The things that make Zhending Chicken unique

Wang Jian Shuo introduces us to a local Shanghai restaurant chain called Zhending Chicken. We've never been, but we might go now -- sounds like an interesting place:

This noon, we went to our favorite restaurant Zhengding Chicken (振鼎鸡) for lunch. It is famous for its chicken. It is a successful business, just like KFC for fried chicken.

Zhending Chicken meets the need of local market precisely, because people are very sensitive about cost and the value. They have some rules in their restaurant I feel strange.

Close The Business at Rush Hours

I remember the store at Tianlin closes at 6:00 PM. Many times we rushed to the store only to find out the store is closed. A server stands at the door and politely tell us: All chicken sold out.

It is the very few restaurant that I would keep my finger crossed on the way to there, hoping I can get permission to enter the store, for chickens.

Cold Coke or Not?

The price for cold coke and normal temperature coke are different. You have to pay 0.2 RMB more for the coke to be cold.

People clearly see the value that the coke is sold at a very low margin, that they cannot aford to pay for the refragerator to cold it.

There is more after that. Worth a read.

If you live in Shanghai, odds are there is a Zhending Chicken not too far from where you live. Check out this map. The restaurant's signature dish is, naturally, Zhending Chicken (振鼎鸡). Other popular items are Chicken Noodle Soup (鸡汤面), Chicken Porridge (鸡粥) and Chicken Blood Soup (鸡血汤).

Photo from english.eastday.com.cn.