My good buddy "JohnL" has been taking some good natured ribbing from me ever since he recommended the Pho at the now defunct Seafood Island. But being the great guy that he is, he still hasn't stopped giving me recommendations. His latest recommendation was from a familiar place; Noble Chef, which I must have posted on a good half dozen times. And still, I hadn't noticed Hainan Chicken Rice on the menu, which John said was really hood. Goes to show, you never know......
I'd been here numerous times and I don't even recall seeing that on the menu. In fact, the first time I went looking for it, I missed it completely and ordered the Chicken in Ginger-Scallion Sauce ($7.75), which was a pretty good sized dish.
This texture of the chicken wasn't to my liking. The Missus calls this "dead" texture, rubbery and over cooked. In fact, this was par cooked ahead of time and then instead of a gently heating, just cooked to death. The sauce was a simple sweet soy that they have in squeeze bottles on the table, somewhat like ketsap manis. Overall, not a great dish, heck not a good dish....
On my out I took a closer look at the menu and....slap to the head, there it was Com Ga Hai Nam, just a couple of lines down the menu! More than a bit angry at myself, I returned at the first possible chance, a couple of days later and ordered the Hai Nam Chicken Rice ($6.55):
I gotta say, this was a good maount of food for the price. But alas, the chicken was pretty much the same as the previous dish I had. It was just too rubbery and dry for my taste. The rice was terribly dry, I believe it to was sitting in the fridge for a bit too long. Not enough chicken flavor to keep my interest either.
Even the ginger-scallion sauce was off, being way too salty. This isn't a very difficult sauce to make, but in this case it seemed like the person making this didn't even taste it.
Overall, these two meals were a bit of a bummer. And my thought that you'd pretty much have to go to a place that specializes in Hainan Chicken Rice in order to get the turnover and quality control right still holds true. A couple of days later I saw JohnL and gave him a bit of a hard time. "Ahem, Johnny....man, i can't believe you actually recommended that to me!"
"Oh-uh..... I guess that's strike two!"
The Noble Chef
6159 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92111
(858)278-8688
Is there anywhere in San Diego that does a good Hainan Chicken Rice? I can make it at home, but I'm usually too lazy to do it properly.
Posted by: Fred | Friday, 14 October 2011 at 08:08 PM
OMG, again? I have to try it to see for myself.
Posted by: TFD | Saturday, 15 October 2011 at 02:46 PM
Wow! That's too bad! I like Hainan Chicken a lot, but I'm with you, if it tastes or looks rubbery, forget it. Hmmm...think you need friends with better taste! lol
Posted by: CandiRae | Saturday, 15 October 2011 at 05:40 PM
Lol John!!! I love Hainan chicken. There's a place in OC, but it's not good anymore.
Posted by: Yummieyummy | Sunday, 16 October 2011 at 01:52 AM
bummer.
Posted by: kat | Sunday, 16 October 2011 at 03:08 AM
Strike 2! Lol!
Posted by: Johnny | Sunday, 16 October 2011 at 12:54 PM
Man. Our friend made the best HNC for our Labor Day beach party at Torrey Pines. Then again, it was at the beach. :)
Posted by: Janfrederick | Sunday, 16 October 2011 at 02:03 PM
Hi Fred - I haven't found a decent version here yet.
Hi TFD - Yes, again......please check it out and let me know.
LOL CR!
Hi YY - I think you really have to specialize in this to make it right.
Double Bummer Kat!
One to go John!
Hi Jan - That sounds great.
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 17 October 2011 at 06:48 AM