Kee Kee Bentong Chicken Rice is Very Good Value

Post by Chiefeater VK

It must have been more than 10 years since I last ate at Kee Kee Bentong Chicken Rice.

The stall itself goes back much further. Kee Kee has been operating since 1992, so it has now been around for more than three decades. The next generation is running the place today, yet judging by the crowd, its popularity hasn’t disappeared.

We ended up sharing a table with a young couple who probably weren’t even born when I first started eating here.

Golly, I am old.

Jen ordered a Chicken Rice (RM10) for each of us, then added Chicken Innards (RM10) and Taugeh (RM4). As though that wasn’t enough, she ordered egg tofu and fishballs from another operator in the kopitiam.

Our table was soon overrun by food.

The fishballs arrived first. When I saw them, my immediate thought was that they looked almost like little balls of burrata because they were so white.

Texture-wise, they were really springy.

The egg tofu was very smooth and quite enjoyable too. It came topped generously with minced meat, although the choy poh in the topping wasn’t really to my taste. Jen liked it, so that one comes down to personal preference.

Then the chicken rice arrived.

The taugeh was excellent. The sprouts were fat and crunchy, giving them that satisfying crisp bite I look for in good bean sprouts.

The chicken itself came in a decent-sized portion for RM10 and tasted good.

There was one problem.

It was cold.

In fact, the taugeh was warmer than the chicken.

Cold poached chicken isn’t automatically unusual, particularly when chickens are cooled after poaching to stop the cooking and preserve their texture. Kee Kee has previously been noted for using a cold-water step after cooking. But regardless of technique, the temperature of the chicken on this visit didn’t work particularly well for me. The breast meat that was also quite rough.

The rice was another weaker point. It had the right colour, but not as much fragrance as I would have liked.

The portion of chicken innards was enormous. There was no chance we were finishing that together with everything else on the table, so most of it ended up being doggy-bagged.

And then there’s the soup.

Kee Kee still does it the old-fashioned way: self-service and free. Our soup had dates and corn in it, producing a mildly sweet broth that was easy to drink alongside the meal. The self-service soup has been part of the Kee Kee experience for years.

By the end of lunch, I hadn’t even managed to finish my chicken.

More than a decade after my last visit, some things at Kee Kee have clearly changed. A new generation is behind the business.

But the thing that hasn’t changed – people are still coming in droves. Part of the reason, I think, would be the good value it still offers. RM34 for the 2 plates of chicken rice, a plate of taugeh and a big plate of innards and portions so generous, we doggy bagged and had it for dinner.

After more than 30 years, that probably tells you what you need to know about Kee Kee Bentong Chicken Rice more than anything else.

Soup Rules
Each pax of meal order is only inclusive a bowl of soup and a plate of chili. Please use the same bowl and plate for free refilling. Extra charges of RM2.00/each for soup and chili respectively will impose for non-compliance.

Pricing

Chicken Rice – RM10.00 × 2 = RM20.00
Chicken Innards – RM10.00
Taugeh – RM4.00
Soup – Free
Egg Tofu & Fishballs – RM21.80
Drinks – RM7.00 × 2 = RM14.00

Total: RM69.80

MVX Summary

MVX Score: 7.5/10

M – Meal Value
RM10 gets you a decent-sized plate of chicken rice, while RM10 bought such a large portion of innards that we had to take the remainder home. The free self-service soup remains a nice touch. The cold chicken and relatively subdued rice stopped the meal from scoring higher.
Score: 8.0/10

V – Venue
This is an old-school, busy neighbourhood kopitiam. Sharing tables when it gets crowded is part of the experience rather than an exception. Functional, nostalgic and clearly still popular, but comfort isn’t the reason you come here.
Score: 6.5/10

X – X-Factor
A chicken rice business that has survived since 1992 and still draws crowds has earned some distinction. The fat crunchy taugeh, generous portions and self-service soup also help preserve the character of eating here.
Score: 8.0/10

Business Hours

Open Daily
10.00 am to 03:00 pm

Editor’s Note

Chiefeater VK paid for this meal himself and reflect this own preferences.