Chen has been selling chicken rice at Restoran Damai Kopitiam since 2001. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
Chicken rice is a Malaysian favourite and fans of the dish are hardly ever short of good options.
Kuan Kee Chicken Rice at the entrance of Restoran Damai Kopitiam in Bandar Damai Perdana, Cheras in Kuala Lumpur, has been popular with families for 21 years.
Stall operator Chen Kun started selling chicken rice in the Imbi area of Kuala Lumpur in 1986.
He also operated in Bukit Anggerik, Kajang, before settling down in Cheras in 2001.
Chen and his wife Cindy Lee dish up a wide variety of selections like char siew (barbecued pork) and siew yoke (roast pork) aside from Chen’s famous roasted and poached chicken.
The couple also serve different soups daily for customers looking for a hot broth to accompany the rice.
Chen prepares everything himself, including the sauces, rice and soup.
“My chicken rice is special because I roast the chicken over charcoal.
“This helps to maintain that juicy taste,” he said.
One of my personal favourites is the classic roasted chicken rice topped with bean sprouts and cucumber slices, drizzled with Chen’s home-made sauce. It is also served with chilli sauce.
The meal is so wholesome – from the juicy meat to the home-made sauces.
Customers can also order a boiled egg to go with it.
When Chen was still selling chicken rice in Imbi, he would use traditional food-grade paper packaging instead of plastic containers.
He said some of his customers asked him to keep using the traditional paper wrapper as they felt the meat would taste better because the tightly packed rice soaked up the meat flavours more effectively.
“I am always happy to see my old customers bringing their children and then their children bringing the third generation of the family. It warms my heart.
“Decades ago, there were some schoolboys who frequented my stall.
“Now they are married and they still come to my stall,” he highlighted.
Chen said the Covid-19 pandemic did not affect his business as the kopitiam was the only one in the area that was still operating during the movement control order period.
He received plenty of orders, requiring him to roast 20 chickens a day.
Until today, he is still getting plenty of orders with help from a food delivery partner.
However, he has no plans to expand his business.
“We are both happy living a simple life with our children,” he said.
The stall is located along Jalan Damai Perdana 1/8B.
Business hours are from Mondays to Sundays between 8.30am and 2.30pm.
It is closed on Fridays every second and fourth week of the month.
For details, call 012-358 6050.
Chen has been selling chicken rice at Restoran Damai Kopitiam since 2001. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
A customer favourite is barbecued pork and roast pork topped with bean sprouts and Chen’s special sauce.
Kuan Kee Chicken Rice at the entrance of the restaurant in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
