Ming Kee Cantonese @ Jalan Imbi

After our first visit, I returned to Ming Kee Cantonese @ Jalan Imbi to specifically try their porridge since that's their speciality (they were known as Ming Kee Porridge after all before the change of name).  CAUTION: Please note that this visit was from long ago (more than a year ago in August 2025...oops!).  I found the post among my unpublished posts coz I actually forgot to publish it but was reminded of it when phonghongbakes posted about Ming Kee's new branch in Damansara Uptown recently...lol!  Oh well, since I've already written it, I might as well publish it!

This visit, however, turned out to be non-memorable as they neither had siu yuk or char siew ready at 9.45 am (there still weren't any when we left an hour later).  How to do business when you miss the morning breakfast crowd?  Apparently they were waiting for the roasted meats to arrive (according to the server) which means the meats are not roasted on site? >_<

At the entrance to the restaurant, there was this fish tank that contained many colourful fish (my photos don't do justice to the beautiful brightly coloured fish)....the only bright spark of this visit...haha!

Since the roasted meats were not ready, other than roast duck and poached chicken, both of my boys went with the same order of Shrimp Wantan Noodle (Dry) @ RM15.40.

The shrimp wantans were excellent just as we had before.  They were plump and filled with a rather large whole prawn (cut into two) with minced pork.  Taste wise, they were fresh and juicy + I like the taste of the soup too.

I came here specifically for the porridge and had wanted to order the Asian Clams Porridge as my first choice but it was not available (when items on the menu start being unavailable, it doesn't bode well for the restaurant).  So I went with the Frog Porridge @ RM16 instead.  I wasn't liking the porridge texture (which is more like Hong Kong-type porridge) which was very gooey.  I prefer mine a little bit more watery with the rice grains well boiled but not blended until it's paste-like.

The frog pieces (I think there were 4 pcs) were fairly large which tells me that the frog was a good-sized one but I could have sworn that the best part (the frog drumstick) was missing though the frog was undoubtedly fresh tasting.  Truth be told, RM16 seems a little low-priced for a bowl of frog porridge, so I guess the good parts must have been reserved for their a la carte dishes of Kung Po Frog and Ginger Spring Onion Frog.

I also ordered a one-pax Roasted Duck @ RM12 for sharing....still moist and tender like the last time though this time I could taste a heavier note of 5-spice powder.

I noticed the place was run by all foreigners and it showed in the presentation of the roasted duck as the breast meat was cut unevenly, some pieces were thinner, some thicker and some thick and thin within the same piece.  I admire the knife skills of local Chinese chefs at roasted meat stalls as they slice with precision.

I almost ordered the Hot Ginger Tea again before remembering it turned out very sweet the last time (and my husband had to finish it for me).  So I went with a Hot Kopi @ RM4.40, remembering to put in a request for less sweet, and luckily it was decent, rather kaw (thick) I must say.

My Personal Opinion

It's safe to say this visit was rather underwhelming with the porridge (their speciality) not registering an approval from my point of view because of its gooey and paste-like texture.

The bright spark of this visit, besides the colourful fish (lol), were the plump and juicy shrimp wantans but not having either siu yuk or char siew ready in the morning will surely deter us from revisiting.  Since this post was fashionably late (lol!), I hope this is a thing of the past and it's no longer an issue now.  Perhaps we may revisit again some day.

Ming Kee Cantonese

No. 19 West Street

Off Jalan Imbi

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-2110 5501