Sparklette Magazine » chicken rice

Buffet Town – International Seafood, Mixed Grill and Teppanyaki

Jasper Aston Lim — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:00:56 +0000

Buffet Town is the new kid on the block of buffet restaurants. Located at Raffles City where Shokudo Japanese Food Bazaar used to sit, the restaurant aims to be the ultimate international buffet venue with an offering of over 300 food items.

Buffet
Lunch (Mon-Fri): Adult $23.80++; Child $16.80++
Lunch (Sat-Sun, Eve of and PH): Adult $28.80++; Child $16.80++
Dinner (Mon-Thu): Adult $33.80++; Child $19.80++
Dinner (Fri-Sun, Eve of and PH): Adult $38.80++; Child $19.80++
Buffet rating:

Priced very reasonably for a buffet conveniently located at the heart of Singapore, it’s no wonder that the 450-seat restaurant is bustling with activity even on a weekday evening!

Mussels

As with all buffets these days, the seafood counter is a big hit and always crowded. Many diners can be seen piling up their plates with seafood. Look out for the big and juicy freshly shucked oysters.

Chilled crayfish and prawns

Maki

At the Japanese counter, the food is replenished quickly, ensuring that the freshest quality is always made available to diners. Check out the large assortment of maki rolls, ranging from the usual California rolls to asparagus. Hand-rolls are also prepared à la minute by the chefs on duty.

Assorted maki and sashimi

Grilled chicken

The hot food section is one of the largest I’ve seen, stretching around almost the whole of the restaurant interior. You will not be disappointed with the variety of items, ranging from grilled to deep-fried, and even curries!

Western stews and curries

Forrest pizza

Boasting a thin crust and a generous serving of ingredients and mozzarella cheese, it’s no surprise that the pizzas are snatched up almost as quickly as they are replenished!

Fish and chips

One of the most important components to a good fish and chips is the breading. The fish and chips served here have just the right crispiness — a pleasant surprise for this commonly overlooked dish.

Pasta station

A highlight of Buffet Town is the pasta station where you get to create your very own pasta. Simply choose the ingredients you fancy from choices like seafood, mushrooms and even bacon, then select your preferred pasta and sauce.

Penne aglio olio

While my penne aglio olio is packed with yummy ingredients, too much black pepper has been used, hence overpowering the dish. I also try a bowl of creamy spaghetti, in which the cream sauce is lacking and prawns are undercooked.

Roast beef

The restaurant has a few main dishes that are refreshed on a regular basis, namely the carving of the day and Chinese herbal soup. I enjoy the roast beef, which is tender and nicely cooked to pink.

Old cucumber soup

Tempura

Go for the tempura, which is executed to a crisp delight. The sweet potato and ladyfingers are unanimous favourites.

Teppanyaki

Fill your plates with the meats and greens from the teppanyaki station. The chefs are friendly and ever ready to cook up a storm with your selected items. A pity that there is no alert system to inform you when your order is done, which sometimes results in collecting a plate of food that has already gone cold.

You would also find chefs hard at work grilling Japanese and local items.

Grilled pineapple

These skewers of grilled pineapple provide an interesting combination of textures and flavours, and complement the sweet satay meats.

Grilled skewers

The scallops and mussel mentai are highlights from the Japanese grilled section, cooked to perfection and still retaining the fresh seafood goodness. Best enjoyed when they are fresh off the grill!

Mussel mentai

And we’re still not done with this review yet! Buffet Town also has quite a few booths — like the adorable mini rojak stall — dedicated to serving Singapore local favourites.

Rojak station

Carrot cake

The carrot cake is just the way I like it — chunky, slightly sweet and savoury.

Laksa

While my dining companion enjoys the laksa, I feel it could have used more spices and chilli.

Hainanese chicken rice

The chicken rice may be a bit dry, while the meat is just the right oiliness and very flavourful.

Chilli crab

Sinful, but oh-so good, the scrumptious chilli crab gravy is finger-licking good and couples well with the deep-fried mantou.

