Zhenjie is a chicken rice shop popular with Guangzhou locals. It is a good place to experience the iconic Cantonese white cut chicken 白切鸡 in its home ground.
The free range birds are poached and simmered in a large pot of water at just below 100°C.
They slot a small porcelain bowl in the cavity. The shop owner said this shapes the bird, making it look fuller and also makes it cook more evenly.
The cooked chicken are quickly transfered to a tray and rushed to the shop window, steamy hot. The cooked birds are not given the cold water or ice water bath treatment.
The hot birds are given squirts of peanut oil which are rubbed over the yellow skin.
Golden birds gleaming in the evening sun. They fly off the hooks very quickly. So, even though Zhenjie opens at 5pm, I suggest coming here early..., like 4:30pm.
Zhenjie is a hyperlocal kind of food shop. No decor to speak of. Folding tables and stackable stools (no back support). Passable cleanliness. But, people come for the delicious food and it is always full house 😁
The chicken is sold by weight (the way it usually is in China). They still often use the traditional daching weighing scale. In 2024, chicken costs RMB40 per katty (500 grams) at Zhenjie.
The golden yellow bird is hacked / chopped into large chunks, the Cantonese way.
As you sit and eat, you will hear the regular hacking sound in the background 😂
The chicken come dressed with scallion and parsley but no sauce.
The yellow skin is velvety smooth and soft. It has the taste and aroma of chicky sweetness. Locals like to be able to taste the natural flavours of the fresh ingredients.
The meat is soft tender loaded with juice which bursts out, with every bite carrying with it delicious savoury sweet flavours. There is a subtle chewiness to the bite which locals like.
Perfect to go with the chicken meat.
Here at Zhenjie, the sauce they provide is a mixture of soy sauce, diced garlic, ginger, birds eye chili and peanut oil.
When you visit Guangzhou, do take the opportunity to experience chicken dishes here. It is delicious. Singapore Hainanese chicken rice is heavily influenced by Cantonese white cut chicken.
Restaurant name: Zhenjie Cafe 珍姐美食店(福建街店)
Address: 79G5+CVX, Fujian St, Chikan District, Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, China, 524035 中山街道福建街12号(四小大门右侧)
Hours: 5pm
Written by Tony Boey on 16 Feb 2025
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