Sunday, October 19, 2008

Great BALLS of Chicken

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It was a really zippy day trip to go visit a friend in Melaka.. we only had time to dash into Melaka town, have lunch, and dash back to KL!

Eventhough the word on the street is that the Chicken Rice has dropped in standard in Melaka, I am still a SUCKER for The Chicken rice Ball.. so what to do.. I dragged my colleagues along to eat with me that sunny afternoon!
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What? Closed?! My favourite shop had it's shiny shutters closed for the day. What bad luck. Again its debatable on the quality of the Chicken rice here at my favourite stall.. but I DON'T CARE... I still want to eat here every time I come! lol

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Oh fine. Since we really didn't have much time, just down the road on Jonker was 'the other' chicken rice place.
Since they also serve Assam fish there, I was game to check it out.
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Hoe Kee Chicken Rice on Jalan Hang Jebat!
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Old fashion deco and a high ceiling gave the place a nice, airy feel, even on that hot afternoon.
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Here comes the food.
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Assam Fish - RM26.00

Not bad but the fish was overcooked. I personally would have preferred it MORE sour and spicy.
5/10
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Chicken Rice Balls - RM3.00

The Chicken rice balls! Erm... looking at the balls.. not greasy enough.. and certainly not tasty enough. They say that the taste is enhanced by the rolling of the rice(by hand).. don't ask why.. the answer may turn your stomach;P Obviously, judging from the lack of taste.. this roller's hands were pretty clean... (aiiyo, don't know whether to laugh or cry.. haha)

I gave the balls a 4/10.
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Chicken - RM8.00

The Chicken was tough and rubbery. So sad... the meal was pretty average.
It is true though what people say about the deterioration of Melaka's standards in food. Even the Nyonya Food on my last trip to Melaka was a let down...

Anyone from Malacca want to tell me where I should go to eat? (Oh, and all invitations to eat at your house are more than welcome... haha) We'll bring the beer!

Bill for 3 persons: RM51.00



Add:
Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Ball,
4,6,8, Jalan Hang Jebat,
75200 Melaka

Food:4.5/10
Service:6/10
MSG levels:high
Salt levels:high
Cleanliness:7/10

28 comments:

Christina Kim said...

It was not tasty enough because the roller probably had clean hands?
Oh my....my stomach had turned itself and i've shut my ears and eyes for further imagination.....to laugh or cry, i'd cry:p

Ciki said...

It's called, in cantonese... KAR LIU!

boo_licious said...

hahaha, abt the kar liu statement. Yes, quite a few people have bemoaned the fact that Melaka food is getting from bad to worst! Seems no good nonya place anymore as all the nonyas have migrated to KL!

I like Chung Wah too, probably becoz I grew up eating that.

Kath said...

hi!!! i'm kinda new to your blog, got it from another food blog, so thought i'd go through yours, and since then i come here everyday!! =) My bf and i are sucker for food as well.. I'm half peranakan (my dad's a baba, but sadly i do not know how to cook nyonya food, the skills just stopped at my granny...

Ciki said...

boo:
agree.. so, boo, which is the best nyonya place in KL then?!

jojo&kath:
thanks for dropping by:D

Big Boys Oven said...

oh one of the best chicken rice in melaka! slurping about it all the time!

minchow said...

Not enough liu?? I ate here and felt queasy the entire day - not sure if it was the grease alone or something else... I think I'll defer back to Chung Wah next time!

Anonymous said...

heh heh....my fascination for rice balls dissipated with age....unfortunately. also, they seem to serve rice balls for the dead at qing ming! how disappointing when the rice isnt tasty enuff hor.
how sad abt melaka food. was gonna bring the kids there for a day trip this school hols.

Ciki said...

bbo:
lol.. you must be a fan ! when the itch starts.. you've just got to scratch it eh?!

faith:
really?! oh no.. poor u.. we were ok, luckily. Just that there was hardly any taste in the balls.

fbb:
balls for the dead!!! sounds so morbid.. hahaha

Tummythoz said...

Eh thot that now all hands-off as they've got a rice balls poppin machine? Anyway me no fan as found the chicken quite tough.

Ciki said...

tummythoz:
you're probably right.. but i still like to think some places make em by hand.. haha :D

Mellie said...

Me think to leave it to the Penangites when it comes to Nyonya food.
I've never come across any delish Nyonya food in Mcca.
Best Nyonya food, mana cari? The one cooked by my family at home!I've gotta take a trip back soon....

Ciki said...

mellie:
is that like an invite to ur place?! haha

J2Kfm said...

I also never got it lah. what's so special about chicken rice rolled in balls eh? more compact and cutesy?
we had nyonya meal at one of the more famous nyonya restaurant in town, forgot the name, but a tourist stop nevertheless. the food? erm, so-so only lah.

CRIZ LAI said...

Before I came in I already knew that you went to Melaka. LOL! Where else can you get Chicken Rice Balls? Haha! This place looked very familiar. I think I have been there once but somehow the balls did not impress me at all. I still prefer hot steaming "loose" rice. :P

As for the chicken, it really takes a Hainanese to produce great tasty yet soft white chicken.

http://crizfood.blogspot.com/

Ciki said...

j2kfm:
more compact and cutesy! lol.. cutesy balls:D

criz:
really? loose rice is better than balled rice eh?!

Julian Si said...

I love this chicken ball rice, was there a year ago and it was brilliant ... sorry to hear the standard has slipped :-(

Ciki said...

jules:
too bad, rite:(

Anonymous said...

Aaww... how come Chung Wah was closed??! I always eat there too whenever i go to melaka. Too bad the balls at Hoe Kee were not up to mark. If the chicken is tough, then i think i can prolly cook better, hehe!

Ciki said...

pureglutton:
sometimes i just have really bad timing;P and is THAT an invite to taste your cooking? lol

HairyBerry said...

and i was just thinking of places to makan after visiting a friend in malacca next month...

hmmm, time to take out lonely planet guide to malacca! *i must be joking*..haha!

Ciki said...

nic:
maybe Chung Wah is the better bet;)

choi yen said...

So coincidentally, I went to Malacca last Sunday & had chicken rice @ same restaurant :)

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

u beat me to it..i also went to eat last weekend..found out the stupid chung wah was close..

contrary i wasnt a sucker to try the assam fish but i thought the chicken was decent enough and the rice balls were addictive!

Ciki said...

mimi:
how did you like it?

joe:
lol.. lucky you! at least you enjoyed the chicken and balls:D

Nate @ House of Annie said...

Hi, found your blog via PureGlutton.

I thought you had to go to Muar to get good chicken rice balls.

That assam fish looks watered down. Sorry the trip was such a disappoinment.

Ciki said...

helo nate n annie!
thanks for stopping by :D

Unknown said...

This is the best place in Malaca for chicken rice balls..