Congee Noodle King 粥麵軒

REVISIT POST ON CONGEE NOODLE KING [HERE]

FOUR REVISIT POSTS ON CONGEE NOODLE KING [HERE]

Growing up, I never used to like Chinese food other than dim sum, sweet n' sour pork, honey garlic spare ribs and seafood. So, Congee Noodle King is very memorable because it is the first Chinese restaurant where I started trying new dishes. Also, CNK is my first late night Chinese restaurant, my first love for congee, and my first love for any spicy salt and chilli dish. Furthermore, the restaurant used to be a regular of mine and my only go-to for late night dinners, since I did not know of any other Chinese restaurants. 

CNK is located in Vancouver on Kingsway Street and is one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in the area. The restaurant is sometimes so busy that there are long line ups and shared tables are a must.

DEEP FRIED SMELT WITH SPICY SALT AND CHILLI ($6.45).

The smelt has a light batter and tastes alright despite the slight sogginess. However, the spicy salt and chilli seasoning is surprisingly missing. CNK is known for their spicy salt n' chilli dishes and it is unfortunate that the smelt tastes bland.

DEEP FRIED MINNOW FISH WITH SPICY SALT AND CHILLI ($6.45).

The fishes are extremely crunchy and over deep fried, resulting in a puffed up batter. In addition, the dish is missing the usual flavours of spicy salt n' chilli and tastes bland.

DRIED OYSTER AND PRESERVED EGG WITH SHREDDED PORK ($5.90).

Chinese pepper is added in the congee before serving which was a bit surprising, since that never happens. Also, every table has pepper for customers to add it in themselves. The congee tastes smooth, flavourful and has a nice thickened creamy consistency. Some may say that CNKs congee tastes like pure MSG while others say it tastes the best, it is really just personal preference. I used to love the congee here because it really is tasty. However, I prefer the bland white tasting congee more now. My favourite congees to order here are the sliced fish, and preserved egg and sliced pork.

CHINESE BROCCOLI WITH SMOKED MEAT ($6.45).

The smoked meat is slices of chinese sausage and the gai lan has a nice crunch, despite tasting too oily.

DEEP FRIED PRAWNS WITH SPICY SALT AND GARLIC ($6.45).

The prawns are lightly battered but tastes soggy as well as damp. Furthermore, the prawns are missing the usual spicy salt and garlic seasoning. In fact, all the deep fried spicy salt and chilli dishes are missing the garlic tonight! Did the restaurant run out of garlic? The dishes have garlic seeds but no garlic pieces.

BEEF WITH BITTER MELON IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE ($6.45).

The bitter melon tastes fresh as well as crisp and the slices of beef taste a bit chewy, where some more meat tenderizer would have helped. In addition, despite the overwhelming looking sauce, the black bean sauce tastes light and not oily.

CLAMS IN TOP CONSOMME ($6.95).

CNK makes one of the best clam dishes and the clams always taste fresh with a clear consommé broth. However, unfortunately the clams do not taste as fresh and the broth tastes very salty this time. I am not sure why.

DEEP FRIED BEAN CURD WITH SPICY SALT AND CHILLI ($6.45).

Where is the garlic?! Sigh, another spicy salt and chilli dish missing the usual seasoning flavours as well as garlic. Although the bean curd is perfectly deep fried where every piece has a nice crispiness. Too bad the bean curd tastes bland.

PAN FRIED SHRIMP AND SCRAMBLED EGG ($6.45).

The scrambled egg has a good amount of prawns and the meat tastes bouncy. The egg is nicely scrambled and very fluffy, without tasting salty or oily.

POSITIVES

- Pretty tasty congee

- Usually a solid restaurant with above average eats

NEGATIVES

- Deep fried spicy salt and chilli dishes lacked the usual seasoning flavours

- Service can be a hit or miss (sometimes the waitresses have a big smile on their face or look miserable)

LITTLE THINGS

- Revisit post on Congee Noodle King [here]

- Four revisit posts on Congee Noodle King [here]

- Used to be a regular but I found a few better late night Chinese restaurants

- Only "negative" experience out of visiting here 100x would be when a long strand of hair fell into the batter of the deep fried prawns

- I prefer Rose Garden but like the staff here more

- Cream and butter sauce and deep fried salt n' chilli seafood tastes good

Food: 2/5 (usually a 3 or 3.5/5)

Service: 2.5/5