For the area, this is quite authentic. Housed inside Urbanspace Vanderbilt at the corner is their stall. I knew what kind of prices I would see when I go to Urbanspace Vanderbilt. For this spot, delicious food, fast and efficient service, and reasonable pricing (though on the higher end) for lunch in the area. Flavorful. I've been here 5 times and will continue to come here. I've gotten their poached chicken over rice, roasted chicken over rice, and mixed (poached/roasted) chicken over rice. All delicious and all reasonably sized and made. You cannot compare this place to Chinatown because let's be honest, the rent in Chinatown and here is vastly different. For what you get here, it's great. If you are trying to be budget friendly, maybe sign up for MealPal? read more

Lou Yau Kee - Mixed chicken rice - delicious - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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Did a Takeout once, it was OK. Not amazing compares to some places in Chinatown. It definitely added some options to the area. Location was pretty difficult to find if you used google map. read more

Tucked away in the back corner of Vanderbilt Food Hall is this homage to Hainanese Chicken and Rice. I've come a few times, and each time I'm happy after finishing my meal. They offer standard poached chicken, roast chicken, lemon fried chicken, and mixed (half poached/half roast), and also a shredded chicken rice porridge. Each chicken meal comes with a cup of broth, three sauces, vegetables, and a mound of rice. Because it's in a food hall it can get loud, and seating is at a premium during the lunch rush. Be ready to wait for a table to open up if you're looking to stay. Service is quick, and there usually isn't too much of a wait for the food even when there is a long queue. read more

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One of the nicer surprises when Jamie W and I were traipsing through Midtown East was finding this Hainan chicken rice purveyor near Grand Central. We had never been to Vanderbilt Market, a bustling food court with a variety of enticing offerings. This business caught my attention on Google Maps. The description wasn't clear about its exact location, but being in the mood for poached chicken, we were properly motivated to hunt it down. It turned out to be a standalone stall wrapped with pictures of their specialty dishes. Just like a Chinatown business, there were raw and roasted whole chickens hanging on display. They offer chicken not only poached but also roasted and lemon fried as well as rice porridge with shredded chicken and Chinese cabbage in oyster sauce. Quite a choice, but it was a no-brainer to go for the $17.80 Poached Chicken Rice (Photo 6). It was definitely the real thing - a generous portion of plump, succulent poultry fully cooked, steeped in chicken flavor, and sliced in manageable pieces. It came with Chinese broccoli, fried onion bits, cucumber slices and of course, the chicken rice and a cup of the chicken broth (Photo 8). We recently traveled to Malaysia and went to the hawker stands, so we know when it's done right. This was done right. We noticed they run out of chicken early on busy days, so don't dawdle. FOOD - 4 stars...Hainan chicken rice done right AMBIANCE - 4 stars...busy market - but there's a separate seating area if you want more quiet or space SERVICE - 4 stars...quickly efficient TOTAL - 5 stars...definitely one to bookmark for frequent return visits RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's my collection of bars and restaurants l've patronized and reviewed: https://yelp.to/FQHzGuImA2 read more

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If you're craving Hainanese chicken rice, this spot which is surprisingly tucked in a random food court near a residential building is worth a visit. The classic poached chicken is the highlight -- succulent, tender, and well-executed, just as it should be. The chicken rice is fragrant and aromatic, clearly cooked with care and full of flavor, which really elevates the dish. They also offer a lemon fried chicken option. While it's crispy and enjoyable on its own, the lemon flavor doesn't quite come through, and the frying ends up masking the natural chicken essence that makes Hainanese chicken rice so special. I'd recommend sticking with the poached version if it's your first time here. Condiments are done right: you get the ginger scallion sauce, red chili sauce, and sweet soy sauce, just like you'd find at Singapore hawker centers. Each sauce complements the chicken well and lets you customize every bite. Overall, a solid place for authentic flavors, especially if you're a fan of traditional Hainanese chicken rice. pro-tip: consume the rice on the same day of purchase, it doesn't quite hold up the following day read more

