We Went to Hong Kong’s Number 1 Clay Pot Rice Spot | Street Eats | Bon Appétit

Professional chef Lucas Sin visits Hing Kee, a legendary Hong Kong street food outpost serving crispy clay pot rice for the past 43 years. Go behind the scenes and into the kitchen where master chef Chan Kwok Fai prepares 20 orders at once, keeping the flames high and the fresh ingredients flowing. Then, sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor as Lucas breaks down the remarkable aromas, flavors, and consistency you can only find with clay pot rice.
Follow Lucas at @lucas.sin / lucas.sin
Director: Joe Pickard
Producer: Ali Inglese
Director of Photography: Nic Ko
Editor: Louis Lalire
Host: Lucas Sin
Line Producer: Jen McGinity
Production Manager: Janine Dispensa
Production Coordinator: Elizabeth Hymes
Assistant Camera: Walter Lai
Audio: Hanley Chu
Researcher: Vivian Jao
Post Production Supervisor: Andrea Farr
Post Production Coordinator: Scout Alter
Supervising Editor: Eduardo Araújo
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
Graphics Supervisor: Ross Rackin
Graphics: Léa Kichler
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ABOUT BON APPÉTIT
Bon Appétit is a highly opinionated food brand that wants everyone to love cooking and eating as much as we do. We believe in seasonal produce, properly salted pasta water, and developing recipes that anyone can make at home.

[@beachesandcream27]

Lucas’ enthusiasm is infectious. I love how he highlights other people’s talent. Amazing!

[@jimmyquck]

I was going to say the same thing! It's infectious! He's geeking out in the best way

[@BALLSOHARDU]

LUCAS NEEDS HIS OWN SHOW!!!! AND PLAYLIST! HE IS YOUR NEW FACE FOR ALL THINGS ASIAN FOOD!!!!

[@BALLSOHARDU]

BON APPEITIE!! GET THIS GUY WITH MC JIN!!!!!!

[@ZeroTwo-it4bm]

He is my favourite Nd think he brings lots of enthusiasm!! Trying to find more videos of him 😀

[@Noob___Noob]

bruh... it's just 煲仔飯.

[@Vablonsky]

Lucas's understanding of claypot rice propels this episode, and the commentary is spectacular and on the next level. He knows the technique, the science of the preparation. And, then, there's the unbridled enthusiasm. In the end, chefly insights turn into sheer fandom. Wow!

[@richybooo7415]

well said.

[@catchnkill]

The secret is that this restaurant is very famous. There are several one hour TV shows for it already. No secret here because everything has been shown in those TV shows before.

[@jw6451]

@@catchnkill you forgot to add "in HK", no one outside of hk and the hk diaspora knows anything about this place and people rarely know about clay pot rice. Lucas is trying to spread positivity and knowledge about hk food n culture. what are you trying to do?

[@Lambyyy]

@@jw6451 This place is vastly overrated though, look at the reviews. Plenty of better options for clay pot rice.

[@KamoteCueBBB]

Nah he just talking fancy words😊

[@jakehuang3545]

Lucas NEEDS his own channel. He's too good to just pop up in random videos once in a while (but yes, I understand he has an actual job running a restaurant)

[@IsaiasR79]

I think he enjoys the peace of mind to do things when he has free time and engage in ideas rather than create. Creating your own ideas and content is exhausting

[@IdentifiantE.S]

Taking care of a channel is not for everyone, he surely prefers to stay quiet

[@rektl2036]

Hes the main featured chef in one of the other channels, but not many visit it. 😂 Always find these comments funny. Though granted those are of him cooking and less Antony bourdain style travelling to eat

[@algernon5776]

I wish more people realized that those small cafes in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 are world class culinary experiences. I've been lucky enough to travel there many times and have that experience & maybe NYC or LA simulate that HK food experience but there is only one Hong Kong. Glad it's back open

[@hunkypenguin]

sadly a lot of the world class chefs have moved back to europe after the revolts & new gov

[@ccwatch]

Actually I think there are still many world class chefs in Hong Kong

[@Western_Decline]

Luckily Hong Kong returned to the Chinese people and is no longer colonized ,@@hunkypenguin

[@bossman674]

‘No oil’. Chinese food is the most complex, and satisfying food (imo) on this planet. So many components can go into one dish, many of which are fermented, cured, aged etc. The level of umami is just something else. It’s so deceptively complicated, and the flavours are crazy good… saluted!

