Review:
Crikey Moses! I didn’t sleep for two nights after I ate at Mau Kee in Pui O, South Lantau. As you can probably tell, I finally had a weekend in Lantau last week, and it was after my visit to Dai Long Wan, and discovered the Island Club that my hiking partner and I finally found ourselves in Pui O just in time for an early dinner last Sunday. It had been a beautiful day, one of those that makes you wonder in amazement (but praying it stays that way) why you’d only seen 4 other groups of people out on the trails of this wonderful island.
Food: A mind boggling menu. Everything from chicken a la king, steak and chips through chicken and sweetcorn soup, to salt & pepper squid. We opted for Cantonese and had chicken and sweetcorn soup which came with a garnish of diced savaloy (enough for 12 and I was praying it was corn starch that had given it the consistency of snot), beef and celery – (very tasty, but super salty), chicken with chilli and peppers (tasty and hot), and some Yangchow fried rice (tasty).
Flash forward one hour and I was itching like a mofo, and sweating buckets. Flash forward another 6 hours and I still couldn’t get to sleep properly. Flash forward another 3 hours and I had the most horrendous nightmare I have ever had that actually made me so distraught I couldn’t go back to sleep and made me start shaking when I told my boyfriend about it.
Boyfriend also complained about disturbed sleep. So, me thinks, maybe a soupcon too much MSG…
Ambience: Village restaurant, everything you would expect: noisy, TV’s blaring, people shouting, bamboo chairs, i.e. the usual, (The only slight issue I had was with the dog that they allowed customers to bring in and wander up to diners. Somehow if it’s an outdoor restaurant I have no issue with this, but indoors? I just think it’s a bit rough).
Service: Staff were friendly and attentive, no issues there.
Price: Decent price, what you’d expect. Dishes from $20 to $70 ish.
Location: Opposite the first bus stop that you get to when you are properly in the village of Pui O from the direction of Mui Wo, Lantau, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2984 1151
I tell you what, if you are sensitive to MSG, this little restaurant is definitely not a destination for you. Holy Bloody Moly it was a full-on 36 hour trip! I thought the drugs were bad but MSG is a whole different ball game. Mau Kee? Never.Ever.Again.
Its a great little resteraunt which caters to a local (chinese and non chinese local) clientel mainly and is always full , I eat there a lot and have to say have never had anything like this reaction , and neither have any of the other people i know who go there so sorry you didnt feel well
It sure is popular, it was packed that Sunday. Maybe it was one particular dish that set it off. As I say, the food was tasty (if a bit salty), but I just can’t take that chance! Some people are just more sensitive than others…
I’m a local frequenter of the Mau Kee along with my family. I’m also sensitive to the addition of MSG in food but I must admit I’ve never had a bad experience/reaction to their food. I always stick to the Canto menu but the place is always popular and I’m always amazed by what people order from the (over) extensive menu. Good, solid local Chinese fare with friendly service. Never seen a customer’s dog inside and I agree that this is bad form and not to be tolerated….especially with the mangy mutts of South Lantau!