Located in the very busy Urbanspace Vanderbuilt food hall, there can be quite the line here. For the cost, expected more chicken, and also more ginger sauce for the chicken. You get a small broth soup, veggies (the cucumber should be doused in more sauce in my opinion) and the Hainanese chicken sauced rice was good with the red sauce and ginger. A filling lunch. The congee was a good size. Chopsticks and utensils are self-service. Some issues - We asked for black vinegar for the congee... and they gave us spicy sauce and the ginger sauce. Guess no black vinegar. They also messed up my order when taking it ... had to fix that before I paid by pointing it out twice, and then they input it correctly finally. Seating shared with the other vendors so no guarantee of one in the area unless you get there early. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Sign - simple menu - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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I'm always on the hunt for Singaporean food, especially chicken rice because it is such a staple. Lou yau kee did not disappoint with its portion size, the roast chicken was juicy, with a generous portion of beansprouts, veggies, and chicken. The only disappointment was the flavor of the rice, it did not fully hit the spot for me (but I'm Singaporean and the rice for me is the most important flavor). However, still very solid and I love that they gave ginger, chili, and dark sauce, and a cup of soup too for ~$20. Can't justify the price for chicken rice in NYC but that's just how it is in the city. If I'm ever having cravings, I'll be back! read more

Lou Yau Kee - 2.Roasted chicken rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

My concerns about this wonderful Chinese chicken over rice shop closing their Union Square location are now assuaged because they've popped back up inside the Urbanspace on Park and 46th. Instead of NYU students, you can expect office workers lining up for lunch, but they move relatively fast. I like the lemon fried chicken rice because the skin is crispy, the meat is tender, and the chili sauce makes for such a great flavor combo over rice. The sliced tomatoes and cucumbers add a refreshing bite to what might otherwise feel somewhat heavy. It's the perfect quick lunch, replete with a tasty protein and perfectly cooked rice. Hainanese chicken fans, this is the place. read more

Located in Urbanspace food hall, Lou Yau Kee satisfies any Hainese Chicken cravings! They have different kinds such as soy sauce chicken or your classic Hainese Chicken option. You can ask for ginger scallion sauce and other sauces on the side. It can be hard to find spots to sit especially during lunch/dinner time, but overall a worth it recommendation. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Poached Chicken Rice (Reg) - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

One of the better things to eat in Union Square area that is not so touristy. I appreciate that it's located in an Urbanspace so if you wanted to try other foods, that would definitely be an option. They unfortunately don't give any sort of buzzers to indicate that your food is ready so you just have to keep an eye on the counter. They ran out of Roasted Chicken Rice because their fryer broke so I ordered the Poached Chicken Rice. The rice itself was delicious, although a bit hard, as there were a lot of chicken broth flavor. I also really enjoyed the bok choy they had in there. The soup was also delicious as it had a strong white pepper taste and it was so comforting to drink. The chicken, though, I thought was a bit bland and also tough to chew on. This is a personal preference, but I don't love the skin of the chicken so that combination wasn't my favorite. Overall, not a bad place to eat in Union Square at all! read more

Lou Yau Kee - Poached Chicken Rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

This spot is amazing. The chicken is juicy, tender, flavorful, and perfect with a bit of the dark soy sauce. The rice is infused with the chicken flavor and perfectly cooked. The dish comes with vegetables, wish they put a bit more cucumbers though, and soup. Service is fast and food is ready within a couple minutes. The plaza it's located in can be a bit busy since it's in grand central but has a nice vibe. Over if you're looking for Hainanese chicken would recommend this spot. read more

Lou Yau Kee - 3.Mixed chicken rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

