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The Best Chicken Rice in Singapore Worth All That Grease!
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Boon Tong Kee
- Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
- Chatterbox
- Hai Ge Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Ji De Lai Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Hoe Kee Kitchen
- People’s Park Hainanese Chicken Rice
- Hup Hong Chicken Rice
- Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice
- Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant
Ask any Singaporean what they think the country’s signature dish is, and you’ll find that most will answer Hainanese chicken rice. This dish seems so simple, but it’s bursting with umami flavors and is super hearty.
Plus, it’s readily available anywhere and always affordable since it’s mostly found in hawker centers.
If you’re a tourist coming to Singapore soon and you want to try this iconic dish, you have to check out these dining spots. They serve the best chicken rice dishes, in my opinion.
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—10 am to 7:30 pm
Contact Number: +6596914852
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice has been featured in the Michelin Guide, so it’s safe to say that the chicken rice here is absolutely excellent.
The first thing you’ll be hit by is a wave of aromatic scent from the plate. It smells so good you’ll be drooling! Once you take a bite, you can feel the slightly springy skin and the velvety meat underneath.
The chicken is slathered with the stall’s special sauce, which tastes both briny and sweet. Sometimes, I scoop spoonfuls of the sauce onto the rice for even more flavor.
Pro Tip:
- This is one of the most popular stalls inside the hawker center, so expect a long queue no matter the time of day. The queue might seem intimidating, but don’t worry because it moves fast.
Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice
From: therantingpanda
Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-07 Maxwell Food Centre
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Monday—11 am to 7:30 pm
Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice is another stall located inside Maxwell Food Center, and the locals joke that this stall and Tian Tian are at a “chicken rice war.” Apparently, there’s some history between the owners of the two stalls.
I don’t want to poke my nose in this drama, so I’ll just say that both stalls are amazing and deserve everyone’s love. The flavors of Ah Tai’s chicken rice tend to be on the muted side, but I don’t mind because their chili sauce lifts the dish. The sauce’s spiciness also helps in cleaning the greasiness of the rice.
Pro Tip:
- I recommend coming past the peak hours (around 12 pm to 1 pm) so that you won’t get stuck in a queue.
Boon Tong Kee
From: boontongkee_sg
Address: Balestier Rd, #399 401 & 403
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11 am to 3 pm, 5 pm to 11 pm
- Saturday—11 am to 11 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 10:30 pm
Contact Number: +6562543937
Boon Tong Kee started as a small stall in Chinatown, but over time, it’s grown enough that it has its own physical restaurant. This spot offers a good variety of Chinese dishes, but the main highlight is undoubtedly the chicken rice.
I love to get the Chicken Rice Combo Set 6 because it’s loaded, making it a perfect dish to eat for lunch. The chicken meat is tender and mellow in its savory flavors, while the rice is fluffy and fragrant. In addition to the chicken, this dish has a springy beancurd, sweet and sour fish fillet, and savory and spicy pork ribs.
Pro Tips:
- If you’re planning an event, you can book this restaurant’s catering services.
- If you like the dipping sauce served with your dish, you can buy a jar from the restaurant. They also sell other ingredients like pastes and powders.
Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
From: xingyunhainanesechickenrice
Address: 347 Jurong East Ave 1, #01-202 Yuhua Market and Hawker Center
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Sunday—7 am to 2 pm
Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is another stall that has been recognised by the Michelin Guide, making it popular among locals. It also opens and closes much earlier than other stalls, so I tend to come here for breakfast instead of lunch.
What I love about the chicken rice dish here is that the rice is moist. I assume it’s been soaked with chicken oil or something because it’s so aromatic and tastes like the chicken meat. As for the chicken meat, it’s silky and succulent, and it has a distinct sesame oil flavor.
Pro Tip:
- If you find the dish too greasy, eat the pineapple it’s served with. The fruit helps in getting rid of the greasiness, allowing you to eat more chicken rice.
Chatterbox
From: chatterboxsg
Address: 333 Orchard Rd, #05-03 Hilton Singapore Orchard
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—11:30 am to 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm
- Friday to Sunday—11:30 am to 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +6568316291
Chatterbox is a restaurant that honors Singapore’s diverse cuisine, so of course, chicken rice is part of the menu. Their take is definitely on the modern side, but I don’t mind it. If anything, it makes me appreciate chicken rice all the more.
Their chicken rice has meat that’s super plump and juicy, thanks to the laborious process of cooking it into an aromatic stock before slowly steaming it. The best way I can describe its flavor profile is that it comes in waves—first, savory and umami, and then herby and salty, and back again.
Pro Tip:
- If you want to hold a private event here, send your request to [email protected].
Hai Ge Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice
From: haigejichickenrice
Address: 783 N Bridge Rd
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Contact Number: +6594782070
Looking for a halal spot that serves chicken rice? Then, look no further because that’s exactly what you’ll get at Hai Ge Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice.
The great thing about this restaurant is that their Hainanese chicken rice is a well-balanced meal. Aside from the chicken and the rice, it also has vegetables, so you’ll really get your nutrients in.
