5 Best Chicken Rice in Singapore to Die For

best-chicken-rice-singapore
best-chicken-rice-singapore

Hainanese chicken rice is one of few local dishes served on the menu of Singapore Airlines. It is also listed at number 45 on the World’s 50 most delicious foods compiled by CNN Go in 2011.

Chicken rice can be found anywhere in Singapore, from hawker stalls, and franchised outlets to restaurants. This tasty and reasonably priced food is one of the daily meal choices of locals and travelers. Herein are the 5 best Chicken Rice in Singapore you should check out.

See also: The 5 Best Chilli Crab in Singapore

1. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell

tian-tian-chicken-rice singapore
tian-tian-chicken-rice singapore
Image: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
  • Best for
    Michelin-rated chicken rice at hawker prices
  • Price
    $5 per plate
  • Address
    1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
  • Phone
    +65 9691 4852
  • Opening hours
    Tue to Sun: 11:00 – 20:00 (or earlier if sold out)
  • Highlights

    • Fragrant and tasty rice: Rice sounds simple, but is the cornerstone of Tian Tian. The rice is cooked in the chicken stock to perfection – full of flavour and oily as the way Hainanese chicken rice should be.
    • Reasonable prices: A decent portion of chicken and rice plus a bowl of chicken broth costs 5.00 Singapore dollars. Basically, it is the usual price for any hawker foods in Singapore. But we can say that Tian Tian’s price is a steal for its good quality and taste.

    HOW IS THE CHICKEN?
    When it comes to chicken rice, people’s expectations about the chicken are as equal as the rice. Although the rice at Tian Tian has been praised more than the chicken, diners still find that the chicken is tender, juicy, smooth and flavourful. The chicken itself is pretty bland, but it is intentionally designed to make a good companion to the chilli and dark soy sauces. They complement each other perfectly.

    ATMOSPHERE: At Tian Tian, you will definitely experience a typical ambience of a hawker centre as this food stall is located at Maxwell Food Centre, a popular food court in Singapore. The place is non-air-conditioned and crowded, so be prepared that it is sweltering.

    NOTES:

    • There is always a long queue at Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice and the average waiting time is around twenty minutes.
    • There is a window to order and make payments and another to collect the food so be prepared that you will be staying in the right line.

    ALL TIAN TIAN’S LOCATIONS:
    @ Maxwell Food Centre
    Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
    Tel: (65) 9691 4852
    Opening hours: Tue to Sun 11:00 – 20:00

    @ Bedok
    Address: 12 Jalan Pari Burong, Singapore 488678
    Tel: +65 6448 0120
    Opening hours: Tue to Sun 11:00 – 21:00

    @ Clementi
    Address: 450 Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120450
    Tel: +65 9771 2985
    Opening hours: Tue to Sun 10:00 – 20:00

    2. Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice at Balestier

    boon-tong-kee chicken rice
    boon-tong-kee chicken rice
    Image: Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice
  • Best for
    Late-night chicken rice
  • Prices
    $5 per single portion
  • Address
    399/401/403 Balestier Road, Singapore 329801
  • Phone
    +65 6254 3937
  • Opening hours
    Mon to Sat: 11:00 – 16:45, 17:30 – 04:30
    Sun: 11:00 – 16:45, 17:30 – 03:00
  • Website
  • Highlights

    • A place to have chicken rice day and night: It is not difficult to find a place with good chicken rice for lunch or diner in Singapore. But it not easy to find a good one for late-night dining. Opened till 04:30, Boon Tong Kee is where we can have tasty chicken rice at any time, even in the middle of the night.
    • True taste of chicken rice in a comfortable restaurant: For those who want to taste a good plate of chicken rice but cannot stand the sweltering temperatures in Singapore, Boon Tong Kee is an ideal choice. The place is air-conditioned, clean, bright, and comfortable.
    • An extensive menu that goes beyond chicken rice: Boon Tong Kee offers not only chicken rice but also a good selection of Chinese home-style foods. It is convenient for those who wish to have more foods than just chicken rice in one meal.

    HOW IS THE CHICKEN RICE?
    At Boon Tong Kee, chicken, rice, and dipping sauce are served separately and beautifully. The rice is fragrant and not too oily. The chicken is firm yet smooth and tender. The ginger and chilli sauce is a little bit sweet in comparison with its counterparts at other chicken rice places.

