Hong Kong-style zi char is having a moment in Singapore: Mong Kok celeb haunt Ju Xing Home recently set up an outlet here, while another new restaurant called Hey Kee is opening next Jan 5.

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Dai pai dong dishes

Located at the former Singapore Badminton Hall at Guillemard Road, the restaurant specialises in dishes usually served at Hong Kong’s dai pai dongs — the no-frills, open-air hawker stalls which are a vanishing part of the city’s heritage.

The menu includes the iconic HK dish, Stir-Fried Typhoon Shelter Crabs ($98/kg), Sautéed Beef Tenderloin with Black Pepper & Potatoes and Stir-Fried Australian Lobster with Crispy Vermicelli ($148/kg). There are other home-style HK dishes too, like Temple Street Crispy Roast Chicken ($22.80 for half, $39.80 for whole), which is air-dried for 12 hours, deep-fried and coated with spices, Braised Lamb Stew with Beancurd Skin ($42.80), Supreme Soy Sauce Fried Hongkong Noodles ($12.80), and the Hey Kee’s Signature Claypot Live Seafood Porridge (seasonal price), where you can choose your own fresh ingredients from the live seafood station in the restaurant and have ’em added to your congee. A rendering of the upcoming Hey Kee restaurant

The owners

It’s not entirely a coincidence that Hey Kee serves live seafood; its co-founder is popular zi char restaurant Yang Ming Seafood’s owner Keith Kang. He teamed up with Reuben Chua, who brought Chinese restaurant chain Yun Nans to Singapore, to set up shop.

Their spacious eatery is done up to resemble an old-school banquet hall in Hong Kong, with posters of Bruce Lee and Chow Yun-fat, a distinctive mosaic tiled floor, wet market-style red lampshades, neon signage, jade green laminated tables and retro upholstered chairs like what you’d find in mahjong parlours.

Private dining rooms

Similar to some Chinese banquet-style restaurants, there are also private dining rooms here to accommodate large groups, decorated to look like a Hong Kong dweller’s living room.

Barber shop

There is also a barber at Hey Kee, though you can’t get your haircut there. The old-timey salon is just there for customers to take photos, ’cos these days you haven’t truly visited a restaurant until you post a TikTok video about it, right?

The details 

Hey Kee opens Jan 5, 2024 at the Former Singapore Badminton Hall, 102 Guillemard Rd, #01-01, S399719. Facebook, Instagram

Photos: Hey Kee

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