I was really craving some Hainese Chicken and rice and this absolutely hit the spot. It is located in a Urbanspace with plenty of other dining options and tables throughout. Great for if you want to meet up with others who want to eat something else but you can still dine together. I opted for the mix plate - poached and roasted chicken - and it came with rice, veggies, and a broth. Literally upon my first bite I said "Oh yeah it's so good". The broth is very strong, not sure if you are supposed to pour it over the rice or drink it so I dropped a bit on the rice, delicious, and drank it. It was so tasty and perfect for a chilly February afternoon. The ginger sauce is also great!! You really cannot go wrong with the chicken here. They even have the chicken hanging behind the glass like in the Chinese restaurants. I am also jealous that you can get a student discount and get plates for $10, what a bargain. I'll be sure to stop in next time we are in the area. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Mixed plate - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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S suggested this place rather than going to Urban Hawker before attending a Broadway show, since I was already around here picking up meds for my furbaby. So happy they have the roasted chicken like Hainan Jones. Sad that I missed their special when they used to offer BOGO free and when I came it was 50% off, but more recently it was 20%. But hey, can't complain at least they're offering specials. Okay, how does this compare to Hainan Jones? Both delicious, except their portion is more generous and I do love the ginger sauce they offer that HJ doesn't have. My only thing is I consumed tons of liquid after eating here. Not sure if it's the msg, but definitely be prepared for the need to hydrate. On another visit I got to try their congee and it was decent, but I found it a bit salty. Maybe it was a one off and I'll try it again just to finalize my decision to write it off or not. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Roasted Chicken Rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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When it comes to chicken and rice, this spot definitely delivers. Their roasted chicken and rice platter was a standout -- flavorful, satisfying, and generously portioned. I sampled all three sauces offered, but honestly, the dish was great on its own. Whatever they use to season that rice is magic; I might have enjoyed it even more than the chicken (though, to be fair, I have a soft spot for good rice). The chicken itself was juicy and well-cooked. If you're craving chicken and rice done right, this place is absolutely worth a visit. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Roasted chicken and rice. - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

I got the roasted chicken and overall it was good but everything leaned quite salty - both the rice and the broth. It was also priced on the higher end of the~$20. I don't think I'd come back for more. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Located in the Vanderbuilt Market on Park Ave lands this stall selling chicken and rice, a simple and comforting classic. I got the mixed chicken rice plate which comes with roast chicken, poached chicken, yu choy and a ginger/garlic sauce. The rice was super flavorful with hints of sesame oil and garlic. Chicken came deboned (huge plus!) and was very tender. The roast chicken skin was also very flavorful with hints of five spice. 10/10 Every rice plate also comes with a small container of chicken broth to make this even more comforting! Since this is located in a food hall, there is a cafeteria style seating all around that's shared with other stalls. I came on a Monday afternoon and there was no line and seating was easy to find. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Chicken hanging - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

$22 for a large mixed Chicken Rice leaves a lot of room for improvement. While flavorful, this is the first time that I might mention that the Chicken Rice was too flavorful and too saucy. The consistency of the steamed chicken and mixed roast chicken didn't work well together. The roast chicken wasn't crispy. I know we won't get singaporean prices but $22 is not great value for what we got. I came here after seeing the video on TikTok and it's another example of being weary of overhyped videos on TikTok. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Mixed Chicken Rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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I went to this restaurant because it is the only Asian restaurant near my office. The restaurant is near Grand Central Station, a prime location. It offers a few authentic HongKong Kong-style meals with the special chicken rice plate, which comes with roast chicken and veggies. It was so delicious, especially on rainy days. The chicken was tender, and the veggies were as fresh as could be. The rice was cooked perfectly as well. Overall, this is a perfect place to grab something warm and delicious. I will definitely come back. read more

Lives up to the hype! The Hainanese Chicken is indeed tastebud busting silky tender. There are a few shops that lay claim to being the best but Lou Yau Kee is certainly is at the top of the list. This is totally surprising given the setup in essentially a dining hall for NYU students. There is also a lemon crispy and a roasted chicken as well as an alternative options to the Hainanese poached version. Each entree also comes with an addictive aromatic ginger spiced rice, Chinese Broccoli and veggie garnishes including cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. There will also be some sauces including chili, which aren't necessary, but I do like to mix in the sweet soy with the rice. It is pricey per entree but one large entree is essentially enough for two servings or enough to share for $20. If you are a student you may qualify for discounted pricing too. Service was efficient, the wait was a little more than fast food but the quality is much better. read more

