Topwin Mall Macau Eatery Chan Kong Kei Lives Up to Michelin Star Hype
It's easy to fall in love the vibrant food scenes in Hong Kong and Macau, with the countless street stalls dotted on every corner of every bustling street. Vendors like these satisfy the workers, tourists, and local seniors alike with humble yet delicious grub. Anyone in Beijing craving such wares, meanwhile, may want to make their way to Chan Kong Kei in the Sanlitun adjacent Topwin Mall, our own little slice of (mall-y) Hong Kong.
Opened in 1956 in Macau, Chan Kong Kei started as a humble eatery with only nine tables. However, their signature siu mei helped them rank eighth in the Hong Kong and Macau Michelin Guide. From there they expanded, opening outlets in Macau, Hong Kong, and mainland China.
Their Beijing Topwin Center location stays true to those roots: the white marble tables, black and white tiled floor, large open kitchen in the back, and the large neon lights, give off distinctive southern city vibes. And in case you should forget that you're dining at a famous eatery, one entire wall happens to be pasted with photos of the celebrities who have visited the chain over the years.
Must-try dishes are their famous siu mei (Cantonese-style roasted meat) and char siu (Cantonese-style barbecued pork). You can also choose one to three varieties of the siu mei to pair with your noodles or rice (RMB 28-48). Then there's the marinated meat, including beef, pig intestines, ears, and feet, and duck heart.
Chan Kong Kei's signature roasted duck with rice (RMB 42) is simply delicious. Its sliced meat comes juicy and glazed in thick soy. The duck here has a perfect ratio of fat to lean meat hiding underneath a crisp skin and its spicy black pepper flavor comes from a secret marination process in a special sauce, which is shipped from Macau every day, we were told.
Good as the duck was, our favorite dish was the scallion oil chicken with rice (RMB 28). The cuts of white chicken are marinated, steamed, then put in ice water to keep it succulent and juicy and its skin tender. Covered with chopped scallion, ginger, garlic, and soy sauce, it has a distinct flavor that we couldn’t resist.
If you're feeling adventurous, try the duck blood with lettuce (RMB 18 for small/RMB 24 for large). The duck blood is cut to resemble tofu and has a similarly smooth exterior and texture. It's also marinated with brine, making it surprisingly delicious thanks to its peppery seasoning, along with a pairing of crunchy lettuce.
Normally we don’t follow the Michelin Guide blindly, but the siu mei at Chan Kong Kei delivers authentic Cantonese flavors at an affordable price, proving that it does in fact deserve such high recognition.
Chan Kong Kei
Daily 11.30am-9pm. B1-6 Topwin Center, Nansanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (180 1480 6535)
澳门陈光记烧味饭店：朝阳区南三里屯路通盈中心B1-6
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Photos: Tracy Wang
