Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Chicken Rice

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Chicken Rice

Chicken Rice
Chicken Rice



Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2022 (across 22 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.


Also Known As:
Chicken Rice, Hainanese Chicken Rice, Nasi Ayam



Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $3 - $9









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Description:
The Chicken Rice is a Singaporean Chinese dish that consists of either roasted, poached, or braised chicken, over seasoned rice, accompanied by garnishes and dipping sauces. Its visual simplicity belies its complexity, due to its many different components. Also known as Hainanese Chicken Rice, or Nasi Ayam, the Chicken Rice dish is usually priced around SGD $3 to $9 per serving. A beloved culinary staple and a popular national dish for Singapore, it's commonly eaten during lunch, dinner, tea, or supper.


There are 3 versions of Chicken Rice. The 1st version features poached chicken, where the whole fresh bone-in chicken is marinated with salt, and stuffed with ginger and spring onions. Some stalls may use additional ingredients for the marinade, including light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, or sesame oil. The chicken is gently poached till cooked, then immediately transferred to an ice bath to halt the cooking process.

The 2nd version of roasted chicken picks up at this point, with the whole chicken being quickly flash roasted in hot vegetable or peanut oil. Served either bone-in or deboned, both poached and roasted versions of the chicken will have tender succulent moist chicken meat, with light sweet savoury salty flavour. A gravy made with a reduction of the poaching liquid and enhanced with light soy sauce and sesame oil usually accompanies, lending robust salty savoury herbal nutty flavour.

For the seasoned rice component of Chicken Rice, white rice is partially fried with chicken fat, salt, ginger, and garlic, then boiled with water, poaching liquid or chicken stock, and pandan / screwpine leaves, finished with sesame oil. The result is aromatic fluffy soft moist seasoned rice, with lovely floral earthy sweet savoury nutty flavour. The standard garnish is juicy slices of cucumber with vegetal sweet flavour, though some stalls also include bean sprouts, carrots, cherry tomatoes, coriander, fried garlic chips, or achar / Peranakan spicy pickled salad (comprising cucumber, pineapple, red onions or shallots, cherry tomato, carrots, red chili, green chili). The Chicken Rice soup usually consists of water, chicken stock or the poaching liquid, and soft Chinese cabbage or crisp spring onions, both with vegetal sweet flavour.

The 3rd version of Chicken Rice features braised chicken, where the whole fresh bone-in chicken is marinated with 5-spice powder, Chinese shaoxing rice wine, brown sugar or molasses, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon, and star anise, then gently poached till cooked. While the braised chicken meat is likewise tender succulent moist in texture, it will have robust salty sweet earthy herbal spice flavour instead. All 3 versions of Chicken Rice will have 2 dipping sauces, a sweet salty dark soy sauce, and a fiery spicy garlic chili sauce. All versions have their own fans, and I know several folks who can eat Chicken Rice daily!


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1. Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice
@ Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-07
Opening Hours: Wed - Mon 11am – 7:30pm, Closed Tue

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $5) @ Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice.

The former head chef of renowned Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Wong Liang Tai (Ah Tai) set up his own stall in February 2012.

Only the poached version is available here, but the chicken meat is fresh, tender and springy, with a thin gelatinous layer beneath the skin. Has lovely sweet savoury flavour, with the gravy lending a savoury salty nutty note.

The rice is fluffy but has a more firm bite than elsewhere, with grainy savoury flavour. Paired with dark sweet soy sauce for salty sweet notes, and vinegared chili with a tangy sour sweet spicy kick.






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2. Boon Chiang Hainanese Chicken Rice
@ 145 Teck Whye Avenue #01-151
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 8pm

@ 302 Ubi Avenue 1 #01-09
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 8:15pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $3.80) @ Boon Chiang Hainanese Chicken Rice.

With several stalls spread around Singapore, this is a fairly reliable brand.

The chicken is fresh and clean-tasting, decent medium slices in a gravy that's salty savoury. The more popular poached version has a meaty sweet savoury flavour, while the roasted version holds meaty savoury salty notes.