Coffee and tea station

Having a ‘kopitiam’ right within the restaurant is a stroke of genius! After a heavy meal, there’s nothing better than to kick back and unwind with your favourite kopi-O or teh-si!

For those who prefer something else, there are also drinks machines, and even soy milk.

Soy milk

Mini cakes and éclairs

Not to be left out is the desserts selection. Aside from the usual cakes and tarts, you can also opt for green bean soup, cheng tng or even make your own ice kachang!

Ice cream

While the goreng pisang and waffles are nothing out of the ordinary, I find the ice cream flavours surprisingly tasty and appealing. Do try the rich chocolate as well as macadamia, which has a smooth, subtle sweetness.

Buffet Town has its share of hits and misses. While it is not on par with the high-end buffet establishments, it offers diners a very good range of items at an affordable price. As it is still relatively new, I expect improvements and better things to come.

Have Your Say!

Where can you enjoy the best value buffet in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Buffet Town
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road #B1-44E
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6837 3793 | Website

Opening hours:
Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm daily
Dinner: 6pm to 10:30pm daily

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Cheap Eats: Golden Mile Food Centre – 10 Food Stalls You Don’t Want to Miss

Jasper Aston Lim — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:00:24 +0000

Looking for cheap, casual eats at a good price isn’t that hard with all the available food options and hawker centres in Singapore. This time round, we turn the spotlight on Golden Mile Food Centre and show you the 10 stalls you don’t want to miss here.

1. Once Upon A Thyme – #01-102

Battered fish creamy mushroom pasta
S$6.30

One of the newest stalls to open here, Once Upon A Thyme has just revamped their menu recently. The battered fish creamy mushroom pasta set, one of their three specials, is tasty and filling. The herb-mayo dip, created in-house, pairs well with the fish. A good meal for just the price of S$6.30.

2. Yew Chuan Claypot Rice – #B1-58

Claypot chicken rice
S$5

Those with a hearty appetite can have their fill at Yew Chuan Claypot Rice. With the large portion, the claypot chicken rice is enough for two to share. I like the garnish of fresh greens that not only add colour to the dish, but also makes the dish less cloying.

3. 金华鱼头米粉 Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon – #01-101

Fried fish with thick bee hoon (rice vermicelli)
S$3.50

Being a famous chain with many stalls in Singapore, it is no wonder that there’s always a queue for the fish soup from Jin Hua Fish Head Bee Hoon. And at just S$3.50, their delicious signature milky soup base of the fried fish with thick bee hoon (rice vermicelli) makes it worth the wait!

4. Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice – #B1-35

Hainanese chicken rice

As the name suggest, this stall specialises in serving the local favourite Hainanese chicken rice. Keep a lookout for the speedy serving auntie, who is always running around to deliver food to diners. Here, you can get a decent portion that serves 3 at S$10.50.

5. Mansaku Japanese Food – #01-93

Katsu don
S$5.50

The katsu don set from this Japanese stall — a rare sight in hawker centres mdash; comprises a deep-fried pork cutlet that is moist and tender. The chawanmushi (egg custard) is quite smooth, though somewhat lacking in portion and ingredients.

6. 91 翠绿炒粿条面 Fried Kway Teow Mee – #01-91

Fried kway teow (stir-fried rice-cake strips)
S$3 / 4

Each plate of fried kway teow (stir-fried rice-cake strips) at stall 91 includes a small serving of freshly cooked greens. Cooked without lard and fried using minimal vegetable oil, it is surprisingly fragrant and much healthier than your usual char kway teow! For an added dose of greens, you can pay more for extra vegetables.

7. 74 Economical Mixed Rice – #01-73

Fish Fillet with Special Exotic Thai Sauce

Of the various mixed rice stalls in the complex, 74 Economical Mixed Rice offers a relatively smaller selection of dishes. Don’t let that turn you away though, because you can get a good-sized portion at a very reasonable rate. My huge plate of rice with two servings of meats and vegetables each add up to just S$3.70!

8. 桐记面食 Tong Ji Mian Shi – #01-100

Lor mee
S$3 / 4

“Super-size” your lor mee to enjoy it with many savoury additions, such as the oh-so crispy deep-fried lotus roots. Real value for money!

