Background

What food can best represent a region or country as a national/region-wide takeaway? Curry in the UK? Pizza in the US? What about Hong Kong? Can you have a guess? Not burgers, fried chicken or pizzas. What is it? Without further ado, let me tell you: it is Siu Mei rice.

什麼樣的食物最能代表一個地區或國家作為國家/地區的外賣？咖哩在英國？美國的比薩？香港呢？你有猜測嗎？不是漢堡，炸雞或比薩餅。它是什麼？不用再說了，讓我告訴你：這是燒味飯。
什麽样的食物最能代表一个地区或国家作为国家/地区的外卖？咖哩在英国？美国的比萨？香港呢？你有猜测吗？不是汉堡，炸鸡或比萨饼。它是什麽？不用再说了，让我告诉你：这是烧味饭。

Siu Mei rice

What is Siu Mei rice?

Siu Mei literally means Cantonese roasted meat. There is always an open kitchen at the storefront where roasted chickens, ducks, gooses, pork and suckling pigs are all hanging neatly by the display window. As per each order, a chef handpicks the meat from the meat hanger, chops it off into slices or chunks with a large butcher knife on a large round wooden chopping board, has a generous scoop of rice or two into a plastic box where meat finally sits over rice.

燒味的字面意思是廣東烤肉。店面總是有一個開放式的廚房，烤雞，鴨，鵝，豬肉和乳豬都整齊地擺在櫥窗裡。按照每一個訂單，廚師從肉架上抓起肉，在一把大型的圓形木質砧板上用大刀把肉切成塊或大塊，然後把飯放入一個盒中，最後燒味坐在飯上。
烧味的字面意思是广东烤肉。店面总是有一个开放式的厨房，烤鸡，鸭，鹅，猪肉和乳猪都整齐地摆在橱窗里。按照每一个订单，厨师从肉架上抓起肉，在一把大型的圆形木质砧板上用大刀把肉切成块或大块，然後把饭放入一个盒中，最後烧味坐在饭上。

Siu mei rice is said to be the recognisable region-wide takeaway of Hong Kong because of its extremely wide availability across the city (uncountable numbers of stalls and joints selling siu mei rice), affordability and generous portion that can keep a person full for a half day. Each box of siu mei rice is usually priced in the region of HKD 35 = USD 4.5.

由於燒味飯能到處買到 (賣燒味飯的攤不計其數)，相對廉價和慷慨的份量可以讓一個人滿足一個人的需求半天。燒味飯的價格通常在35港元= 4.5美元的範圍內。
由於烧味饭能到处买到 (卖烧味饭的摊不计其数)，相对廉价和慷慨的份量可以让一个人满足一个人的需求半天。烧味饭的价格通常在35港元= 4.5美元的範围内。

Siu Mei rice close-up

Tasting

Another laid-back Saturday at home not in the mood for even cooking some noodles for lunch, I walked down to a Chai Lau (Cantonese restaurant) that sells siu mei rice takeaways. My choice of the day was Char Siu (Cantonese roasted pork strips) and Siu Ngo (Cantonese roasted goose) with rice. You can choose a single topping or even two, but it costs about up to HKD10 dollars extra more for a second topping, depending on the choice.

另一個悠閒的星期六在家裡，我甚至沒有心情在午餐時間裡煮一麵，於是我走到了一家銷售燒味飯的酒樓。我當日的選擇是叉燒和燒鵝。你可以選擇一個甚至兩個餸，但根據不同的選擇，第二餸的費用可能高達10港幣。
另一个悠閒的星期六在家里，我甚至没有心情在午餐时间里煮一面，於是我走到了一家销售烧味饭的酒楼。我当日的选择是叉烧和烧鹅。你可以选择一个甚至两个餸，但根据不同的选择，第二餸的费用可能高达10港币。

Char Siu (Roasted pork strips)

My Char Siu had a hint of honey or sweetness in it (the chef brushes honey or sweet soy sauce over it to keep it moist and taste good) and Siu Ngo skin was a bit crispy (the restaurant has an in-house oven for all roasted meat). The whole lunch was meaty but I suggest you not to include siu mei rice to your daily diet. With too much meat without veggies, that is not a balanced diet. ☺

我的义燒有一絲蜂蜜/甜醬油的感覺（廚師在它上面刷上蜂蜜或甜醬油以保持它的濕潤和口感），而燒鵝的皮膚有點鬆脆（這家餐廳有自家烤箱來烤肉）。整個午餐很豐盛，但我建議你不要把燒味飯加入你的日常飲食中。因為沒有蔬菜的肉太多，這不是均衡的飲食。
我的义烧有一丝蜂蜜/甜酱油的感觉（厨师在它上面刷上蜂蜜或甜酱油以保持它的湿润和口感），而烧鹅的皮肤有点松脆（这家餐厅有自家烤箱来烤肉）。整个午餐很丰盛，但我建议你不要把烧味饭加入你的日常饮食中。因为没有蔬菜的肉太多，这不是均衡的饮食。

Siu Ngo (Roasted goose)

Verdict

Siu Mei rice is probably a must for most Hong Kong locals. I do not feel bored with a fulfilling box of Siu Mei rice once in a while.

燒味飯對大部分香港人來說可能是必須的。偶爾吃一個，我不會覺得厭。
烧味饭对大部分香港人来说可能是必须的。偶尔吃一个，我不会觉得厌。

Photos and content are original.

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