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I visited this spot while exploring Union Square! It's located in an eatery that has several other dining options, as well as an outdoor beer garden. I came for lunch on a Saturday, and it wasn't too difficult to find seating. Service was quick and friendly. I had heard a lot of good things about this spot and ordered the large poached chicken (the large just means they add more chicken!) I appreciate that it came as a meal, with flavored rice and veggies (some cooked choy sum, as well as a cucumber/tomato salad). My favorite part of these Singaporean lunches are always the soup though!! It's so good, and I was happy to drink it even in the hot summer. It also came with a selection of three sauces, which were each really delicious to add. Unfortunately, the star of the meal (the poached chicken) was actually a bit disappointing. The chicken, at parts, could be really dry and lacked some flavor. There were some choicier bits with skin, but overall felt like the chicken could have been better (and that I've had better in some Chinatown spots). Overall, it's not a bad pick for a lunch meal for the price, but had some higher expectations for the chicken. read more

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This is chicken is glorious. The sauces are perfection. I always crave chicken rice and when I have the chance to get it, I brace myself because it can be less than my expectations. Lou Yau Kee's is exactly what I expect and crave. It hits the spot in flavor and texture. I prefer the poached over the roasted, but the roasted is better than other's roasted chicken. I can't wait to come back on my next work trip. I've already let my coworkers know! read more

Lou Yau Kee - Mixed Chicken Rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

After reading about it, we tried it while in NYC, the price was good $20 for a large size chicken mix, the poached and roasted chicken were good rice not as fragrant and the chili didnt have a garlic punch or too spicy like the other place. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Mixed chicken rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious chicken rice! Chicken is cooked to perfection--tender and packed with flavor, rice is so flavorful, sauces are on point. I do think Hainan Jones at Urban Hawker is slightly better, but this is pretty delicious if you're in the area. I totally wish I was a student to get their student deals. Love the seating at the food hall. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Glad that there is a solid Hainanese chicken rice around this neighborhood. It is a whopping $20 with tax for a regular combo. They gave a very tiny amount of the roasted chicken part - felt like mainly skin although the flavors were great. Love that they included various veggies and a soup. The three sauces were great additions. It's solid and very filling but a little too expensive (prob due to location). Bathrooms are available in urban space - the code is listed on the receipt. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Combo regular - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

One of my best meals this year !! I grew up eating haianese chicken but honestly it isn't a favorite of mine. I always find it too cold and not bold enough in flavor but it's good cause it's healthy. When I tell you that I had the BEST haianese chicken I've had to date with all the aforementioned flaws rectified !! I got the combo platter of poached and roast chicken. The flavor was BOLD, soooo savory and rich, beautiful oiliness to the skin, silky tender chicken (barely had to chew) and with the addition of the hot, dark soy and scallion sauce WOW just another level. I would add a touch less sauce if I have them again because I didn't expect the chicken to have so much already. The veggies were delicately crunchy. The rice soft, moist, and deeply fragrant from the broth. Gentle crunch from the crispy garlic. Really something else. Can't wait to come back !! read more

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What happened?? This used to be such a solid consistently good joint and now the service is awful! Quality and quantity both inconsistent and gone down so much! read more

