Authentic Hong Kong-style meals in the alleys – the glutinous rice chicken from Harbour City has a delicate lotus leaf fragrance

Text & Photos /Viviyu

Da Lao Er Gourmet Restaurant

Address: No. 5, Lane 66, Section 5, Nanjing East Road, 105
Phone: 02-2763 1802
Business Hours: 10:30–13:30, 17:00–20:00

Perhaps the heavens heard that I hadn’t eaten zongzi this year, so I got the chance to try something similar like glutinous rice chicken. While heading north for a class, Xiao Hu took me to Da Lao Er Gourmet Restaurant near the classroom. Hearing the name of the shop, I really had no idea what kind of food they sold – turns out they specialize in roast meats~ Located near Nanjing East Road, taking a bus might be more convenient. Even if you take the MRT to Nanjing East Road Station, you’ll still need to walk a short distance, though it’ll be easier once the MRT extension opens.

The corner location of Da Lao Er Gourmet Restaurant was already seeing people waiting for it to open at the start of dinner service – business is pretty good.

Hanging at the entrance were roasted ducks, char siu, sausages, and roast chicken legs, making my mouth water just looking at them~

And unlike your average roast meat shop that only sells bento boxes, Da Lao Er feels like you’ve stepped into a Hong Kong-style roast meat eatery – they even serve daily soups.

Roast meat rice, fried rice, pulled noodles, congee, fried noodles, soup noodles, daily soups – so many choices. If only they opened one near my place, how wonderful that would be!

Hong Kong-style Glutinous Rice Chicken $90
The glutinous rice chicken, wrapped in lotus leaves, exuded a delicate and fragrant lotus aroma as soon as it was served.

The fragrance of the glutinous rice wafted through the air, with salted egg yolk and cured meat mixed in the middle, offering a uniquely fragrant texture.

Roast Duck Leg & Roast Chicken Leg

Roast duck legs are limited in supply, so you really have to get there early to try them. However, the duck leg I had that day was a bit dry, and I could barely taste the juices. Personally, I prefer the honey-glazed chicken leg, whose middle is juicier and more flavorful.

Cured Sausage
I thought I was ordering a cured sausage platter, but it turned out to be all the same type. Though it was pretty tasty, eating too much of it can get a bit boring…

Beef Pulled Noodles

I’ve never been too keen on pulled noodles, always feeling like I’m eating instant noodles. But maybe it’s because I missed Hong Kong so much, the texture of these noodles this time was actually quite smooth, and the beef chunks were tender and well-cooked – the flavor was really good.
This visit to Da Lao Er Gourmet Restaurant wasn’t exactly mind-blowing, but for such an affordable price, being able to enjoy authentic Hong Kong-style meals without flying to Hong Kong is truly great value.
 

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