Maya Congee Cafe

Maya Congee Cafe Expands With a Second Location in Clinton Hill | Eater NY

"When Layla Chen took over a storefront on Bed-Stuy’s Gates Avenue in 2017 she initially kept the Bed-Stuy Provisions name and its farm-to-table sandwiches, then a year later transitioned the space into Maya Congee Cafe to focus on modern interpretations of congee. Influenced by growing up in Guangzhou and time in Hawaii, she stocks provisions like chile oil and Maggi alongside menu items built on a congee base of mostly white rice with quinoa and brown rice; offerings include braised chicken congee with shaved broccoli and seasonal vegetables, a vegan congee with salted peanuts, sambal and shaved broccoli, and a pork congee with ginger, garlic and jalapeños. Bowls are meant to be highly customizable with add-ons such as eggs, avocado or whitefish, and a preserved duck egg cured in lime and ash has become a signature. The cafe also serves sandwiches and morning coffee and pastries, doubles as a general store selling AAPI-made pantry staples (Omsom, Fly By Jing), Variety coffee and Koda Farms rice flour, was well-equipped for delivery during the pandemic, and currently operates for to-go and outdoor seating only; Chen weathered early criticism from some Asian customers about “whitewashing” traditional congee but has stayed true to the food she grew up with as a first-generation Chinese American." - Emma Orlow