Chin Mee Chin @ Nex - The 101-Year-Old Confectionery Ventures Beyond Katong

After more than a century in Katong, Chin Mee Chin has finally ventured beyond its East Coast home with a new outlet at NEX. Founded in 1925, the heritage confectionery is best known for its old-school bakes, kaya toast and traditional kopi, served against its unmistakably nostalgic backdrop.

Ham & Cheese Danish 2.8/5

Choux au Craquelin

Kaya Custard & Dark Chocolate Choux au Craquelin 2.8/5

Among the new and outlet-exclusive offerings are the Ham & Cheese Danish ($3.60) and Choux au Craquelin, available in Kaya Custard ($3) and Dark Chocolate ($3). Unfortunately, neither really impressed us. The Danish was served at room temperature and was rather hard, and given its small size, I didn’t find it particularly worth the price. The Choux au Craquelin fared slightly better, although the cream filling tasted somewhat artificial to me. Between the two flavours, I preferred the Kaya Custard over the Dark Chocolate. On the plus side, both were thankfully not overly sweet.

Smashed Fried Chicken w Housemade Sambal Sandwich 3.5/5

They also offer a selection of ready-to-eat sandwiches, and we tried the Smashed Fried Chicken with Housemade Sambal ($8.80). The portion is decent, with soft bread and well-seasoned fried chicken, but the sandwich doesn’t quite hold everything together—be prepared for a slightly messy meal. I was hoping for a stronger kick from the housemade sambal as its flavour was rather faint, but the nicely seasoned fried chicken helped make up for it.

Kaya Toast 4/5

The best thing we tried was, unsurprisingly, one of Chin Mee Chin’s classics — the Kaya Toast ($2.80 à la carte). Its signature kaya has that familiar slightly curdled appearance and is generously spread over a soft, round bun with a slab of butter. Unlike at the original outlet, the buns here are not charcoal-toasted. In fact, the ones we had barely seemed toasted at all, which was a little disappointing. Still, the combination of soft bun, kaya and butter remains comforting and nostalgic, and this is easily the one item I would return for.

Kaya Cloud Kopi 3.5/5

We also tried two outlet-exclusive drinks. The Kaya Cloud Kopi ($5.50) comes topped with a creamy foam carrying a subtle kaya flavour. It reminded us of Starbucks’ recent National Day creation, though once the foam mixes into the kopi, the kaya flavour becomes almost indistinguishable.

Roselle Cucumber Tea 1/5

The Roselle Cucumber Tea ($4.50), unfortunately, was the weakest item of the meal. It tasted predominantly like cucumber-infused water and didn’t leave much of an impression. I’d stick to Chin Mee Chin’s regular local-style kopi or teh instead.

The 26-seat self-service cafe gives Chin Mee Chin’s nostalgic identity a more contemporary interpretation. It features familiar details from the original outlet, with an open bakery display and a visible coffee counter.

Being inside NEX makes Chin Mee Chin much more accessible for those who don’t often make the trip to Katong, although the limited seating means the outlet can get very busy. The new and exclusive items were a mixed bag for us, with some needing a little more refinement.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.

Chin Mee Chin
NEX
23 Serangoon Central
B2-60/61
Singapore 556083
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Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT Station. Take Exit B, G or H. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]

Hill Street Chicken Rice Delights (禧街鸡饭) @ Peninsula Shopping Complex - New Chicken Rice Stall Hidden Inside A Shopping Mall

Chicken rice is one of those dishes that never really goes out of style, and there is always room for another stall to join the scene. One of the newer additions is Hill Street Chicken Rice Delights (禧街鸡饭), a newly opened stall tucked away inside Peninsula Shopping Complex. Beyond the usual Poached Chicken and Roasted Chicken, the stall also offers a wider selection including Fried Chicken Cutlet Rice, Salted Baked Chicken Rice and Nan Ru Fried Pork Belly, along with a variety of sides and braised items. So if you are dining with a group, there’s plenty to choose from.

We started with the Roasted Chicken ($19 Half Chicken), which came with beautifully glossy skin coated in a soy and honey glaze. The glaze delivers rich, concentrated savouriness with lovely caramelised depth, balanced by earthy, subtly sweet notes from the honey. Despite the glaze’s richness and the chicken skin, I found it surprisingly easy to eat without feeling overly greasy or heavy. More importantly, the meat underneath remained tender, juicy and succulent, making each bite satisfying without being too rich.

