Many moons ago, I used to be a broke law student in Den Haag.
That meant that finding affordable places where to enjoy a meal was vital. One location that quickly became a staple was Fat Kee.
Located in Gedempte Gracht 23, Fat Kee doesn’t need intros as its status nowadays is legendary and they deserve it. Located in the city’s Chinatown, the restaurant is situated in a historic area where the first Chinese eateries opened in the 1950’s. They offer Chinese-Cantonese cuisine, with Indonesian and Surinamese options as well.
Not only do they have affordable prices and large portions, they (used to) stay open until very late (1am). When I first arrived in The Netherlands, it was difficult to find places open after 8pm because kitchens would close early, 9pm, and restaurants soon after so I had to order things fast. And, still to this day, I like to take my time.
I say (used to) in brackets because Google says they close at 9:30pm; whereas their website states at 1am. Always best to check.
More than ten years later, one of my favourite dishes to order at Fat Kee is their nasi goreng with egg, ham and meat (ei, ham en vlees). In today’s economy the dish sets you back around EUR7,20 and they give you enough to take back home. Below is a reference. In my uni days (ca. 2017), this would set me back around 5 euros.
The restaurant is always packed, but somehow staff will always find a place for you. Service is fast, so even if you have to wait to be seated chances are that you don’t have to for long.
Yes, their menu is quite big but everything is equally delicious and if you’re unsure about what to pick, ask staff. Just make sure to let them know your spice tolerance and your preference between meat and vegetarian/vegan. The waiters/waitresses will do the rest.
I’ve explored several items on their menu. I’ve tried wanton soup for the very first time here, their Peking Duck is superb, and the tjauw ming is just a dream. Again, see below for reference.
I’m not even sure how I discovered Fat Kee in the first place to be honest. What I do remember was that it was an early and quick discovery, because I’ve brought many friends and family here. Maybe it was because I was on the hunt for something affordable to eat, late in the evening, and just by sheer chance I found them.
Me and my best friend still occasionally talk about the restaurant and the moments we had together here. These are priceless.
The only thing they don’t do is dessert, which I think is a pity but I also understand why at the same time. They have an extensive menu with appetizers and mains, desserts could be too much.
Nonetheless, there was a Chinese bakery conveniently placed right next door to Fat Kee called QQ Bakery, now Liu&U. Usually I could get a pastry for a very reasonable price.
Even though I live in Hilversum nowadays, whenever I have the chance to visit The Hague, or someone asks me for recommendations on where to eat there, one of my first immediate answers will always be Fat Kee. There are of course other great Chinese/Indonesian restaurants nearby, and I will discuss that in future, but this location in particular is special to me.
Of course in future I will share other locations, especially budget-friendly, that I used to go to as a student. They say sharing is caring. But for now, tot de volgende keer!