The flavors are impeccable as well. I love that the rice has a hint of savoriness, and the chicken is oozing with umami. I can devour the chicken rice as is, without any sauce at all.
Pro Tip:
- This restaurant has limited space, so if you’re coming with a group, I recommend calling them to book your spot ahead of time.
Ji De Lai Hainanese Chicken Rice
From: wengjincai
Address: 105 Yishun Ring Rd, #01-152 Chong Pang Food Centre
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—7:30 am to 7:30 pm
Contact Number: +6597988788
I’ll forever be screaming about Ji De Lai Hainanese Chicken Rice because it’s so underrated. More people need to check it out!
This hawker stall lets you choose between steamed chicken or roasted chicken for your rice meal.
I personally like the roasted version; the smokiness and slight crispiness of the skin make every bite even more delicious. The rice is a bit greasy, but it’s not to the point that I get sick of it.
If you do get sick of the greasiness, there’s an accompanying soup that washes down all the grease. It also tastes slightly sweet, which I like.
Pro Tip:
- For more flavor, I recommend eating the chicken meat with the chili and ginger paste. It packs quite the spicy punch.
Hoe Kee Kitchen
From: mightyfoodie
Address: 505 Jurong West Street 51, #01-39, 505 Jurong West Market and Food Centre
Operating Hours:
- Monday—10:30 am to 3 pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday—10 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—8:15 am to 6 pm
Hoi Kee Kitchen offers some of the cheapest prices for chicken rice, so I always recommend this spot to anyone who’s on a budget.
Despite being relatively cheaper than other spots, Hoe Kee Kitchen delivers amazing flavors. The chicken is pretty mellow, but the sauce adds garlicky and zesty notes. Meanwhile, the rice is fluffy and soft, but it is kind of dry. That’s why I love to douse it with the sauce to moisten it up a bit.
Pro Tip:
- Sometimes, this stall has a queue even when it’s not yet open. I recommend coming here as early as possible because they get sold out pretty fast.
People’s Park Hainanese Chicken Rice
From: thamciak_
Address: New Market Rd, #03-1054 Blk 32 People’s Park Food Centre
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Funnily enough, People’s Park Hainanese Chicken Rice is best known for its roast duck, but the titular chicken rice is noteworthy as well. The best part about this spot is that it’s open 24 hours, so if you’re craving chicken rice at night, you know where to go.
I love that the rice is perfumed with garlic. Even from afar, I can already tell just how delicious the dish will be! As for the chicken itself, it’s tender and juicy, and its skin is almost gelatinous in texture. A dollop of chili oil, and the dish becomes even more delicious.
Pro Tip:
- The stall’s peak hours are around 6 am to 8 am. I recommend coming here around lunchtime (preferably around 12:30 pm to 1 pm) instead.
Hup Hong Chicken Rice
From: coldbutter.sg
Address: 254 Jurong East St 24, #01-51 Yuhua Village Market and Food Centre
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—11:30 am to 5:30 pm
If you’re in the Jurong area, try Hup Hong Chicken Rice. Located inside Yuhua Village Market and Food Center, it’s beloved by both the locals and the Michelin Guide.
Every time I come here, I find a long queue, so I have no choice but to wait for at least 30 minutes. But the wait is always worth it because the chicken is incredibly succulent, with a springy skin. It’s not greasy at all, which is definitely its best feature.
You can even order a chicken rice and char siew fan combo if you want a sweet-savory pork to pair with your delicate chicken.
Pro Tip:
- This stall closes as early as 2 pm because of its popularity, so I recommend coming here early.
Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice
From: lets.eat_some_food
Address: 40 Holland Drive, #01-39 Stall Chang Cheng Mee Wah Coffeeshop
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—11 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +6584287865
When my mom still worked in Queenstown, Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice was her go-to lunch spot. Sometimes, I ate with her there, and now that I returned as an adult, I’m happy to say that their chicken rice still hits.
As much as possible, I try to get the chicken thigh for my chicken rice meal because I find it more flavorful. The meat is moist, velvety, and bouncy, and it soaks up the savory-spicy flavors from the sauce well.
The rice is also moist and well-seasoned. I actually think I can eat the rice as is.
Pro Tips:
- This place only accepts cash, so keep that in mind.
- It gets crowded during lunch. I recommend coming earlier or sometime in the afternoon.
Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant
From: zentayyj
Address: 201 Upper Thomson Rd
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10:45 am to 8:30 pm
Contact Number: +6596379168
Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant has been around since 1968, so the fact that it’s still standing to this day is a testament to the food quality here.
Because I’m a chicken rice fan, I of course have to get the whole chicken. It’s perfectly chopped and soaked in its rich, umami sauce and drippings. I love to scoop spoonfuls of it onto the bed of fragrant rice or slurp on the sauce itself.
Biting into the chicken meat feels like biting into velvet—it’s just so smooth!
Pro Tip:
- If it’s your first time ordering from the website, you can enjoy 10% off your order with the code NKC10. Just make sure you’re spending at least S$70.