Roasted Chicken 4.2/5

The chicken is good, but I think the condiments really complete the experience. The Garlic-Chilli Sauce packs a fiery kick with a bright, garlicky punch, while the fresh Ginger-Scallion Sauce adds a more aromatic, refreshing lift. Even the Dark Soya Sauce is worth mentioning, with a thick, sweet and fragrant profile.

Of course, a good plate of chicken rice is never just about the chicken. The rice here is fragrant and fluffy, with the grains infused with chicken essence. They are moist, plump and glossy, with enough savoury depth to complement the sweet-savoury profile of the roasted chicken. Personally, I prefer my chicken rice grains with a slightly firmer bite, so I would have liked the texture a little firmer. But this is very much a matter of personal preference, and the rice itself has good flavour.

Poached Chicken 4.2/5

The Poached Chicken ($19 Half Chicken) was equally enjoyable, especially if you prefer something lighter and more straightforward. The meat was exceptionally tender, silky and succulent, with the flesh remaining moist and juicy without feeling undercooked. It has a clean, naturally sweet poultry flavour, with gentle poaching aromatics that enhance rather than overpower the chicken.

Between the two, I would probably alternate depending on my mood — the Roasted Chicken for something richer and more caramelised, and the Poached Chicken when I want to taste the chicken’s natural sweetness.

Mixed Organ 3.5/5

Braised Egg, Tofu, Beancurd 3.8/5

For those who enjoy chicken innards, the Mixed Organ ($3/$5) comes with both chicken liver and gizzard. The liver was soft and creamy, while the gizzard offered a firmer, slightly crunchy bite. It is a simple side but works well with the chicken rice, especially with a little chilli and dark soya sauce.

You can also add a selection of braised items to make your meal more substantial. We had the Braised Egg ($1), Braised Tofu ($1) and Braised Beancurd ($1.20). Of the three, the Braised Tofu stood out for me. It had a soft and silky texture and soaked up the savoury braising sauce nicely. Definitely one I would get again as a simple accompaniment to the chicken rice.

Oyster Sauce Vegetable 3/5

Oyster Sauce Bean Sprouts 3.5/5

For some greens, there are Oyster Sauce Vegetable ($5/$8) and Oyster Sauce Bean Sprouts ($4/$7). Between the two, I preferred the bean sprouts. They retained a nice crunch and came topped with fried shallots, which added a fragrant, slightly crispy finish and made the dish more interesting.

Nan Ru Fried Pork Belly 3.5/5

The Nan Ru Fried Pork Belly is another option if you are looking beyond chicken. The pork belly is marinated in Nan Ru, or fermented red bean curd, giving it a distinctive savoury umami flavour with a subtle sweetness and plenty of depth. The exterior is deep-fried until golden and crisp, while the meat inside remains tender, juicy and succulent. The crispy outer layer contrasts nicely with the softer, fatty pork belly within. You can order it on its own to share, or as a dedicated Nan Ru Pork Rice set.

Fried Chicken Cutlet 3.5/5

For something a little different, the stall also offers Fried Chicken Cutlet in three flavours — Original, Wasabi Mayo and Salted Egg. The cutlet has a crispy, golden-brown crust, while the meat stays tender, juicy, and moist. One thing to note, however, is that Hill Street Chicken Rice Delights is primarily a chicken rice stall rather than a fried chicken specialist. The cutlets are prepared beforehand rather than deep-fried to order, so they may not have that just-out-of-the-fryer heat and crispness you would get from a dedicated fried chicken shop. Still, it is a useful option if you are dining with friends or family who want something other than traditional chicken rice.

Hill Street Chicken Rice Delights is a new addition to Peninsula Shopping Complex worth checking out if you’re in the area. The Poached and Roasted Chicken are the main draws for me. I particularly enjoyed the roasted version for its caramelised soy and honey glaze, while the poached chicken offers a cleaner and more delicate profile. The range of sides, braised items and alternative rice dishes also makes the stall suitable for sharing and for diners who want more than just a plate of chicken rice. It may still be a new stall, but the menu already offers a decent variety to explore. For me, I would return for the chicken rice, chilli and that silky braised tofu.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hill Street Chicken Rice Delights (禧街鸡饭)
Peninsula Shopping Complex
3 Coleman Street
#01-12
Singapore 179804
Tel: +65 8152 2204
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon: 10am - 6pm
Tue-Sat: 10am - 7pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk down North Bridge Road. Walk to Coleman Street. Turn right onto Coleman Street. Walk down Coleman Street. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]