    MUST-TRIES:

    • Imperial chicken
    • Kailan with oyster sauce
    • Steamed cod fish
    • Crispy tofu
    • Century egg spinach
    • Claypot tofu

    AVERAGE PRICE PER PAX: S$19

    NOTES:

    • The restaurant is often packed out so be prepared to wait.
    • An extra amount of S$2 will be charged for any clay pot dishes ordered.

    ALL BOON TONG KEE’S LOCATIONS:
    @ Balestier
    Address: 399 /401 /403 Balestier Road, Singapore 329801
    Tel: (65) 6254 3937
    Opening hours:

    • Mon to Sat: 11:00 – 16:45, 17:30 – 04:30
    • Sun: 11:00 – 16:45, 17:30 – 03:00

    @ River Valley
    Address: 425 River Valley Road, Singapore 248324
    Tel: (65) 6736 3213
    Opening hours:

    • Mon to Sat: 11:15 – 16:00, 16:30 – 04:00
    • Sun: 11:15 – 16:00, 16:30 – 03:00

    @ MacPherson
    Address: 470 /472 MacPherson Road, Singapore 368188
    Tel: (65) 6746 2774
    Opening hours:

    • Tue to Sat: 11:00 – 14:30, 17:00 – 21:45
    • Sun: 11:00 – 14:30, 17:00 – 20:45

    @ Whampoa West
    Address: Blk 34 Whampoa West #01-93, S330034 (Beside Boon Keng MRT Station Exit B)
    Tel: (65) 6299 9880
    Opening hours:

    • Mon to Fri: 11:00 – 14:45, 17:15 – 22:00
    • Sat, Sun & PH: 11:00 – 15:00, 15:30 – 22:00

    @ East Coast
    Address: 199 East Coast Road, Singapore 428902
    Tel: (65) 6478 1462
    Opening hours:

    • Mon to Fri: 11:00 – 14:45, 17:15 – 22:00
    • Sat, Sun, PH: 11:00. 15:00, 15:30 – 22:00

    @ Bukit Timah
    Address: 18 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599742
    Tel: (65) 6463 2289
    Opening hours:

    • Mon to Fri: 11:00 – 14:45, 15:30 – 01:00
    • Sat, Sun & PH: 11:00 – 15:00, 15:30 – 01:00

    @ Ang Mo Kio
    Address: Blk 233 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 #01-1194, Singapore 560233
    Tel: (65) 6457 2696
    Opening hours:

    • Mon to Fri: 11:00 – 15:00, 17:30 – 22:00
    • Sat, Sun & PH: 11:00 – 22:00

    @ Num Hiam Curry
    Address: Blk 350 Jurong East Ave 1 #01-1227, Singapore 600350
    Tel: (65) 6569 2963
    Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 – 21:30

    3. Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice

    wee-nam-kee-chicken-rice
    wee-nam-kee-chicken-rice
    Image: Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
  • Best for
    A mixed plate of steamed & roasted chicken rice
  • Prices
    • S$4.80 (single portion)
    • S$8.50 (a quarter of chicken)
    • S$16 (half chicken)
  • Address
    101 Thomson Road, #01-08 United Square, Singapore 307591
  • Phone
    +65 6255 6396
  • Opening hours
    Daily 10:30 – 22:00
  • Website
  • Highlights

    • One of the best dipping sauce for chicken rice: The combination of chilli sauce, ginger paste, and dark soy sauce makes up a perfect condiment to go with chicken rice. No doubt, this is the thing that makes the chicken rice meal. And Wee Nam Kee is famous for its outstanding sauce, a mixture of spicy chilli sauce, yellow pasty ginger, and silky, thick and less salty dark soy sauce.
    • A place to have a plate of mixed chicken: When it comes to chicken rice in Singapore, the steamed white chicken is often seen but there is another version offered at some restaurants – roasted chicken. And just because the roasted chicken is done so nicely at Wee Nam Kee, a lot of diners want to have both the steamed and roasted chicken on one plate.

    HOW IS THE CHICKEN RICE?
    When we order chicken rice at Wee Nam Kee, a fragrant bowl of chicken broth will come first, followed by chicken and rice. The broth is tasty enough to boost your appetite. The chicken is tender and quite lean in comparison with its other counterparts. The rice is fluffy and not too oily. A chicken rice plate for one person costs S$4.80. You can also get a quarter of chicken at S$8.50 and a half chicken at S$16.

    OTHER DISHES: Besides chicken rice, Wee Nam Kee also offers a decent range of home-style dishes which are often found at zi char places in Singapore such as cereal prawns, sambal kang kong, and hotplate tofu.