The rice is more mild than elsewhere, fluffy but only a faint grainy sweet savoury aroma. I like the dark sweet soy sauce with its salty savoury flavour, and the chili with its sharp tangy sour spicy kick.






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3. Boon Tong Kee
@ 399 Balestier Road
Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 11am – 2:45pm, 5pm – 9:15pm, Sat - Sun 11am – 9:15pm

@ 233 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 #01-1194
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 2:30pm, 4:45pm – 9pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $7.50) @ Boon Tong Kee.

Established since 1979, this heritage brand serves the most pricey rendition around, being among the forerunners to transit from humble eatery to full fledged zi char restaurant.

Their poached chicken is the star, to the extent that roast chicken is only available by advance order. The chicken meat is certainly satisfying with a tender bouncy chew, and fresh sweet savoury flavour.

The rice is decadently fluffy and buttery, with a glossy sheen from the chicken fat, having bold savoury sweet grainy oily flavour.

The iconic trio of dark sweet soy sauce with salty sweet savoury flavour, bright garlic chili with sharp spicy herbal sweet flavour, and crushed ginger with vegetal earthy herbal sweet spice flavour, completes this.






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4. Bugis Street Chuen Chuen Chicken Rice
@ Longhouse Food Centre, 183 Upper Thomson Road #01-06 – Stall Relocated

@ Balestier Market, 411 Balestier Road #01-12

Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 9pm

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $4.50) @ Bugis Street Chuen Chuen Chicken Rice.

Serving since 1979, this heritage brand has shifted several times of the years, each time being closely associated with their location - first in Bugis, then in Thomson Longhouse, and now in Balestier.

Folks speak well of their chicken, both poached and roasted versions, for its moist tender satisfying chew, and meaty savoury sweet salty flavour as it picks up the gravy.

The rice is fluffy and not overly oily, yet carries the aroma of the chicken fats infused within, giving it a lovely grainy savoury sweet flavour.

The chili with its bright sour spicy kick, plays a good part.






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5. Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice / Katong Mei Wei
@ Katong Shopping Centre, 865 Mountbatten Road #B1-85
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 10:45am – 7pm, Closed Mon

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2010


Taken in 2010


Taken in 2010


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $5.90) @ Katong Mei Wei.

Formerly known as Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice since their founding in 1989, 2nd-generation owner (and actor/dancer) Soki Wu carries on the family legacy serving fresh, boneless, and delicious chicken rice.

Both versions of their chicken, poached and roasted, fare much better because of the robust gravy, lending meaty salty savoury sweet flavour to the freshness of the tender chicken. Enhanced with crispy fried garlic chips with vegetal salty savoury spice notes.

The rice tends towards dry and fluffy, with mild grainy sweet flavour. But for this price, you also get a large bowl of double-boiled vegetable soup, filled with chunks of soft stewed cabbage and carrots with vegetal sweet earthy peppery spice flavour.

Also included is a unlimited serving of fresh crunchy juicy achar (cucumbers, red onions, pineapple, red chili) with bright vegetal tangy sour sweet spicy flavour, shiok.






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6. Eng Kee Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice & Porridge
@ 7 Eunos Crescent #01-2651
Opening Hours: Fri - Wed 11am – 7:30pm, Closed Thu

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2009


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $3.80) @ Eng Kee Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice & Porridge.

There was a time in my life that I lived in relative poverty, having sunk savings into a failing venture, freelancing without income security, and unable to find sustainable full time employment.

In those difficult times, I had a budget of just $5 per day (or less) for all meals. And that's why this brand holds a special place in my heart.

At just SGD $2.50 back then, their generous portions went a long way. Here, I could get a good amount of fluffy rice, fragrant with grainy savoury sweet flavour.

The chicken was medium sliced in equally generous portions, and poached or roasted, was fresh and meaty sweet savoury in flavour, with the gravy lending a fragrant salty savoury nutty aroma, so good.