[@nvue9887]

Lucas is so articulate with describing the dish that it makes the dish that much more appetizing!

[@Leonardoadelima]

More Lucas please

[@debragee4269]

I agree - more Lucas please!! ❤️

[@alyssatheexcellent]

YES PLEASE!!!

[@ropro9817]

Right? I don't know why he doesn't have his own channel... 🙏

[@habiebiee1]

always support a true HongKonger! ❤

[@OptimusWombat]

@@ropro9817 my guess is that doing t this way allows him to do stuff selectively and to his own pace, without the pressure of constantly churning out new content.

[@junethanoschurchill6750]

Love to see a Cantonese guy with this kind of enthusiasm and the platform to share Canto culture

[@dzurisintube]

I love how he asked the server for a recommendation on which of the beef styles she liked better and she was like "oh no ya don't!..we have both...which one do you want." This directness and sense of urgency is part of the charm of this style of cuisine.

[@MrMonkeyJuices]

I thought that was a pretty great part too. I like asking what the server/chef likes most, it's nice to have a change and them tell you whatever you like. Can tell she's been doing it a long time too

[@knlei1]

cuz it really be personal preference

[@BigTymers1211]

Not just the style of cuisine, its how Hong Kongers live their lives. People might mistaken our directness and urgency as rude (similar to Dutch people), but that's how we do things: Hurry up so we can do more things afterward. But Lucas is smart to always ask the locals what they recommend, since some items might not be on the menu and only the waiters know. Funny Titbit: the diners in the restaurant knows Lucas is not local Hong Konger (hence a lot of staring/looking at him at times), not because of the camera, but because he's wearing short sleeves in winter in Hong Kong.

[@bobbymoss6160]

LMAO, she gives off the don't waste my time, I'm busy, just pick one and be happy. hahhaha Love it.

[@Cyrribrae]

I WILL NOT BE DRAWN ON THIS WASTE OF TIME!!! lol

[@ghostgirl6970]

I love how chef sticks the order tags by dipping them in water. This is such pro level. And Lucas - I want more travel content! Your videos always feel like a master class of history, culture, and food, and this is like a master class of a master!

[@RaymondHng]

I thought the tags were dipped in water so they won't combust into flames.

[@ghostgirl6970]

@@RaymondHng You can see one fall off at one point and he dips it and sticks it again. It's how he keeps track of what is in each pan and the papers don't have any sticky tape so the water helps it stay in place.

[@aldinlim]

Its water with cornstarch edible glue.

[@Cyrribrae]

Woahh!!!! I did a double take when I saw the thumbnail. YOU GUYS FINALLY GOT LUCAS ON! He's fantastic, cool to see him travelling. That's a new spin.

[@justanotherchick2701]

It warms my heart hearing of these small eats in Hong Kong. It was a huge part of my childhood and I spent my happiest years there. I hope that they will be able to keep their identity forever.

[@pegparrish3512]

This was stunning and the gentleman cooking the clay pots is a genius! Thanks so much to the “Clay Pot Kid” for his awesome description of everything happening and to those who captured it for one terrific video!!

[@knlei1]

clay pot kid lol

[@abhigopal5337]

Lucas does an amazing job in explaining the techniques and flavor. More of him 💯

[@bridgetbai1441]

Would love more Lucas travel content! Really enjoyed his wonton recipes, would be amazing for him to show us the behind the scenes of wonton restaurants!

[@josephsf2452]

@BonAppetit PLEASE give Lucas his own channel. He is the freshest thing to happen in the culinary world, he's intelligent, witty, knows the history and is a great explainer, PLUS he's eye-candy 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@JohatsuSha]

This is not just a Food channel ....This is a cultural documentary that makes me appreciate our planet and I will support this channel till I'm an old man. 👍👍👍

[@Pyroific]

you can tell chef has been doing this awhile that he can cook 20 at once and still be totally calm lol

[@knlei1]

not that hard

[@bobbymoss6160]

@@knlei1 Where's your clay pot rice restaurant?

