Hoe Kee Chicken Rice Balls @ Jonker Street, Melaka
One of Melaka’s signature food is Chicken Rice Balls, which is nothing but Hainan Chicken Rice served using rice shaped like a ping pong sized ball. And a trip to Melaka wouldn’t be complete without having Chicken Rice Balls unless you are a frequent visitor.
There are two famous restaurants at Jonker Street specializing in this unique food, Hoe Kee and Chung Hwa. The first thing I had as soon as I arrived in Melaka was Hoe Kee’s chicken rice balls for lunch, at 4.30pm!
According to the parking attendant we met at Jonker Street’s open car park, one of the restaurants is famous for its Hainan Chicken while the other well known for its rice. At that time we didn’t know which restaurant he was referring to, we know now after trying both.
Hoe Kee’s Hainan Chicken is definitely more tender, with smooth slippery skin and better presented if compared to Chung Hwa’s. I found the taste to be quite distinctive in a good way too, different from the usual chicken rice we eat in Penang or KL and Ipoh’s bean sprouts chicken.
Since we were planning to try as many food as we could, we only ordered five chicken rice balls. Each rice ball costs twenty cents, yeah you didn’t see wrongly – RM0.20! While the chicken cost RM8 for two people’s portion, totaling RM9 for the meal.
The rice balls are just like normal chicken rice, cooked using chicken stock as well but hand-shaped into balls. I remember when I ate at Hoe Kee 5 years ago, the rice balls would break when picked up. This time, they didn’t break at all.. Hmm, maybe they found a way to make the rice balls hold better.
Dark soya sauce and some awesome chili sauce, which can be poured from a bigger container.
A restaurant filled with lots of nostalgic feel like this is uniquely available in Melaka only. The empty marble table on the right was where we sat. While eating, I also noticed that the locals prefer the normal rice more to the rice ball. I guess chicken rice balls are really attractive to tourists, even if they don’t taste as nice lol.
Within the restaurant is a spacious hall with more seats and an open roof. I think I should have sat here instead to get better lighting for my photos.. it’s sure brighter here! As you can see Hoe Kee is still doing brisk business although it was way off lunch hour, too early for dinner too.
Where the chicken rice is prepared. And followed by some random shots of the restaurant.
Hoe Kee Hainan Chicken Rice restaurant can be found at the start of Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat), next to the new San Shu Gong shop which sells traditional biscuits, candies and stuff. Oh, do you notice the paper cut out of Ah Xian? Man, he’s everywhere lol. I don’t know how the other chicken rice shops in Melaka fare, but as far as chicken rice go Hoe Kee is quite darn good. Must try lah.
Hoe Kee Hainam Chicken Rice Ball,
4, 6, 8 Jalan Hang Jebat,
75200, Melakap/s: don’t tell me you need a map ok lol, it’s at the insanely famous Jonker Street!
February 18, 2009 - 8:08 am
Man!!! Everyone recommended Melaka Chicken Rice… and I’ve yet to try.
Not even step a foot there also.
vk: Nvm, next time when you go to Melaka, then you will have chance to try
February 18, 2009 - 8:37 am
nice one. the way u described them had me thinking should i go for Hoe Kee instead.
but better than Ipoh/Penang/KL’s chicken? wow.
J2Kfm’s last blog post..An Excursion to Sungai Petani, Kedah (Part 1)
vk: Yeap, but if can combine Hoe Kee’s Hainan Chicken with Chung Hwa’s chicken rice balls then it’d be PERFECT
February 18, 2009 - 9:18 am
i’ve been meaning to try this place after seeing the crowd and now am even more tempted to!
jasmine’s last blog post..Aoyama Japanese Restaurant Revisit.
vk: Hi Jasmine, you gotta try the Hainan Chicken
February 18, 2009 - 11:17 am
Had this too on my last Melaka visit
mimid3vils’s last blog post..Famous Seremban Favorites Restaurant
February 18, 2009 - 12:45 pm
Both Hoe Kee and Chop Chung Wah are equally good. I still prefer Chop Chung Wah’s which opposite UOB bank more than Hoe Kee. Hoe Kee is my backup plan when Chop Chung Wah sold out.
email2me’s last blog post..Asian Food Gallery – The Wall Of Fine Asian Food Pictures
vk: Chung Wah usually sell out after 1 or 2pm. I only find their rice ball is nice. The chicken still lose to Hoe Kee IMO
February 18, 2009 - 3:10 pm
i love chicken rice ball!!!
Duckie’s last blog post..Zanmai Sushi, 1 Utama Shopping Complex
February 18, 2009 - 3:38 pm
we ate here.. still prefer the UOB corner one la..
cumidanciki’s last blog post..Haikara-Style Cafe & Bakery
vk: I think you meant OCBC? Dunno ler, I prefer Hoe Kee because the chicken tastes so much better than Chung Hwa’s dry and pretty tasteless one
February 18, 2009 - 4:35 pm
Then how is the contact number.
vk: is there any reason you would need the contact number?
February 18, 2009 - 4:44 pm
Woah another chicken rice ball ! Really tasty O-O!!!