For the price, they even included a good amount of cucumbers (changed to bean sprouts and carrots now) with crunchy vegetal sweet notes, as well as a warm cabbage soup.

I'm thankful to them. These days, even adjusting for inflation, they still have good portions at wallet-friendly prices.






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7. Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice & Kitchen
@ 191 East Coast Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 2am

@ 7 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 11:50pm

@ 419 River Valley Road
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 11pm

Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $6.50) @ Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice & Kitchen.

Among the famous names, this brand occupies a curious, middle-of-the-pack range, with seemingly equal numbers of fans and detractors.

Quality of dishes isn't terrible, but doesn't outshine the top names either, above average and worth a try if in the vicinity.

The rice borders moist and dry, fluffy but mild grainy sweet flavour. The chicken, poached or roasted, tends toward thin sliced with a tender texture, and good fresh meaty sweet savoury flavour.

The gravy lends decent savoury salty nutty flavour, but fades from memory. Decent dark sweet soy sauce with salty savoury earthy notes, spicy sour sweet chili, and crushed ginger with earthy spice sweet herbal flavour, completes.






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8. Fragrant Soya Sauce Chicken
@ 269B Queen Street #01-236 – Stall Relocated

@ Chinatown Complex Food Centre, 335 Smith Street #02-85

Opening Hours: Tue, Wed, Fri - Sun 7am – 3pm, Closed Mon, Thu

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $4) @ Fragrant Soya Sauce Chicken.

With over 40 years experience serving across Hong Kong and Singapore, Chef Hawker Randy is well regarded for his braised dishes.

The fresh chicken has a delightful bouncy springy chew, the chicken meat being clean-tasting and sweet, the slippery skin being savoury salty herbal in flavour.

The rice is pretty normal, fluffy and soft, but the gravy lends an addictive grainy salty herbal savoury flavour. Also appreciate the crunchy fresh kai-lan / Chinese broccoli with its vegetal bitter sweet notes.






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9. Liao Fan / Hawker Chan
@ Chinatown Complex Food Centre, 335 Smith Street #02-126
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 10:30am – 3:30pm, Closed Sun

@ 18 Tai Seng, 18 Tai Seng Street #01-02
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 8pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $5) @ Liao Fan / Hawker Chan.

Propelled to fame as the 1st hawker stall to be conferred a Michelin star (and also the least expensive 1-Michelin star meal in the world at the time), Chef Chan Hon Meng might have lost the star, but not the long queues of hungry patrons.

Still going at it everyday, just as he's done before the star. The chicken is wonderfully bouncy and tender, with the chicken meat holding clean sweet savoury notes, while the chicken skin has robust salty savoury flavour.

The rice is fluffy and lightly fragrant with mild grainy sweet flavour, juicy cucumbers, soft braised peanuts, and wobbly egg to complete.






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10. Loy Kee Chicken Rice
@ 342 Balestier Road
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 9:30pm

Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $9) @ Loy Kee Chicken Rice.

This heritage brand has a history stretching back to 1953, known for their generous set meal which is balanced and filling.

Their roast chicken is a stand out, bouncy springy tender juicy with meaty sweet savoury flavour. The fluffy rice, fragrant with garlic and chicken broth, has a lovely grainy sweet savoury flavour that complements.

The crunchy fresh kai-lan / Chinese broccoli picks up the salty savoury notes of the thick oyster sauce, while the braised egg lends an eggy sweet note.

The trinity of dipping sauces; dark sweet soy, chili, and crushed ginger, round out this satisfying meal, yum.






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11. Ma Li Ya Virgin Chicken 瑪莉亞處女雞
@ Chinatown Complex Food Centre, 335 Smith Street #02-189
Opening Hours: Wed - Thu, Sat - Sun 9am – 4pm, Closed Mon - Tue, Fri

Taken in 2012


Taken in 2012


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $4) @ Ma Li Ya Virgin Chicken.