Lou Yau Kee - Awful! $24 and there's barely any meat or veggies! Things are much worse since they moved! Who are they hiring? - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Lou Yau Kee is one of many food stalls inside of the UrbanSpace food hall in Union Square. Seeing a poached chicken place gave me a lot of nostalgia since my mom makes this for me when I see her (which isn't much nowadays). So for dinner #2 of Friday night, I decided to give Lou Yau Kee a try! Sadly, they were out of roasted chicken, otherwise I would have tried their mixed chicken combo with rice. POACHED CHICKEN RICE (REGULAR) - 15.80 Each order comes with a big half sphere of chicken flavored rice, lots of poached chicken (with a sweet soy sauce marinade) draped on top of the dome shaped rice, a few stalks of soy marinaded yuchoy with fried garlic, cucumbers and a grape tomato. The chicken was so tender and flavorful. Not quite like my mom's because of the marinade, but overall, hit the spot. The rice was well-seasoned but I didn't really like the overly wet texture. I would have preferred drier rice. The vegetables are always good. Love the garlic. Overall, solid food spot within UrbanSpace. I wish I was able to try their roast chicken though, darn. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Poached Chicken Rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

I love the hainan chicken here! $10 for the student deal is a steal and fills me up just fine. The regular priced meal is probably 1.5-2x the portion size of the student meal. I always get the poached chicken and ask for dark meat. I like that they come with all the sauces (ginger, spicy, dark soy) since I've been to places that only let you pick 1 or 2 and pay for extra. There's a larger rice to meat ratio, but the rice is so flavorful and delicious too. Highly recommend for a quick and casual meal - ample seating in the food court and clean bathrooms. read more

I recently read an article on Eater NY about Lou Yau Kee. It is a new stall at Urban Space food hall owned by Raymond Kiang, the poached chicken master from Singapore aka the former consultant of Hainan Jones. The Hainan Chicken Rice they serve exceeded my expectation. I would say it is so delicious that it's comparable to the good ones in Singapore. ＊ Mixed Poached / Roasted Chicken Rice First, the chicken was chef's kiss. The boneless poached chicken was simmered with a ginger garlic sauce, while the roasted chicken was grilled with a slightly crispy skin. Both were magically tender and silky. There are three dipping sauce served on the side: ginger sauce, dark soy sauce and chili sauce. Ginger sauce basically matches everything without overpowering the meat flavor. Dark soy sauce has a thick body and is on the saltier side, but dipping a tiny bit of it makes the chicken extra flavorful. I usually don't eat much rice. Yet I almost finished all the rice in this lunchbox because it was aromatic and well seasoned with chicken oil. Don't sleep on the complimentary cabbage soup -- the cabbage was boiled till tender and the soup was really flavorful. ***They have a $9.8 chicken rice deal for students. read more

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Saw this place via Instagram where this girl influencer said it was the BEST hainanese chicken she had ever had in Manhattan/NYC. As a self-proclaimed expert on all things Hainanese chicken rice, I decided to go check out this place. Honestly, I was very disappointed and felt like I completely ate a different dish to what this girl had described. Chicken was on the drier side and the rice to meat ratio was significantly too high (think 4 portions of rice to 1 portion of protein). Otherwise, the service was good and quick. That being said, I think i'll go back to Hainan Jones at Urban Hawker. read more

Big portions and quick spot for Hainan chicken rice! A regular size comes to about 16 after tax and comes with veggies and some cucumber/tomatoes, and a flavorful broth that remained hot by the time I walked 10 min back to the office. Def check it out as I think it's better than the urban hawker option and a little cheaper. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Ordered the roasted chicken rice which also came with a small tub of soup. The chicken was good and a generous portion but for some reason the rice was a bit too salty. The soup reminded me of ramen soup and not in a good way... it's a decent spot for chicken over rice in the area. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Roasted Chicken Rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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solid bang for your buck! huge portions and pretty tender/flavorful chicken. obv not the best hainese chicken i've had but for the amount/value/location (aka manhattan) it's very solid. got the half and half steamed roasted chicken. both were good! loved that it came with all the sauces. a bit heavy on rice (perhaps could have more chicken) but overall still good! read more