    ATMOSPHERE: The spacious, clean, and air-conditioned eatery at United Square is often packed with local fans of chicken rice. This restaurant features an energetic ambiance for a traditional dish.

    AVERAGE PRICE/PAX: S$10

    NOTES:

    • It is always worth calling ahead to make a booking.
    • At peak times, you may have to share a table with others.

    4. Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice

    Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice Singapore
    Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice Singapore
    Image: Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice
  • Best for
    Chicken rice in a nostalgic ambience
  • Prices
    • $7 (special set)
    • $15 (half chicken)
    • $28 (whole chicken)
  • Address
    342 Balestier Road, Singapore 329774
  • Phone
    +65 6252 2318
  • Opening hours
    Daily 09:30 - 22:30
  • Website
  • Highlights

    • Loy Kee Special Set – a balanced meal: Loy Kee Special Set is a highlight at Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice. Including chicken, rice, vegetables, and soup served in a wooden tray, this special set offers a balanced way of having chicken rice. The portion is generous enough for a big eater.
    • A place to have chicken rice for breakfast: If you have an appetite for chicken rice in the morning, Loy Kee could be your culinary destination. There are a number of chicken rice places along Balestier road, but Loy Kee is the one opening earliest.

    HOW IS THE CHICKEN RICE?
    When ordering Loy Kee Special Set, you can choose either steamed chicken or roasted chicken to be served in the set. The roasted chicken with the crispy skin and tender meat has been complimented more than the steamed. The rice is fragrant with garlic and chicken broth flavors. The vegetables are fresh and prepared in a light soy sauce. Including three components – chili sauce, ginger paste, and dark soy sauce, the dipping sauce at Loy Kee is good enough to provide a kick for the meal.

    OTHER DISHES: Besides tasty chicken rice, other dishes at Loy Kee are quite impressive. This eatery features a selection of breakfast dishes such as kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, chee cheong fun, and porridge. Side dishes, vegetables, and soup are also offered on its menu.

    RECOMMENDED DISHES:

    • Loy Kee Special Set
    • Signature Hainanese beef stew
    • Char siew
    • Chicken porridge
    • Seafood steamboat

    ATMOSPHERE: Loy Kee has a nostalgic atmosphere for traditional fare. Furnished with wooden tables, old-style chairs, and swirling fans, Loy Kee at Balestier road still remains its old-day look after renovation. The place is air-conditioned and clean.

    AVERAGE PRICE/PAX: S$10

    5. Chatterbox

    chatterbox
    chatterbox
    Image: Chatterbox
  • Best for
    A luxury meal of chicken rice
  • Prices
    $36 per set
  • Address
    Level 5 Mandarin Orchard Hotel, 333 Orchard Road
  • Phone
    +65 6831 6291
  • Opening hours
    Sun to Thu: 11.00 – 01:00
    Fri, Sat & PH: 10:00 – 02:00
  • Table reservation
    Book a table
  • Highlights

    • Chicken rice at a 5-star hotel: Situated on level 5 of Mandarin Orchard, a 5-star hotel in the heart of Orchard, Chatterbox offers a high-end dining experience for a local’s everyday dish. It is a place to treat overseas guests to a traditional meal in a posh ambience.
    • A wine list to go with chicken rice: For those who love to have either red wine or white wine to enhance the dish and the dining experience, Chatterbox offers a wine list to satisfy such needs. And if you want something more, the hotel bar is at your service.

    HOW IS THE CHICKEN RICE?
    Chatterbox’s chicken rice is one of the best in town. The portion is generous. The soup is praised more than any other components of the meal. The chicken meat is lean, tender, and juicy. Generous amounts of chilli sauce, ginger paste, and dark soy sauce are separately served in three small containers. These condiments are fresh and full of flavor.

    OTHER DISHES: Aside from chicken rice, Chatterbox serves a beautiful selection of Asian delights such as lobster laksa, king prawn fried Hokkien noodles, satay, beef kway teow, and roasted Wagyu beef sandwich.

    MUST-TRIES:

    • Hainanese chicken rice
    • Lobster laksa
    • Nasi lemak
    • Herbal bak kut teh
    • Mandarin coconut ice cream

    ATMOSPHERE: In a prime location for accessing anything, Chatterbox is there for chicken rice, a dish is normally seen at food courts and coffee shops. Spacious and modern, Chatterbox features a posh ambience for traditional fare. The place is often packed with overseas diners. Sitting by the windows, you can have a great view of the energetic Orchard.

    AVERAGE PRICE/PAX: S$36 (including service fees and GST) for a set of chicken rice

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