Chef Maria Siew Pui Yin might have a tongue-in-cheek named stall, a wordplay on "Virgin Mary Chicken", but her 60+ years of experience shows.

The fresh chicken here is the most tender, bouncy, and succulent ever, with a clean meaty sweet flavour.

Her signature gravy, a blend of herbs, dark sweet soy sauce, rose wine, and sesame oil, has a distinct herbal earthy salty sweet flavour that is so addictive.

Some fluffy white rice and crisp bean sprouts, along with a spicy sour chili, round this out. She's equally famed for her braised tofu beancurd, a favourite add-on for regulars.






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12. Pow Sing Kitchen
@ 59 Serangoon Garden Way
Opening Hours: Daily 9:30am – 9:30pm

@ Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard #B2-201
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 9pm

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $6.50) @ Pow Sing Kitchen.

Founded in 1983 by Lee Chin Soo and Steven Tan, this heritage chicken rice brand is also known for their range of Peranakan dishes.

While they formerly had roast chicken readily available, they've since focused solely on poached chicken. It's clean-tasting with a light springy tender chew, mild sweet savoury flavour, nicely pleasant.

The rice is aromatic and fluffy with grainy sweet notes. As a set meal, they also serve it with a vegetable of the day, in this case, I had tender broccoli and carrots with vegetal sweet flavour.

Couldn't resist getting the add-on bakwan kepiting / minced pork and crab meat ball soup at SGD $8 too.






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13. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
@ Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-10
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 10am – 7:30pm, Closed Mon

@ 12 Jalan Pari Burong
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 10am – 9pm, Closed Mon

@ 450 Clementi Avenue 3 #01-305
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 10am – 8pm, Closed Mon

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2009


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $5) @ Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Possibly the most well regarded stall around, they've been disrupted by the recent ban on fresh chickens from Malaysia.

That said, they still have an edge over other stalls with their rice; fluffy, oily, fragrant with grainy sweet savoury flavour.

The chicken, at least before the ban, was succulent juicy tender bouncy, with meaty sweet savoury flavour that is refreshing. The poached version is slightly better than the roast version for me, though both have the salty savoury nutty gravy.

Served with juicy sliced cucumbers with vegetal sweet flavour, and a light chicken broth. Pair with the trinity of dipping sauces; dark sweet soy, chili, crushed ginger.






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14. Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
@ Tiong Bahru Market & Hawker Centre, 30 Seng Poh Road #02-82
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 10am – 8pm, Closed Mon

@ 56 Smith Street
Opening Hours: Daily 10:30am – 11pm

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $4.50) @ Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice.

Hawker Cheong Weng Wah still helms this brand, known for being among the earliest pioneers (since 1988) of the ice-blanch technique which renders optimal tenderness of the chicken meat and silkiness of the skin.

Both poached and roasted versions are equally popular, having clean meaty sweet savoury flavour, with the tender moist succulent texture of the chicken. The gravy lends a light salty savoury herbal taste, yum.

The fluffy rice is fragant with grainy sweet herbal spice notes, having been infused with ginger, garlic, red onions, and spring onions.

A duo of vegetables, juicy cucumbers with vegetal sweet notes, and crunchy pickled mustard greens with vegetal salty sweet earthy herbal flavour, are served alongside. Completed with the trio of dipping sauces.






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15. Tong Fong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
@ ABC Brickworks, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-32
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 10am – 9pm, Closed Wed

@ Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre, 22A Toa Payoh Lorong 7 #01-24
Opening Hours: Wed - Mon 8am – 8pm, Closed Tue

@ Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, 208B New Upper Changi Road #01-03
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 8pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Chicken Rice (SGD $4.50) @ Tong Fong Fatt Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice.

This brand has many oulets across Singapore, but they generally function individually, like a loose collection of stalls that just share a common supplier.

Since there's so much independence, some stalls only sell poached chicken, while others have roast chicken on their menu.

Quality differs as well, though I find the outlets in Bukit Merah, Toa Payoh, Amoy, and Bedok, to be pretty good. The chicken is thin sliced but tender and juicy, the gravy lending a meaty savoury salty sweet nutty note.

