Why did the chicken cross the road? Well, it didn’t so much ‘cross’ as fly (decapitated, mind you) through gridlocked traffic, in a take-out container bound for the front door of a potbellied man fixing dinner for one. That’s the promise of Rooster King, at least; not only to feed China’s throngs of single, lonely men, but to ensure the fastest delivery service in the Pearl River Delta – and that’s saying a lot.
Positioned on the quieter side of Xingsheng Lu – you know, the one with random clothing shops and Gongcha – this bright orange establishment screams attention with a larger-than-life Transformer positioned under a neon entryway. A portable TV screen has the brand’s promo reel on repeat – live action shots depict fearless deliverymen swerving between cars on electric skateboards, scooters and a blaring, modified BMW.
“That’s our staff,” boasts Mark Zhong, owner of the loud exhaust pipe and co-founder of Guangzhou’s newest roast chicken and barbecue joint. We ask if it’s hard to recruit new workers, presuming they must know how to balance a tray and ollie on a skateboard. “No,” he replies simply. “They just do that on the side.”
The shop’s chic logo, designed by New Zealand native Joe Harris, suggests a strand of contemporary Western, but Rooster King’s close quarters and chopstick-adorned place settings cater more to locals. Half of the menu, too, features street-side Chinese barbeque options you’d find in Baishizhou or historic Liwan, like Chinese chives (RMB28), grilled corn on the cob (RMB10), oysters (RMB88/half dozen), ice fish (RMB68) and lamb ribs (RMB38). Overpriced, sluggishly prepared and unbearably salty, these bites could only warrant a drunken binge over a tower of Budweiser on tap (RMB35/glass, RMB180/tower).
Still, the highlight, as Rooster’s name would have it, is roasted chicken (RMB108/full or RMB68/half), which enjoys the other half of the menu. Each hormone-free bird (born and bred in the legendary chicken land of Qingyuan) is bathed in Greek yogurt to keep the meat tender and juicy. Expertly roasted for around 40 minutes, the chicken is removed from the oven when golden brown and delivered to either plate or doorstep within minutes to ensure maximum freshness. Orders are served with a line of six international sauces: Aji pepper, guacamole, sweet and sour sauce, Sichuan pepper, Hong Kong salty and sour and guiso.
The taste? Let’s just say ordering half a bird for two was a mistake – we easily could have devoured the full, and then some. The pure, white meat is marinated in just the right amount of salt and paired superbly with the Sichuan and Aji sauces, which are truly spicy for a change.
They say don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, but in this case we think Rooster King should focus on perfecting its roast and scrap the BBQ. Only then will those who are too chicken to try something new finally cross the road and dine on Xingsheng’s ‘dark’ side. Because who knows, you might actually find something to crow about.
Price: RMB150
Who’s going: Spring chickens, old hens
Good for: Delivery to your door before you can say cock-a-doodle-do
> For address, see listing.
0 User Comments