Started as a stall in a coffeeshop, Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint was put up for sale in 2012. Though the owners received about 70 offers, none met their asking price of $3.5 million. Until two and a half years later when publicly-listed conglomerate Aztech Group bought the roast meat institution in Upper Payer Lebar Road for $4 million. The company's group CE is a long-time customer who wants to preserve a heritage brand and expand the business. Now, it can also be found at Bedok Central, Singtel Comcentre, Tanjong Katong and Ubi. My dining companions and I visited the branch, located on the 2nd floor of Suntec City, for lunch on a weekend. We ordered Three Combination Meats and Canton-style Dumpling Noodles. Tender char siew was the best I have tried (am not a fan of char siew, by the way), though skin of roast duck was not crispy and its meat was a tad tough. Could neither rave about the succulent dumpling and springy noodles, nor fault the roast pork.