[@cwg73160]

“lol” I didn’t hear the joke. Also, you forgot to comment about other obvious things that didn’t need to be mentioned like there were people eating at the restaurant, they were eating rice, Lucas hosted the video, and they were in Hong Kong.

[@ah2522]

@@bobbymoss6160 you don't have to open a business for everything you can do

[@ssenjii]

@@cwg73160 why do you sound so butthurt bro let him comment about something that he found interesting lmao

[@ОльгаНовоселова-ш9ч]

Missing Hong Kong’s food so much😭 It was my first asian city 12 years ago during Lunar new year! It was literally a bless! Thank you, feeling insanely comforting watching this video❤️

[@aorikraft4364]

I really don't want to like this guy because of other cooks tv personality, but his love and knowledge of food and nothing else is uncontested. Makes me respect him even more

[@omid-nasi]

I'm Iranian and did think of tahdig. But anyone that eats any form of crispy rice just knows. Any form of crispy rice is going to be amazing

[@eastbayarearesident3631]

I hear family feuds have started over tahdig 😋

[@kevwwong]

This is the correct take.

[@ovh992]

Glad it is a Hong Konger explaining Hong Kong cuisine.

[@BaliCookingschool]

R I kidding me? This is insane! Lucas, you need your own channel. Seriously.

[@napier9979]

Lucas is what has saved BA for me. People like him need to be lifted up!

[@whataderk]

You can see the passion and love for cooking with Lucas. He really geeks out on how the chef made his food, while there is me on the other side of spectrum wishing I was eating as soon as I sit down.

[@hanyello2056]

i like how lucas's accent when speaking english is just a little bit stronger when in the motherland, its the same with me when im out in s.korea

[@heileychan4910]

Welcome to Hong Kong! As a HKer I'm very proud of our food culture :) It's very diverse and creative. I hope more people can try our food (the authentic one)and I promise it's gonna amaze you!!

[@timchan334]

Right but alot of the tradional stuff is dying and there is too much “Fusion” food in HK.

[@jw6451]

@@timchan334 are u joking dude? there has always been tons of fusion in HK and even cantonese cooking. At best just go back to one of the villages in guangdong to get "traditional" stuff

[@realtissaye]

HK cuisine and Guangdong cuisine are the same bro

[@Riabain]

Was born and raised in Hong Kong. I love clay pot rice. But I swear I let out a squeal the moment I saw the oyster pancake at the end. I haven't eaten that in years!!!

[@victoriatrinh8380]

More Hong Kong content please! I've been meaning to travel there and it's nice to get a glimpse and BTS of an eatery. Thx BA!

[@nikserof2183]

Lucas is one of the best on KZbin. No BS; clear explanations and information. (Confession: I want to have his children). 😁

[@alexandrafannydavis342]

more of this please! Lucas is a gift, explaining and describing the food, loved it

[@Becausing]

I have had a crush on Lucas for YEARS. This is the first time I’ve see that dumpy, I’m officially in love. 😍

[@maylto8407]

I love clay pot rice and I love Lucus’ explanations - perfect combo! He’s seriously the best in explaining all the history and technical aspects of cooking.

[@Maui_ma]

He’s my favorite person to watch at the moment

[@user-rn6iz8nj2f]

I’ve been to Hing Kee nearly 10 years ago. It was so delicious… fragrant, smokey, something you really can’t get else where. I’m drooling thinking about it. Gives me so much joy and HK pride 🇭🇰

[@MoChua]

This is one of the restos I never miss out each time I visit HK. I sometimes even go more than 2x depending on how long I stay.

[@divaNR]

after A.T.E’s worth it i honestly would watch a food show like this video with lucas as the host. The way he talks is just enjoyable and he is also informative. 10/10 would watch a similar episode again

[@melaniewong9796]

Got so excited when I saw the title of this video. Love seeing the representation and it brought back a core memory of eating in Hong Kong. More of these videos please!