9. Tiong Bahru Roasted Pig Specialist – #01-70

Char siew and roast pork rice
S$3.50

The popular Tiong Bahru Roasted Pig Specialist chain serves plates of delicious roasted meat of consistent quality. Topped with a flavoursome gravy, a plate of the char siew and roast pork rice is not to be missed.

10. Kheng Fatt Hainanese Beef Noodles – #01-89

Beef noodles

There seems to be a perpetual line at Kheng Fatt Hainanese beef noodles. If you can wait, the firm, bouncy meatballs and tender beef slices will not disappoint. Another selling point is the thick and sticky gravy ladled atop their noodles.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Which hawker centre do you frequent most in Singapore? Tell us in the comments!

Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
Singapore 199583

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Mackenzie Rex Restaurant – Cooking up a Storm Since 1966

Guest Writer — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:00:16 +0000

Mackenzie Rex Restaurant has been cooking up a storm of wonderful dishes since 1966. It is one of my family’s favourite Chinese restaurants, and I plan to religiously bring my family here for every celebratory event like birthdays and holidays.

And the best part? It is halal certified!

Hot plate beancurd
S$16 (medium serving)

For side dishes and starters, we usually order the hot plate beancurd and fried mixed vegetable.

Fried mixed vegetable
S$12 (medium serving)

At a recent dinner here, we also order three main dishes to spice things up. Let’s start with the chicken, shall we?

Steamed whole chicken
S$30

Even before you dig in, the presentation of the steamed whole chicken already teases your taste buds, its glistening skin resting on the fleshy white meat. The meat is tender and flavoursome even when eaten alone without having to dip into the chilli or soy sauce.

Crispy cereal prawns
S$30

As for the crispy cereal prawns, the prawns are hidden within the mountain of fried cereal. The shellfish are plump and very crunchy!

Black pepper crab
S$72

And behold, the black pepper crab! Even as I am munching down on the prawns, I am in awe once the crabs arrive. They are huge! The best part is that the claws have already been cracked for our convenience, a very thoughtful gesture from the chefs in the kitchen. The crab meat is incredibly soft, and the size of each chunk is bigger than my two thumbs combined. That’s two thumbs up from me!

One noteworthy dish that has not been photographed here is the restaurant’s signature Hainanese chicken rice. It is quite amazing and every second of chewing the polished rice would leave you tingling with goodness! Well, don’t take my word for it, go try it for yourself!

Have Your Say!

What are the good halal Chinese restaurants in SIngapore? Share with us in the comments!

Mackenzie Rex Restaurant ( )
Website

Opening hours: 11:30am – 10pm daily

Mackenzie Rex Restaurant Selegie

66 Prinsep Street #01-01
Singapore 188668
Tel: +65 6336 1702

Mackenzie Rex Restaurant Changi

144 Changi Road
Singapore 419725
Tel: +65 6344 1066

Yahya Ayob blogs about his travel adventures, random food finds, exotic car huntings, social events and more at prodigious.sg.

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Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice – Really Good or Overrated?

Veron Ang — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 03:00:41 +0000

According to the culinary grapevine, Boon Tong Kee chicken rice once had the best chicken rice in Singapore. However, as most knowledgeable foodies are aware, over the years it has become more commercialised, expanding from a small humble stall to multiple outlets across the island. The menu now boasts not just chicken rice, but a plethora of local favourites such as chilli crab and raw fish salad.

Even with the wider menu, a recent visit to the branch at Bukit Timah proves that chicken is still the main draw. Every table within the eatery has at least a plate of chicken rice on it. The question remains: Is the famous Boon Tong Kee chicken rice really good or simply overrated?

Hainanese chicken rice
S$13++ for half a chicken
S$0.50++ for a plate of rice
Rating:

Our order of chicken arrives sitting on a bed of greens, both skin and bone included. Glistening with oil, this looks like it’s going to be a very sinful meal indeed. Yet for all the hype and hoopla, the meat tastes remarkably ordinary. Yes, it is tender, but not as tasty as many other chicken rice chains such as Tong Fong Fatt and Wee Nam Kee, which sell the same dish for a fraction of the price. If I was in a blindfolded taste test, I would not be able to tell this apart from any less famous neighbourhood chicken rice stall.