This place is open right now so i don't know why it says it's closed on Yelp. I really enjoyed their food. My friends and I dined here for lunch today. We bought Lemon fried chicken rice and mixed chicken rice. The portion size was good value for the price. The service was fast; there was no line. Ambiance - the food stall/ kiosk is located inside Urban eatery (food hall). I recommend all to check out this place if you like Hainanese chicken. The chicken was flavorful and tender. The rice and vegetables were good too. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Lemon Fried Chicken Rice - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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I had some time to kill so I thought I would check out the new-ish UrbanSpace over in Union Square. There are a fair number of stalls, and the food options range from sushi to souvlaki bowls. However, the Hainanese chicken over at Lou Yau Kee caught my eye. I ordered the signature poached chicken plate ($14.80), which in my opinion is the best chicken plate out of all of them, though the lemon fried chicken is a close second. It comes with a mound of wildly fragrant rice (albeit a little too salty), which is cooked in stock and rendered chicken oil, boneless poached chicken, and some yu choy and cucumber slices. The chicken was perfectly executed, and the meat was silky and tender. This was truly some of the best poached Hainanese chicken I've had stateside. Personally, I liked that it was boneless but some people may prefer bone-in chicken for flavor. I also would have liked more vegetables; my plate only came with a few stalks of yu choy garnished with a drizzle of a hoisin-like kecap manis sauce and crispy shallots. A regular plate was more than enough to satiate my hunger for two meals-- definitely an excellent deal for a delicious plate! read more

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The poached chicken rice is probably the most authentic in NYC! I used to go to Hainan Jones a lot, but this place gives you a lot more chicken for a similar price. The chicken quality is the same / very similar, so this place wins for sure. The food court is attached to NYU university hall, there are about 10 other food vendors in the food court. read more

Lou Yau Kee - Poached Chicken Rice (large) - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

Got the inside track on Lou Yau Kee thanks to people I love being friends with the owner, and, well, let's just say they deserve every bit of hype they've gotten. It's sad so many people had to discover them through Eater, but better late than never, I guess. Yes, the Poached Chicken is divine for all you Hainan chicken lovers, but the real star of the show is the silky, delectable Roasted Chicken, bursting with soy glory. The Lemon Chicken was crisp and tasty (though not my general cup of tea), while the piping hot Laksa was one of the best I've had (including from two trips to Malaysia). I might be slightly biased on these last two items though, as we got them for free, haha. Oh and the red chili sauce is what I imagine God's chili sauce tastes like. Perfection. read more

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I loved every Single. Grain. Of. This. Chicken. Rice. Mixed Rice Box. Regular (idk how people eat the large bc I was waddling out of there! Perfecto. Rice, soft and fragrant. Boiled Chicken, silky, smooth, tender, mmm. Roast Chicken, smooth, moist, just yum. Crunchy cucumbers. Bouncy choy sum. Great balance of sweet soy and tangy spice. Welcome to Lou Yau Kee! Food Hall right by the NYU dorms, a few steps away from Union Square. Order, get your food and find a seat. Be sure to tip the nice ladies! They prep your sauce so you can enjoy individual containers. No frills. But this rice box... wow. I can't wait to return for seconds... or hit up Singapore! read more

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Came here a few weeks ago, on the hunt for some good Hainanese Chicken. My bf and i tried the Mixed Chicken Rice (Poached Chicken + Roasted Chicken) and the Lemon Fried Chicken Rice. They had a buy one get one 50% off promotion, so we got the large size. The poached chicken was SO tender and I preferred it over the roasted chicken. The lemon fried chicken rice was good - nice and crispy! I normally love the rice but this one was too mushy for me. I also wasn't a big fan of the 3 sauces - the chili, ginger/scallion, and the soy. Regardless, I'd definitely come back for that tender, delicious, poached chicken! Serving size was also big! read more

Lou Yau Kee - Chicken Shop Near Me - New York, New York

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Inside the Urbanspace food hall in Union Square! The Hainanese chicken here is so good and juicy! I got the large "mix" which has the poached one and the roasted one - came out to $22. Pricey but understandable for NYC standards. I was shocked at how good the vegetables were! They came with crispy garlic which was amazing. I also got a canned Yeo's chrysanthemum tea - goes with the rice really well. read more

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