Fook Kee: popular choice of claypot chicken rice

It falls back to the same question everytime. Where is the best claypot chicken rice in Kampar? Everyone seems to have an idea that I have the answer. Well, I dont. It is not like I eat claypot chicken rice everyday. And, everyone has their own favourite place anyway.

However, if one would stroll along Jalan Idris, which is parallel to the main Jalan Gopeng road in old town, one would see multiple claypot chicken rice shop just beside the road. On the northern end of the road, which is just opposite an old cinema, near the main Kampar ACS field, there is this old shop Fook Kee. If the direction is still poor, look out for Watson, and it is in the same row.

Operating at night, the place is usually full of people waiting for tapao, waiting for food, waiting for seats. Seems popular. Bit odd considering that the shop is rather run down, old looking but relatively clean. Service is not tip top, the lady in the shop did warn us that food will arrive bit late due to the long waiting list. However, considering the BIG crowd, food do come rather fast.

Then one may think that the food must be really good to attract so many people here. Well, lets see. The usual fare, claypot chicken rice is served in small (RM5), medium (8.50) or big (RM10) size. There is the option of adding sausage, or salted fish. The portion is relatively huge, considering that probably one big pot could easily accomodate 4-6 person. If all consist of huge appetite people, probably 3 then. The taste is rather good, as good as other stalls. The burnt rice on the bottom of the pot is nicely done, just nice for the crunchy consistency, without much burnt smell. The rice is fragrant, with sesame oil. Taste did not disappoint, the chicken is nicely marinated. However, the whole combination is rather oily. You can see the rice literally shine in light.

The other option to go with the rice is obviously vegetable. As always, I would always order bean sprout to go along. Here, it is cooked OK, bit dry for my liking. Although, the bean sprout here could not compare to the fat and stubby ones found in Ipoh.

Overall, crowds dont lie. The food here is good. However, not exactly excellent compare to other stalls. It all depends on personal taste. The portion is big, and therefore at the end of the day, food here is cheap. Is it worth the wait? Considering the crowd, food do come faster than I thought, but the oily side turns me off.

ratings: 3 half poink! (extra half cause I used to come here when I was small)

comments: taste good, big portion (translate to lesser spending) BUT huge crowd, oily rice.