Presented in the shape of a pyramid, the rice fares somewhat better with a wonderful fragrance, but surely not enough to save the dish.

One major sore point is the price. You would expect to fork out a lot more for chicken rice here than at other places. Even with the levy of service charges, be prepared to pay 50 cents for a glass of water.

Tip: Pickled vegetables and wet towels are automatically placed on your table upon arrival. Ask the staff to remove these to save $2 and $0.50 each respectively.

For the relatively high prices and all the hype surrounding the chain, the Boon Tong Kee chicken rice falls short of its significant potential.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What do you think of Boon Tong Kee chicken rice? Really good or overrated? Share with us in the comments!

Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice
- 399/401/403 Balestier Road | Tel: +65 6254 3937 / +65 6256 0138
- 470/472 MacPherson Road | Tel: +65 6746 2774
- 34 Whampoa West #01-93 | Tel: +65 6299 9880
- 425 River Valley Road | Tel: +65 6736 3213
- 199 East Coast Road | Tel: +65 6478 1462
- 18 Cheong Chin Nam Road | Tel: +65 6463 2289
Website

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Chatterbox, Mandarin Orchard Hotel – Is the Most Expensive Chicken Rice in Singapore Worth the Price?

Veron Ang — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 03:00:24 +0000

Every food lover in Singapore and tourists who have picked up a copy of a travel guidebook must have heard of Chatterbox at Mandarin Orchard Hotel. Done up in earthy hues of green and beige, the restaurant is infamous for dishing up the most expensive chicken rice in town. Apart from that, the menu features several other local hawker fares at prices many times that at run-of-the-mill hawker stalls.

Loyalists swear that the food here is worth every cent. Is it really?

Chicken rice
S$25++
Rating:

The Hainanese chicken rice which normally costs S$2.50 at any hawker centre would set you back by almost 30 dollars after taxes — a pricey dish by any standard. You do get somewhat hefty portions. Presented in a boat-shaped bowl, the ample portion of chicken breast sits atop a bed of shredded lettuce and carrot. A pair of cherry tomatoes on the side adds a dash of colour. Coupled with the obligatory rice and soup, you are guaranteed a full meal. The three accompanying condiments are garlic, chilli and soy sauce — nothing ground-breaking here.

The chicken slices are tender, though a little dry and forgettable in flavour. Perhaps this is the less oily and healthier version of chicken rice. The rice retains the wonderful fragrance of chicken oil, with a firm texture that reminds me of the rice at Tong Fong Fatt. That said, the astronomical pricing is definitely way too high for good but not exceptional fare.

Nasi lemak
S$21++
Rating:

Next comes Singapore’s most expensive nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk). I instantly felt sorry for my friend when the dish was brought to the table. For the over-the-top pricing, you get a few skimpy pieces of chicken, a couple of shrimp, a pile of grated omelette, thin cucumber slices, sambal chilli, peanuts and the rice shaped in a pyramidal form. To its credit, the chilli gravy is right-on-the-money. But at that price, the food should really be more generously proportioned. Especially when you consider that for half the cash outlay, you can enjoy a much more satisfying high-end nasi lemak at the nearby Grandma’s.

Which bring us to the bottom line of restaurant dining. Given the quality of the food, service, ambience and the dollar value, would you go to Chatterbox? If you are in the mood to splurge, or simply to earn the bragging rights that you have tasted Singapore’s priciest chicken rice, perhaps. However, if all you want is to indulge in great-tasting food without having to burn a hole in your pocket, any of the popular chicken rice stalls such as the aforementioned Tong Fong Fatt or Wee Nam Kee would suffice.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Would you eat at Chatterbox? Do you think the food is worth the price? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Chatterbox
Mandarin Orchard Hotel (level 5)
333 Orchard Road
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 6831 6288 / +65 6831 6291 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Sun – Thu: 10am – 1am
Fri, Sat & eve of public holiday: 10am – 2am

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Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice – Top of the Crop?

