Baked Pork Chop Rice

This is the dish that could define cha chaan teng: a fried pork chop, a searing orange tomato sauce, a pan of golden fried rice, luxuriant cheese melted and blistered on top. Making it the long way means understanding, finally, the extravagance that cha chaan teng cooks can serve in ten minutes.

SERVES 2 TO 4

For the Pork Chops

1 pound (450 g) bone-in  pork rib chops, sliced  

1 inch (2.5 cm) thick

5 ounces (140 g) canned pineapple chunks (one-fourth of a 20-ounce can), juice and fruit separated

1 tablespoon (15 ml) 

light soy sauce

1 tablespoon (8 g) cornstarch

½ teaspoon (3 g) table salt

¼ teaspoon (1 g) baking soda

For the Batter and Frying

1 large egg (60 g), beaten

⅓ cup (28 g) cornstarch 

or potato starch, plus more if needed

2 tablespoons (15 g)  

all-purpose flour

Neutral oil, such as canola or peanut, for frying

For the Sauce

1 tablespoon (15 ml) neutral oil, such as canola or peanut

2 cups (300 g) cherry tomatoes, halved

1 small white onion (160 g), cut into wedges

1½ cups (360 ml) Tomato Sauce (page 000)

1 cup (240 ml) low-sodium chicken stock

Table salt (optional)

Sugar (optional)

Prepare the pork chops. Working one piece at a time, pound the pork chops with a meat pounder or the back of a cleaver, keeping the bone intact, to an even ¾-inch (2 cm) thickness. Transfer to a large bowl and add the pineapple juice, soy sauce, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. Massage the pork chops, working the marinade into the meat until well combined. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.

Line a plate with paper towels. In a large wok or Dutch oven, heat 2 inches (5 cm) of oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 325°F (150°C). Working in batches, carefully add the pork chops to the hot oil, making sure not to have any overlap between the pieces. Cook, swirling the oil gently, until the crust is set and pale golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chops to the lined plate to drain. Repeat to fry the remaining pork chops. Let them cool, then remove the bone and slice on a slight bias so the pieces will be easier to eat after baking. Set aside, reserving the bones.

Make the sauce. In a separate wok or large skillet, heat the oil over high heat until shimmering. Add 1 cup (150 g) of the cherry tomatoes and the onion and stir-fry until aromatic and slightly softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the tomato sauce and stock and bring to a simmer. Cook until the flavors meld, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the remaining cherry tomatoes and the pineapple chunks, and stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and sugar if necessary. Set aside.

Assemble the baked rice. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Divide the golden fried rice between two small baking dishes and flatten into an even layer. Scoop a thin layer of sauce on top of the rice. Reassemble the pork chops with their bones in the center of each portion. Top with the rest of the sauce and the mozzarella, allowing some corners of the chops to stick out. Bake until the cherry tomatoes and pineapple have slightly softened and the cheese is melted, bubbling, and beginning to char, about 10 minutes. Allow to rest for 1 minute and serve warm.

KITCHEN NOTE

Most cha chaan teng make their tomato sauce from some combination of ketchup, canned tomato paste, pasta sauce, and dehydrated tomato powder (see Tomato Sauce, page 000). Here the addition of fresh tomatoes breaks away from industry standards. Cherry tomatoes are folded in right before the dish goes in the oven, bringing brightness without sacrificing the familiar consistency of a tomato sauce built of shelf-stable ingredients.

A dry cornstarch–flour batter is enough here. The flour is there for structure and the cornstarch limits gluten so the crust doesn’t turn gummy once baked. It might  be too spare for a chop served alone, but this one is meant to be sauced.

TENDERIZING PORK CHOPS

Because the pork chops are cooked twice—first fried, then baked—they are prone to getting tough. Protection against dry pork happens first by helping the pork retain moisture. Salt does this by unwinding the protein coils so they have a greater capacity to bind water molecules. Second, the protein in the pork chop itself is tenderized physically by pounding the chops, and chemically by adding baking soda to the marinade. Baking soda raises the pH on the surface of the meat, relaxing the protein fibers.

Another way to tenderize meat is with enzymatic tenderizers found in fruits like papaya, kiwi, and pineapple. These enzymes break down the protein structures of meat. They tenderize more effectively because, unlike baking soda, which acts only on the surface, enzymes penetrate deeper into muscle fibers over time. This has the added benefit of flavoring the pork with a touch of fruit sweetness. In cha chaan teng, however, baking soda is necessary because the pineapple used in the marinade is canned. During the canning process, manufacturers heat the fruit, which destroys the enzymes and rids it of its tenderizing effects.

WHERE IT’S BEST

Café de Coral 大家樂, locations all over Hong Kong

Fairwood 大快活, locations all over Hong Kong

When looking for the epitome of baked pork chop rice, Hong Kongers often turn toward two homegrown fast-food chains, Café de Coral and Fairwood. Most locals have a strong preference for one over the other, but proper judgment should be nuanced. The pork chop at Café de Coral is the best of the bunch, as it’s brined and juicy, cut thicker, and deep-fried in an egg batter. Fairwood, however, excels in the sauce: the tomato sauce is bright and tangy and pairs gracefully with a minimal approach to the fried rice base.

Recipe reprinted from Cha Chaan Teng: Comfort Food from Hong Kong’s Iconic Diners by Lucas Sin (Artisan, 2026). Reprinted with permission.

Order your copy from Now Serving bookstore here.