RollsRoyce’s last blog post..Mcdonald Coupon
February 18, 2009 - 6:32 pm
Gosh, you know what I think? Maybe the chicken rice does not fall apart now because they use more OIL to make the rice stick together! Oh dear…
iamthewitch’s last blog post..The Perfect Valentine
vk: Yeah maybe, that’s the only way I could think of as a non-chef haha
February 18, 2009 - 8:45 pm
these are making me salivate! love them and will definitely return for more
Christine’s last blog post..A Winter Cap Goh Meh
vk: Yeah I will return for the nice Hainan chicken
February 18, 2009 - 11:27 pm
I have a 2 days working trip at Melaka in March and will release makan tension when there. I will try both.
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February 19, 2009 - 12:15 pm
Maybe they used pulut rice la, not oil.
February 19, 2009 - 12:21 pm
Please try the shop beside the bridge one (a very small shop). Trust me!
February 19, 2009 - 4:15 pm
you have just made our day. this is our staff’s favourite.
Chicken Rice Balls yummy….
February 20, 2009 - 11:23 am
thx for info. will chk it out when i visit melaka again.
headsteadi’s last blog post..Maid Hunting
February 20, 2009 - 6:47 pm
It would be perfect if combining Melaka Rice ball and Ipoh Chickens …..
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February 22, 2009 - 10:56 am
this one definately much more better than the chicken rice ball shop beside the bridge.
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vk: hi jijitankyy, the one beside the bridge.. do you mean Chung Hwa? Opposite a bank right? Yeah I think that is not so nice.. but it sells out very fast.. I wonder why
February 22, 2009 - 11:05 am
Going there nxt fri hehe.. wish me luck in finding out all those yummmy place =)
February 23, 2009 - 3:45 pm
Hi .. nice post ..
I visited Jonker Street last December and I was staying in the middle of Jonker Street (Number Twenty One). The street is amazing and the food is so nice. Among all the shopping street in Malaysia, I love Jonker Street .. a perfect place for shopping and food ..
I have posted few pictures of Jonker Street on my blog as well: http://melakamalaysiatravel.com/malacca-pictures/jonker-street
quite long lah .. just copy paste ..
Have Fun Everybody!
Nowal’s last blog post..Temples in Melaka
February 23, 2009 - 10:37 pm
hey…i find that your article bout food is very interesting. However i need some information about various type of bread. Do u have any recommendation which is more interesting?
vk: Hi karmunz.. sorry I don’t know anything about bread..
February 26, 2009 - 4:38 am
I’ve never had chicken rice balls, though I’ve heard that you have to go to Muar to get the best ones.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures of Melaka with us!
Nate’s last blog post..Malaysian Honeycomb Cake Recipe
vk: Wow, Muar? That’s pretty far lol. I only know Muar is famous for the cheap seafood.. didn’t expect it to have great Chicken Rice balls as well
April 10, 2009 - 2:43 pm
I prefer the one near to bridge (corner shop, aiks 4got the name)
Hoe Kee one not as good as the corner shop, Hoe Kee is just more commercialize, n the service is suck,not sincere, make me don wana step in again….
May 4, 2009 - 12:50 pm
I am from Melaka and you have indeed found the best chicken rice at Hoe Kee. I am impressed with your coverage of this traditional Hainanese dish.
Would you like to review a nyonya and western food joint in Melaka that is very popular with the students of Multimedia University (MMU) in Bukit Beruang. It is run by 2 former hotel chefs and tyey are good. It is known as Family Heritage and located just opposite the Petronas Station in Bukit Beruang, Melaka. Many people know this place by word of mouth from students of MMU who have been known to bring their parents from all over the country to try the dishes. Your other readers will love it.
Stanley Goh’s last blog post..PREGNANCY
May 9, 2009 - 8:49 am
there is a new chicken rice ball restaurant opposite ex-ocbc..where chung wah is on the right side..this one is on the left side…it’s called MALACCA JONKER STREET CHICKEN RICE BALL. their standard is much better than chung wah n hoe kee…in terms of the taste, presentation of the food and varieties…. this shop might b rather much smaller compare w the other 2…but it is cosy and air conditioned..no doubt it is new (newly opened less than 3 months), many who patronised gave a very good feedback to their food. it wl be long ‘q’ over the weekend…so..if you all happen to go there…besides their steamed chicken and chicken rice ball, u can also asked for mixed stewed chicken n steamed chicken (very tender), fried roast pork, indonesian tauhu telor, and thai style fried crispy toufu. bet u wl go for there again during ur next visit.
June 2, 2009 - 11:41 pm
Jonker Street Chicken Rice Ball Shop,i try it before,yummy…………
July 13, 2009 - 12:44 am
yeah, i tried that too…nt even their chicken and rice ball is good, their stewed pork is good too, Q and tender and the taste of it is unforgetable, i wonder where they learn their kung fu haha…..
August 17, 2009 - 4:11 pm
Wow.. must try both since i am going there soon….
December 30, 2009 - 7:43 pm
Cool blog, i want to start blogging too, what script is the best for my first blog ?
December 30, 2009 - 8:03 pm
I would advice you to use Wordpress. It’s the best out there