Veron Ang — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:39:47 +0000

When it comes to Hainanese chicken rice, I like it oily and flavourful rather than heart-healthy and bland, calories be damned! My favourite place to indulge in a sinful but oh-so-good plate of chicken is Tong Fong Fatt. Where is yours?

Wee Nam Kee is one of the few names that always pop up when people talk about their favourite Hainanese chicken rice, along with Boon Tong Kee, Tian Tian and a couple of others. Sure enough, a friend of mine proclaims it to be his favourite, and so we head down one afternoon to try it out.

As a testament to its long legacy and reputation, its premises at Novena Ville is full house with the lunchtime crowd! Never mind the hot weather and the lack of air conditioning at this no-frills eatery, people are practically swarming the place to get a plate of the ever-popular chicken rice. Here, they serve both the roasted and steamed versions.

Hainanese chicken rice
S$4 for chicken breast / S$4.80 for a drumstick
Rating:

We order the rice with the steamed chicken served separately on the side. See how the skin glistens! Do you belong to the group that throw the doctor’s advice to the wind and eat it all, skin included, or do you carefully peel the skin away and eat just the flesh?

The chicken breast (my favourite part) is tender and moist even though it may well be the driest part of the bird. The star of this dish however is the sweet sauce that the meat is soaking in. I find that for chicken rice to be delicious, this sauce is the key. And this one is just wondeful — flavourful and fragrant with sesame oil, just the way I like it.

The rice is pretty decent, too, though paling in comparison to Tong Fong Fatt‘s fragrant rice.

Photo credit

Nonetheless, a good plate of Hainanese chicken rice is a find. Despite the brisk business, the staff are very quick and prompt in taking our orders and serving the food.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Where can you find the best Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice Restaurant 威南记海南鸡饭餐室
Novena Ville
275 Thomson Road #01-05
Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6255 6396

Bus services: 5, 21, 54, 56, 57, 131, 143, 162, 166, 167, 851, 980, NR1, 162M
Nearest MRT: Novena

Opening hours: 10:30am – 2am daily

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

Veron Ang — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:00:26 +0000

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 “chilli 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 neighbouring 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
S$2.30 onwards for a plate / Above: S$6 worth of chicken
Rating:

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 neighbourhood.

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 flavoursome 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
S$2 / 3 / 5
Rating:

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 — flavour, lots of it. For just S$2, you get ample slices of snakehead fish drenched in sesame oil, shallot oil, light soy sauce with a dash of lime and chilli!

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Where can you find the best Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Fook Seng GoldenHill Chicken Rice
37 Jalan Rumah Tinggi #01-429
Singapore 150037
Tel: +65 9777 3318 | Website | Menu

Bus services: 63
Nearest MRT: Redhill

Opening hours: 9am – 5pm daily

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Kaiton, Pratunam Bangkok – Cheap, Good, Possibly the Best Khao Mun Kai in Bangkok

Veron Ang — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:04:56 +0000

At first glance, Kaiton in Pratunam looks like any other street food vendor in Bangkok. A small stand fronts the eatery, where staff busily prepare plate after plate of food to be served to customers.

Yet, beyond its nondescript facade lies possibly the best Khao Mun Kai (chicken rice) in Bangkok.

Kaiton is one place where I would always make a stop at on all my trips to Bangkok. For the past five years that I have visited, the portion always remained the same, the food remained as good, and the price never increased.

Chicken rice
30baht
Rating:

The food is similar to the Hainanese chicken rice we have here, but certainly much healthier and less oily. The dish comes with a serving of chicken, a bowl of soup, and a small bowl of dark spicy sauce.

And at 30baht, it converts to just a little over a dollar!

The dark sauce is sour, SUPER fragrant and bombastic, enough to give you a high. No joke! The chopped green chilli makes it extremely spicy and ups the excitement factor.

On its own, the chicken rice would have been quite ordinary. But with the sauce poured all over it, it transforms into something out of the world!

