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Fook Seng GoldenHill Chicken Rice – The Best Part is the Fish

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I have heard a lot about Fook Seng GoldenHill Chicken Rice online. This is a small coffee shop perched at the top of the hill in the quiet Jalan Rumah Tinggi residential estate. The area is accessible by the bus service 63. This is also where you would find Singapore’s smallest bus terminal, with just a single bus service that terminates here.

Despite its little known location, many netizens have flocked here and given verdicts to the effect of “fragrant rice”, “tender, juicy chicken” and “chili packs a punch!” Is it really that good?

So my Mom and I come by to check it out. True to its fame, the seats are fully occupied by a largely office crowd from the neighboring workplaces at lunchtime.

Our verdict: While the chicken rice does not live up to its hype, the raw fish salad alone is worth the trip!

Hainanese chicken rice

Hainanese chicken rice
SGD2.30 onwards for a plate / Above: SGD6 worth of chicken

We order rice and a separate portion of chicken for sharing. As seasoned eaters of Hainanese chicken rice, we realise immediately that the portion is much smaller than usual. Don’t believe me? Compare it with Sin Heng Kee in the same neighborhood.

The skimpiness of the portion wouldn’t have mattered if the food tastes good. As you can probably tell from the picture above, the chicken slices are dry and bland with little sauce. Is this meant to be a healthier option with less sesame oil and fat? Coming from a place that touts itself as “probably the best chicken rice in Singapore”, this whole dish has turned out to be a major disappointment!

For truly flavorsome and fragrant Hainanese chicken rice, the Tong Fong Fatt chain remains our choice for now. There’s one at the nearby ABC Market.

Raw fish salad

Raw fish salad
SGD2 / 3 / 5

Fortunately, our side dish of raw fish salad fares a whole lot better. In fact, we notice that every table has ordered raw fish on the side.

This alone makes a trip here worthwhile.

Basically, this has what the chicken lacks — flavor, lots of it. For just SGD2, you get ample slices of snakehead fish drenched in sesame oil, shallot oil, light soy sauce with a dash of lime and chili!

Here’s a more extravagant raw fish salad eaten at Chinese New Year.

Have Your Say!

If you are a fan of Fook Seng and disagree with our verdict, we welcome you to share your thoughts!

Meanwhile, where can you find the best Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore? Share with us below!

Fook Seng GoldenHill Chicken Rice
37 Jalan Rumah Tinggi #01-429
Singapore 150037
(65) 9777 3318 | Website |

Bus services: 63
Nearest MRT: Redhill

Opening hours: 9am – 5pm daily

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and WordPress development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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9 responses

Leave your comment

J2Kfm
March 26, 2010

Wah, first time seeing raw snakehead fish salad in a chicken rice shop! WIthout the accompaying greens and crunchy stuff, won’t it be a little …. awkward? Like digging into sashimi?
Reply
- Veron
  March 26, 2010
  
  I suppose it is a little like sashimi, except that in this case, it is dripping wet with the sauces. It may seem odd (my Mom didn’t dare to try it), but tastes really, really good!
  Reply
Melissa
March 31, 2010

You should try Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice at Thomson. Best chicken rice in my opinion.
Reply
- Veron
  March 31, 2010
  
  Coincidentally I just met someone today who also read this review and he recommended Wee Nam Kee! Looks like soneone’s getting a visit from us soon! ;)
  Reply
Crystal
April 3, 2010

How about Tian Tian chicken rice at Maxwell? The lines are always so long.
Reply
Berg
April 6, 2010

I don’t really like fish but I just have to try that raw fish salad
Reply
Jacx
April 9, 2010

tian tian at maxwell is great. boon tong kee is not bad either. but overpriced.
Reply
- Veron
  April 9, 2010
  
  I’m not too impressed with Boon Tong Kee. Found the chicken to be just so-so, and yes, overpriced. They’re trying to operate like a Chinese restaurant and charge for those wet paper napkins that they place on every table by default.
  Reply
Chao Zhou Zi
May 26, 2010

Snakehead is a fresh water fish.
Had read that fresh water fish is not recommended for consuming it raw as it tends to harbours parasites.

Anyone can confirm?
Reply