The rice is medium oily, fragrant with grainy savoury sweet flavour. Sliced cucumbers with vegetal sweet flavour, a full-flavoured cloudy chicken broth, and the trio of dipping sauces complete.






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16. Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice
@ Novena Ville, 275 Thomson Road #01-05 – Stall Relocated

@ United Square, 101 Thomson Road #01-08

Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 9pm

@ Causeway Point, 1 Woodlands Square #04-01
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 10pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2010


Taken in 2010


Taken in 2010


Taken in 2010


Taken in 2010


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $6.40) @ Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice.

Founded by Wee Toon Ouut in 1987, this beloved brand is today among the most popular and accessible around, serving a good rendition along other home-style comfort food.

The chicken has a tender, juicy, slightly springy chew, with pleasant meaty sweet savoury flavour, enhanced with a touch of salty sweet savoury nutty notes from the gravy.

The poached chicken is more clean-tasting with a thin gelatinous layer beneath the slippery skin, while the equally popular roasted chicken has a faint smoky aroma and a slightly crisp skin.

The long-grain rice is soft and loose, gently slick but not overly greasy, with lovely grainy savoury sweet flavour. The sliced juicy cucumbers and crisp spring onions lend vegetal sweet flavour.

Served with dark sweet soy sauce with salty savoury sweet flavour, crushed ginger with herbal sweet spice notes, chili with spicy savoury kick, and a clear chicken broth.






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17. Whampoa Nan Xiang Chicken Rice
@ Whampoa Makan Place, 90 Whampoa Drive #01-21
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 9pm

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $5) @ Whampoa Nan Xiang Chicken Rice.

Chef hawker Nancy Lim set up her stall in December 1986, and has gained a loyal following over the years.

Their rice is a stand out, fried then infused with ginger and spring onions, giving it a fluffy texture with grainy savoury sweet earthy flavour.

The chicken, poached or roasted, has a bouncy tender juicy satisfying chew, with natural sweet savoury flavour. Interestingly, the sauce differs from elsewhere, being light with sweet savoury notes, highlighting the freshness of the meat.

The crunchy sliced cucumbers with vegetal sweet notes, lovely warm clear chicken broth, and trio of dipping sauces round out this meal.






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18. Yishun 925 Hainanese Chicken Rice
@ 925 Yishun Central 1 #01-249
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

@ 261 Serangoon Central Drive #01-15
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 8pm

Multiple Other Branches Across Singapore

Taken in 2016


Taken in 2016


Taken in 2016


Taken in 2016


Taken in 2016


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Taken in 2021


Chicken Rice (SGD $5.50) @ Yishun 925 Hainanese Chicken Rice.

This franchise was certainly affected by the recent disruption to supply of fresh chickens, with their serving of chicken increasingly being thin sliced.

Still, be it poached or roasted, the highlight is their gravy, robust with meaty savoury salty sweet nutty flavour, infusing the tender chewy chicken meat.

The fluffy oily rice is properly decadent with grainy savoury sweet flavour, while the juicy sliced cucumbers and achar / pickled Peranakan salad carry vegetal sweet sour tangy zesty notes.

Completed with a cloudy but tasty chicken broth. Expect a short queue, though it moves quickly.






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- Hai Nan Xu Ji Chicken Rice – Quality Different From Before
@ 84 Marine Parade Central Market And Food Centre, 84 Marine Parade Central #01-144

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2009


Taken in 2009


Taken in 2009


Taken in 2009


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022


Taken in 2022






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- Kampong Chicken Restaurant – Permanently Closed
@ 24 Tanjong Katong Road

Taken in 2011






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- Tong Seng Coffee Shop – Permanently Closed
@ 496 North Bridge Road

Taken in 2011


Taken in 2011






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- Zheng Yuan Roasted Delights – Stall No Longer Sells This
@ 261 Serangoon Central Drive #01-15

Taken in 2009


Taken in 2009






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