Even the soup is good, too. Unlike most chicken soup that very often turns out bland, this one is peppery and very tasty.

If you’re visiting Kaiton for the first time, look out for the stall with staff wearing white caps and clad in bright pink t-shirts with a chicken logo at the back.

When I take a cab there, very often the taxi driver immediately knows what I am talking about when I mention khao mun kai along Petchburi Road. It’s a favourite haunt especially among the locals. During chow hours, the place is packed, although the staff always manage to find you a seat somehow.

Kaiton
Petchburi Soi 30
Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 02 252 6325

5:30am-3pm, 6pm-3am daily

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Tong Fong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice – Chickalicious!

Veron Ang — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:40:57 +0000

It’s no secret that Singaporeans love Hainanese chicken rice. In fact we love it so much, we introduce it everywhere. It’s almost impossible to go to a hawker centre or a food court and not find a chicken rice stall.

The humble plate of Hainanese chicken rice has even found its way onto the menus of luxurious hotel restaurants, Singapore airlines flights and also the Singapore food sampler given to tourists during the Singapore Food Festival. It’s, like, an unofficial national dish! Ironically it still is Hainanese chicken rice, except that overtime we’ve created our own Singaporean rendition of the dish.

With its prevalence also comes the debate on where you would find the best Hainanese chicken rice in town. A personal favourite for my Mom and I is Tong Fong Fatt. Having had my fair share of chicken rice at the well-known Boon Tong Kee chain, Tian Tian, or even the $21 chicken rice at Chatterbox of Meritus Mandarin Hotel, the only one that gives me cravings is Tong Fong Fatt. How about you?

Hainanese boneless chicken rice
Rating:

To minimise the sinfulness of eating this oily dish, we would always ask for the skinless and less fattening breast meat. In general, the flesh from the chicken breast tends to be tougher, but the one here is very tender! What you see above is $6 worth of meat. A standard plate of chicken rice here would set you back by $2.50.

The thing we love most is the flavoursome sesame oil mixture that the chicken is drenched in. For me, this is the thing that gives the chicken its golden star. It’s a very fragrant, a little salty and a little sweet mixture. Each time I order the chicken I would simply throw all caution to the wind and indulge myself in this oily, calorific, but oh-so-yummilicious soupy mixture.

One time, the chicken rice seller who was chopping his chicken saw me scooping the sesame oil mixture onto my rice greedily. Without a word, he put down his meat cleaver, came out and topped up our plate with more of the delicious sesame oil mixture! Yummy!!

The rice itself is extremely fragrant (and oily) and even the soup is tasty too. I also love having the dark soy sauce and chilli sauce — both of these — to go with my rice.

A trademark of the stall is the row of chicken carcasses that is displayed prominently in the glass cabinet, a clear testament of a good day at business.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

For you, what’s your favourite Hainanese chicken rice stall?

Tong Fong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
- ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre #01-32
- Amoy Street Food Centre
- Maxwell Food Centre

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Sing Ho Hainan Chicken Rice – A Shining Star

Veron Ang — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 13:18:31 +0000

For those of you who love Hainanese chicken rice like I do, you are probably quite wary of the high fat and cholesterol content of this popular dish. The essence of a good plate of chicken rice lies very much in the rice itself. The most savoury rice tends to have been cooked in chicken fat, which doesn’t exactly appeal to the health-conscious. Sing Ho Hainan Chicken Rice addresses this health concern by offering a much healthier version of this dish.

The rice is not glazed with chicken fat, nor is the chicken meat drenched in sesame oil. Suddenly this doesn’t sound very appetising. Or is it?

Calamari Rings with Salad Cream
S$3
Rating:

Let’s start with the side dishes, which are the typical offerings such as calamari rings. The calamari rings are fried to a golden brown crisp and paired with a delicious salad cream dip. Many people make the common mistake of overcooking calamari rings until they have a chewy texture like rubber bands. Fortunately the ones here are cooked just right and make a good appetiser.

