5 Best Chicken Rice in Singapore Every Food Lover Should Try

Tian Tian has been voted as the best chicken rice hawker stall in Singapore by local foodies. Anthony Bourdain, an American celebrity chef, host of Travel Channel’s culinary, has reported that “Chicken rice is so fragrant and delicious that it can be eaten on its own”.

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

With 8 outlets, Boon Tong Kee has been a popular chicken rice food chain in Singapore. Rich in history and consistent in quality, this restaurant chain has established a loyal following for its high-quality chicken rice concept. Among its outlets, Boon Tong Kee at Balestier road is voted the best one.

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

Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice is a food chain with four outlets in Singapore. The outlet at United Square has recently been set up to replace the original one at Novena Ville. The new outlet covers itself with a brighter look while still remains the same food quality. Wee Nam Kee has been crowned as Top Hawker at AsiaOne People's Choice Award 2010.

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.

Established in 1953, Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice has been considered an icon of Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore. Started from a small stall at Raymond Market, Loy Kee now has two outlets. One is located on Balestier road and the other one stands on Woodlands Ave.

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

Being an award-winning restaurant for Hainanese chicken rice, Chatterbox has proudly called itself “Home of the Legendary Mandarin Chicken Rice”. When Mandarin Orchard Singapore started its operation in 1971, Chatterbox has been opened to serve this traditional dish in a modern atmosphere.

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, and beef hor fun.

MUST-TRIES:

• Mandarin chicken rice
• Lobster laksa
• Herbal bak kut teh
• Signature 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