11am-11pm.