Deep Fried Prawn Fritters
S$4
Rating:

The deep fried prawn fritters are even better! They are light and crispy on the outside, smooth and tender on the inside. Yum! As if that wasn’t enough, the fried batter remains crispy throughout the entire duration of the meal! I especially like the tasty Thai sweet chilli sauce that goes perfectly well with the prawn fritters. This is one dish not to be missed.

Salad You-Tiao (Fried Doughsticks)
S$3
Rating:

Some of the other dishes can be improved, however. The salad you-tiao (fried doughsticks) is bland and uninspired.

Belachan Kang Kong (Chinese Kale cooked in Fermented Ground Shrimp)
S$3
Rating:

The belachan kang kong (Chinese kale cooked in fermented ground shrimp) is unanimously the least popular dish of the day. What is meant to be a dry dish comes drenched in soup. The belachan is lacking in flavour and the kang kong is overcooked. If you look at the dish pictured on the menu, you would notice a stark contrast between the two.

Chicken Meat for 3
S$12 + 0.50 per bowl of rice
Rating:

Now we come to what really matters — the chicken rice! After a succession of relatively oily dishes, we are really digging something healthful for a change. It’s a real relief that the huge portion of skinless chicken served is non-oily. Due to the lack of sesame oil, we can taste the difference between this and the regular oily Hainanese chicken. It is less savoury but is at the same time much healthier, and hence perfectly understandable.

The rice is the star of the whole meal. Unlike the traditional way of cooking in chicken fat that results in a greasy texture, the rice is instead prepared using a special chicken stock made with chicken bones and vegetable oil. To my surprise it tastes much more fragrant than any other chicken rice I have tasted!

So if you are raring to try out some heart-healthy and tasty Hainanese chicken rice, head over to Sing Ho Hainan Chicken Rice. They have four outlets all over the island, easily recognizable from the bright red signboard and silver star.

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Sing Ho Hainan Chicken Rice

- 103/105 East Coast Road | Tel: +65 6348 8346
- 266 Middle Road | Tel: +65 6336 7880
- 195 New Bridge Road
- 10 Circular Road | Tel: +65 6535 0556

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Sin Heng Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice – This is One Mouthful

Veron Ang — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:59:51 +0000

If you are in the Bukit Merah vicinity and you happen to be craving for a warm plate of Hainanese chicken rice, head over to Sin Heng Kee along Jalan Bukit Merah. This friendly family-run stall sells some of the cheapest and yummiest chicken rice around!

Hainanese chicken rice
S$2.50 a plate / S$6 for 2-person portion of chicken with rice (above)
Rating:

I am not exaggerating when I say that the Hainanese chicken rice here is one of the best. How many times have you eaten shoddily prepared chicken rice that comes with measly portions of dry chicken meat and plain white rice instead of chicken rice? Over here, you are assured of a sumptuous meal of chicken rice with a warm bowl of soup to wash down the yumminess. Oh and did I mention the fresh tomato and cucumber too?

My family and I LOVE this stall because of its generous serving. The first time we came here, we were surprised by the huge portion of chicken breast meat we got for just $6. There was enough food for four people! Back then I had attributed the huge portion to the fact that the stall was perhaps closing for the day and had a lot of leftover chicken. But in our many subsequent visits, the portions simply grew bigger and bigger!

Moreover, it’s not just about having quantity. Sin Heng Kee certainly doesn’t compromise on the quality of the food. The rice is fragrant, savoury and non-oily while the skinless chicken meat is silky smooth and delightfully tender too. The chilli sauce and dark soy sauce are perfect with the chicken too! If I had my wish I would eat it everyday!

I simply cannot find any fault with the Sin Heng Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice, except for their somewhat drab look. But that’s not really their fault since the stall itself is clean and brightly lit, but the coffee shop as a whole isn’t in particular a cheery-looking one.

Cheap chicken rice that is delicious at the same time is quite rare these days. If you happen to drop by the area, this nondescript stall is worth checking out for a quick, no-fuss meal.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Sin Heng Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
2 Jalan Bukit Merah
Singapore 150002

Bus services: 14, 123, 147, 153, 196, 197, 198, 855, 961, 961C
Nearest MRT: Redhill

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