Hainan Orkid Tropica - fast forward 2017

Do you have any idea how famous this restaurant has gotten ?

I first wrote about it back in January 2014 , then a local newspaper followed suit in February .

Long story short , we've finally made it back. And finally gotten a table . This is after having been told numerous times the following reasons ...

" not open " ( wrong timing )

" finish already " ( so many times I can't remember )

" come back later in the evening " ( which we didn't feel like doing

" you'll need to book or make an advanced reservation " ( I hate that )

And the latest one

" come back tomorrow morning . Make sure you come early please " 

( which we did )

Hai Kee - charcoal cooked Hainanese fare

At long last I finally found a place that serves tasty Assam Prawns .

Not everyone who claims to be able to cook this can actually pull it off . I've been extremely fussy ever since the old place near Transfer Road changed hands . That was the benchmark . Today however , that place serves some of the worst dishes I never want to touch ever again not in this life nor the next .

Back to the people who claim they can whip it up , those I've tried have come up with variations that were too sour , too watery , too fail even .

Below however , is the answer to our tamarind sauce ,connoisseur prayers . And for this I thank the Chinese gods of the kitchen for blessing the cooks with the wizardry required to whip up this rather simple but not easy to replicate prawn dish. 

Almost as good ....perfect enough for me ! When they are properly done , even the shells will be so delicious , you'll want to suck and lick every last bit of the savoury sauce out .