[@scottmclagan4276]

Over the top presentation, detail, and enthusiasm. Bon Appetit does it again, and again, and again....

[@killkong]

One of my favorite dishes ever. The comfort food of my childhood that I always took for granted how difficult it was for my mom and grandmother to make. Wish it were easier to find outside of NYC.

[@aznstylez1]

yess more HK series !

[@harrycoward1017]

Please let this be a series based in Hong Kong, so good

[@AlanSmith88888]

This dude is a good storyteller

[@D_JIM99]

Love the peek into the amazing skill/craft of the prep /cooking of clay pot rice. I miss the dish and haven’t been in HK for 5 years now. This place is on my list whenever I go back to HK.

[@woodyuyip]

OMG, as someone who hasn't been back in HK since 2020 I MISS THIS PLACE SOOO MUCH 😭😭I need to go back for this and for all my hidden gem baby places

[@sloh722]

I don't think I've ever seen Lucas this enthusiastic

[@itslonelysaram6722]

I really really enjoy the way Lucas review this! His knowledge of the food he's consuming is really what help us viewers to understand why he loves the food so much. Thank you for introducing this place, will put it on my Hongkong's visit list.

[@wendywalsh-pardey9439]

How poetic your are Lucas. Thank you. I can almost smell that soy sauce blend hit the rice and scallions.

[@jintonic01]

I love his excitement and giddiness. So infectious!

[@ninitatsu]

I visited this restaurant last summer while I was in Hong Kong. Hands down one of the best clay pot rice I've had growing up. I ordered the pork and salted fish (it was the mui heong kind, so deliciously good). I need to go back again after watching this video.

[@bcatbb2896]

i love the last comment about making other people feel hungry with the way he eats. i actually do the same thing with my family whenever i eat something good and make that face.

[@noahburt2722]

ayyooo that little text mask on the guy's shirt in the beginning was *chef's kiss* props to the production team.

[@crunchety505]

More Lucas More Hong Kong content!

[@TubeDeviant]

I've never tried clay pot rice in Hong Kong, but my late grandmother made me clay pot rice almost everyday for lunch..!! It's definitely one of the two dishes that I dearly miss.. My favorites: boneless salted chicken w/ginger and preserved sausage, then there's the preserved sausage with preserved pork belly.. and of course, that CRISPY layer on the bottom..!! We would share the rice first and save the crispy bottom for last. She would heat it up over the flame again, add some salt and I would add a few pieces of sausage to it and she would make crispy rice balls..!! It almost brings me to tears thinking about those times.. I really need to start experimenting to try and recreate that perfect clay pot of rice.. Although I don't have a gas stove..

[@sunchildtine]

we want more Lucas videos exploring food in HK & Asia in general.

[@oscartaniii9222]

These lucas videos make me wanna go on a trip so bad 😩

[@sofer23490]

That was, I believe one of the best video food experiences I have ever watched. He understood the assignment.

[@RobustArid379]

Well said. I was there in 88’s and 90’s eating at that restaurant

[@richybooo7415]

definitely want more Lucas traveling episodes

[@TimelesslyModern]

This guy's passion is infectious. He's a new fav! I want to be his friend so bad!

[@wickshawn3994]

I remember in Guangzhou some restaurants use 3-4 types of rice not just one kind of jasmine rice to balance the texture and flavor of rice. So you can enjoy the flavor of rice with not that tough/hard texture of jasmine rice.

[@georgeilo391]

Japan started that style of cooking!!! Since Ever Since!!!!

[@asianmarketsofphiladelphia5784]

Master class on bo zei faan in 10 minutes. Amazing. Lucas is a very gifted chef and educator.

[@broadwaywes]

YES MORE LUCAS!

[@Popcornbeetle]

Cantonese cuisine is a treasure worth preserving and protecting.

[@vdubs17]

I haven’t been to Hong Kong in over 20 years, but I remember this place. Can’t wait to go back.

[@TuckerMcCannon]

Lucas is awesome, I think I've watched his egg roll vid a half dozen times, and tried to make them a couple (very good). I loved the part where he told the story about how he mopped the competition at an annual cookoff with his cheeseburger egg rolls! Killer Chef, keep him on your radar, and lets see more please!

