Located in Changkat, Kuala Lumpur. Keong Kee Herbal Soup is a restaurant famous for their double-boiled soups. Set on an large open space in front of a carpark (opposite Shaw Parade), the restaurant is basically a shack with a zinc roofing and cement flooring. On the roof, there are a couple of ceiling fans to keep the place cool. Plastic chairs and tables are placed closely to each other, making the space feel messy and cramped.
Keong Kee has been a local favorite for over 30 years. The place is usually packed with diners at peak dining time on a weekend. Thus, I would really recommend you to come early if you hate the long wait. Service was almost nonexistent here, so you have to find and secure an empty seat yourself. We arrived at around 6.30 pm and the place was already packed with people. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait too long to be seated because a family just happened to be leaving when we arrived.
Also, the food at Keong Kee finishes fast. Therefore it is best that you come early if you don't want to be disappointed.
The menu is not extensive because the place does not have a kitchen. Most of the dishes are prepared beforehand, so they could only offer very limited choices. There are a few large steamer to keep the soups warm until ready to serve.
Keong Kee used to serve exotic soups like White Pigeon Soup, Squirrel Soup and Terrapin Soup. However, you can no longer find them in the menu now. The only exotic soup you will find on the menu is Pig Brain Soup.
Chinese Coconut Herbal Soup 椰子炖鸡汤
We ordered Chinese Coconut Herbal Soup, which is one of their signature soups. As its name suggests. the soup is served in an old coconut husk with a generous amount of Chinese herbs and large pieces of chicken meat.
The soup was clear and not greasy with strong herbal taste. I always love double boiled soups because this cooking technique helps to retain every flavor and taste of the ingredients in the soup. Although the soup was rich in taste, it was still a little disappointing because I can barely taste the sweetness of the coconut. However, the meat was surprisingly tender, and fell off the bone easily, making them a delight to eat.
Chinese Chicken Herbal Soup 药材鸡汤
We also ordered their Chinese Chicken Herbal Soup to try. Just like the Chinese Coconut Herbal Soup, it is made with a generous amount of Chinese herbs and large pieces of Chicken meat. The soup was clear and the herbal taste was strong. It was so satisfying and nourishing.
Wild Boar Curry 咖喱山猪肉
Price: RM 8.50 (S) | RM 17 (L)
Wild Boar Curry is another must try dish here. The Wild Boar meat was juicy and tender and the potatoes are delightfully soft. I also love the savory, creamy curry as it goes absolutely well with rice.
Steamed Pork with Salted Fish 咸鱼蒸肉饼
Steamed Pork with Salted Fish was okay, but nothing exceptional. We ordered this because all the other dishes we wanted are sold out.
Pork Belly with Preserved Cabbage 梅菜扣肉
My most favorite dish is Pork Belly with Preserved Cabbage. The pork belly is well-braised in a dark, umami-rich of preserved cabbage and soy sauce until soft and meltingly tender. Mmmm...so good and tasty.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the food was good, but nothing exceptional. Service was pretty fast even though it was packed with people. If you are craving for some warm and comforting Chinese soups, Keong Kee would be a good place to visit. However, I would not visit this place often because I have actually tasted better ones.
Keong Kee Herbal Soup
Jalan 1/77B
Jalan Changkat Thambi Dollah
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Hours: 3.30 pm to 10.00 pm (Closed on Tuesday)
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