Congee Noodle King 粥麵軒 (2nd visit)

FIRST POST ON CONGEE NOODLE KING [HERE]

FOUR REVISIT POSTS ON CONGEE NOODLE KING [HERE]

A revisit to the popular Congee Noodle King on Kingsway in Vancouver. Why the revisit? With only three to five other late night Chinese restaurants available on Kingsway, the choice was CNK. I used to visit CNK weekly and even more than once a week, however, after finding other late night restaurants, I slowly stopped visiting. CNK is known for their delicious tasting congee and spicy salt n' chilli deep fried goods. The interior of the restaurant is spacious and has comfortable seating arrangements. However, the restaurant does get busy, to the point when sometimes shared tables are a must.

PEA TIP WITH MINCED GARLIC ($6.95).

The pea tips taste fresh and have a slight garlic flavour, without tasting oily.

PRESERVED EGG AND SLICED PORK CONGEE ($5.50).

The congee has a nice thick creaminess and the consistency does not water down towards the end (sometimes it does). The large sizes of pork are also very tasty as well as tender. CNK is one of the better restaurants for congee, despite sometimes having the dehydration feeling or the random complaints of an MSG overload (I am not against MSG by the way).

CLAMS IN TOP CONSOMME ($6.95).

The clams are fresh as well as juicy and the broth tastes clear, light and flavoursome.

PAN FRIED DICED OYSTER OMELETTE ($6.45).

The omelette does not taste oily or mushy, and has an oyster flavour. If anything, a fluffier omelette would have been nice but meh, I do not usually eat these at a Chinese restaurant and only grab a bite. It must be a Cantonese thing since BF munches on these at late night restaurants.

DEEP FRIED SQUID WITH SPICY SALT ($6.45) 

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

The squid tastes perfectly crispy and tender, with a nice snap. As for the prawns, those taste lightly battered, crisp as well as juicy, and has the proper spicy salt n' chilli seasoning flavour. CNK really makes good tasting spicy salt and chilli dishes! Although there are those random times when an ingredient is missing, like on the last visit.

DEEP FRIED QUAIL WITH SPICY SALT ($6.45).

The quail tastes extremely dry and not flavourful at all. In addition, although not over deep fried… the meat tastes really chewy and tough.

3 3/4LB CREAM AND BUTTER SAUCE CRAB ($10.99/LB).

The crab tastes fresh as well as meaty, and the sauce tastes properly made with a nice flavourful creamy and buttery taste. The cream and butter flavours are well balanced and not one or the other tastes overpowering. CNK also makes a pretty good spicy salt and chilli crab.

POSITIVES

- Above average eats

- Reliable late night restaurant 

- One of the better tasting congees

NEGATIVES

- Sometimes spicy and salt dishes are inconsistent

- If sharing tables are not your thing...

- Service may not always be attentive

LITTLE THINGS

- First post on Congee Noodle King [here]

- Four revisit posts on Congee Noodle King [here]

Food: 3.5/5 (quail 1.5/5)

Service: 2.5/5