[@ciganyweaverandherperiwink6293]

Videos that showcase and beautifully explain the technique and context behind culinary art, unique food culture are some of my favourite to watch. I love to learn about how things are made as it makes me so grateful, so full of awe. I can appreciate simple things so profoundly and I really love having that capacity. Thank you so much for teaching me and 'wowing' me with this video. Chan Kwok Fai is a master.

[@WayAlpha101]

Great video, please do more videos with Lucas. He's fantastic, and has a natural charisma and interest in food that infects audiences.

[@yin9244]

That's what we call a superman kitchen hero. Easy come order, easy go order. Respect

[@acojsx]

love Lucas's passion and explanation in all his videos

[@popqish]

Just by him describing everything… i am already salivating 🤤

[@proudasiangirl576]

Lucas, I am so jealous of you! I want Clay Pot rice. Thank you for putting a spotlight on this classic dish. I am all of a sudden craving and salivating for it now!

[@KennyLiang]

Keeping calm plus quick efficient handling of the stack of rice pots. Wow. Absolute sifu

[@C4Aries]

Hong Kong had some of the most amazing food I've ever had. I hope one day I'll be able to go back.

[@FoodforThought12345678dsds]

what places did you go to?

[@10abarajas]

Love the subtitles appearing along side people!

[@SopanaLim]

Favourite person on this channel for sure

[@Nosquare]

I love clay pot rice!! I miss Hong Kong so much. Thanks for sharing.

[@CharlieisaRealGolden]

I love watching Lucas talk about food. Yes it does make me hungry!

[@mintchoco5640]

Lucas is a true student of cooking. Love his admiration of the craftsmanship

[@kathypaigex]

Loving this series!!

[@alanathomas961]

His “Call and response” analogy really spoke to me. Poetic. More of him please

[@PhantomxDrive]

Lucas does a really great job in all of the videos I've seen him in. He's really knowledgeable and really enjoys what he's doing.

[@clearskyy]

This was great, totally love to see more Hong Kong delicacies

[@The-Original-Retrogamer]

As a HK resident I can confirm this is one of the best Clay Pot Rice spots in Yau Ma Tei , Temple Street :)

[@florencesim336]

Yes, it is one of the best but can’t agree No.1 in Hong Kong. I ate this restaurant 35 years before. Luckily they are not yet closed. Will visit them when I back to Hong Kong next time.

[@Duneuniverse]

We need more of this guy

[@tinos0330]

Thank you so much locus for sharing this rice pok making. Omg how fai ko could manage to cook so many dishes at the same time 😮 soooo amazing!

[@TS-dw6st]

Always so educational with this dude. Very technical and scientific

[@StephenYuan]

I love Lucas. Great addition, BA.

[@vr0k3n]

This is the best one I've seen in a long while on this channel 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Spanishfutbol2010]

Every culture that has rice dishes loves the crispy layer at the bottom. Koreans love it when you order a dolsot bibimbap, you see it here with clay pot rice and in Spain Valencians have the socarrát which is the crispy layer at the bottom of the paella

[@moochow8437]

So cute, Clay Pot Kid! Thanks for another great episode, Lucas! Totally should have your own HK food show !!!

[@krazysu]

Love this episode! The clay pot dish in HK is one of my favorite food. It’s like an underrated type of dish because it’s not in a posh place.

[@schu-ng4897]

I love the behind the scenes aspect of these videos.

[@louislin9]

Hat off to the chef! Respect!

[@Thinkeatdrink]

Lucas, Chan Kwok Fai, the culture, the flavor...100%!

[@iskate1215]

makes my mouth water! i love hong kong so much!!

[@Case16710]

This was awesome. This chef is a machine. More of Lucas in HK please!

[@leungandrew1026]

Love you Finally see u in HK❤ Shoot more videos in HK plz🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@klimaxsg]

Champs!! Lucas's descriptions make the dish even tastier...!! I'm booking my flight to Hong Kong in the next 5 minutes. More Lucas please... 😂