Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice: Gold Dust Tables
With the ieatfamily
I remember eating at Wee Nam Kee when I was still a kid. That was when they were still at Toa Payoh Lorong 4. I did not remember the taste of the chicken rice though. It was the psychedellic tables that I remember distinctly. The old premises used to have these green and yellow tables which look like they are covered with specks of gold dust. I wonder if there are any readers out there who know what I am talking about?
Anyway Wee Nam Kee moved to the Novena locale for many years now. I remember in the past they used to market their chicken rice as one that is made with no garlic. I am not sure whether it is the case nowadays. However, they have been around since the days of Swee Kee, and being a Heritage Hawker, it has to appear on this blog sooner or later.
I acutally like the rice here although our seasoned makankaki, smart commented in the forum recently that it tasted bland. My experience was quite different. I would say the rice tasted quite rustic and has enough flavour without being over oily. Consistency in the quality of the rice is a problem that many chicken rice stalls are faced with. This was a similar problem with Yeo Keng Nam which I blogged recently. 4.25/5
Although the chicken at Wee Nam Kee is the tender Non-Kampung type, they aren't Battery Hens who need to be concerned about going on a diet. Still tender and juicy, but nowhere as voluptuous as the ones from Xin Ji over at Margaret Drive. Still it is good for those who enjoy tender chicken but are concerned the increasing convexity of their waistline. 4.25/5
Conclusion
Being such a well known name, it is a wonder that Wee Nam Kee has not gone the route of expanding like many other Chicken Rice stalls. That really puts it in no-man's land unfortunately. For a stand-alone stall with such a long legacy, one would have expected it to have done much better than the chain stalls by providing a superlative chicken rice experience.
Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
275 Thomson Road
#01-05 Novena Ville
Opp Novena Church
10am to 2am daily
17 comments:
Wee Nam Kee is still at Toa Payoh Lor 4. I am not sure if they are related, could be a case of a new occupant 'inheriting' the namesake of the old one, like Xin Ji and margaret Dr. As far as I know the original Xin Ji is actually at Mei Chin Rd FC now.
I've eaten here many times and I must say, the tender and juicy chicken has never failed us.
Ahhh ... finally my favourite lunch point is featured.
But you're bad for bringing up evil expansion ideas here!
correct, correct, correct if u are referring to the rice but their chicken is tender n juicy (not so fat).
Yeah I agree with Miss Loi. I hope Wee Nam Kee does not expand. Look what happened to Boon Tong Kee.
ERh, I believe the one at Toa Payoh is called Wee Fun Nam Kee. Had visited both before. The one at Novena at least 3 times, the last time was only last year. The price of the chicken was stratospheric. The rice was yellowish n oily. Chicken was over cooked so was dry. Look like they changed the recipe? But I ain't going back ever. Few months back went to the one at TP but chicken out when I found they are dishing out more than chicken rice now.
i remember the dark green and gold dust plastic tables and chairs as well as you!! amazing, i have such deep recollection of them even after nearly 30 years!
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From Japan
http://food-soybean.blogspot.com/
edmame - u can promote your blogsite in the forums section of this blog. you can find the link at the top right hand corner of this blog.....
incidentally i think chicken rice is a well loved singapore dish for the japanese..
I grew up in Novena and Wee Nam Kee has been my favourite joint for chicken rice (since it is so near my home)
One side note is the staff are rather rude and indifferent MOST of the time; something u might have to bear. If you are very particular about MSG, forget abt Wee Name Kee. They are quite merciless at that department.
Overall, their chilli sauce is spicy and chicken are tender
I agree that the rice is pretty fragrant, however I found it a tad under-cooked, making it difficult to shallow.
I tried ordering their side dishes of Dou Miao and Deep-fried Toufu, and I wasn't impressed as well. Both were poorly executed.
You can read my whole review below:
http://www.hisfoodblog.com/2007/10/whats-fuss-about-this-chicken.html
i quite like the chicken rice at wee nam kee, though my favourite is still the place along upper thomson road.
i guess meals like chicken rice have a lot to do with familarity, and that feeling of being home.
ya, the aunties at wee nam kee is rather rude...
Wee Nam Kee has been in TP Lor 4 since I was very young, and even before the one in Novena started.
Not sure what happen but Wee Nam Kee opened in Novena, and that started a legal case, not sure if it gets into the actual courts, on who has the right to the "Wee Nam Kee" name. Well, the one in Novena won, and was Wee Nam Kee, while the one in TP Lor 4 has to change to Wee Fun Nam Kee.
One interesting fact - Since Wee Nam Kee started in Novena, their business goes from strength to strength - we had to pay GST (then, not sure about now), while the one in TP, especially after the loss of the name, begins to dwindle in business.
As for me, somehow the quality in both stalls have gone downhill, which is the reason why I am not in the hurry to go and eat there...
Do try Seng Heng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice at Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre. It's around the middle row and sells out by 4pm on the average. Hope you can do a review on them because they're definitely one of the best around... From what I know, the owner has refused countless interviews from newspapers and TVs. They should get more publicity then there is! :P
As other have pointed out the one in Novena is called 'Wee Nam Kee' whereas the one in Toa Payoh is called 'Lee Fun Nam Kee'.
They have a history of being originally named 'Nam Kee' (in Thomson) and finally Lee Fun Nam Kee' today. Full history can be found in their shop.
Wee Nam Kee's rice is too oily and salty. Not to mention it's steep price. Fine if you're dropping by for the ambiance (I personally like it being spacious), other wise I'd avoid it somewhat.
hay guys i like chicken very much,when i going to Singapore hotel then they give me new (Indian)recipe,chicken tikka, it was made in different process.This is very testy..ummmm...
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