Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice (幸运海南起骨鸡饭) @ Yuhua Food Centre - Popular Hainanese Chicken Rice In The West With Snaking Queue

Whenever you ask Singaporeans where is the best Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore, you probably get different answers. I am not surprised because best is subjective, especially in a food paradise like Singapore, where you can get Hainanese Chicken Rice almost anywhere around the island. Everyone has their favourite, and one popular stall in the West is Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice (幸运海南起骨鸡饭) at Yuhua Food Centre. It always has a long snaking queue at its stall.

Hainanese Chicken Rice 4.5/5

I ordered Half a Steamed Chicken ($12) and chicken liver which is deboned and drizzled in a sweet and savoury brown sauce. It also came with a few slices of pineapple and tomato. The chicken is slightly cold, suggesting it has been dunked in cold water. The meat is tender and juicy too. I can understand why there is always a long queue to savour their chicken rice.

The rice at Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is of the firmer type, which is the texture I like. It is also not greasy, but I thought the flavour was a bit too subtle, lacking the fragrance of a good plate of chicken rice.

Another essential component for any chicken rice stall is the chilli. The chilli is really shiok, complementing the chicken and rice excellently. It is spicy, tangy and garlicky. Unfortunately, the ginger sauce was too watery for my liking.

Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice (幸运海南起骨鸡饭)
Yuhua Food Centre
Blk 347 Jurong East Ave 1
Singapore 600347
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 7am - 2pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinese Garden MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Boon Lay Way. Turn left and walk to the overhead bridge. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Line @ Shangri-La Singapore - Collaborates With Second Generation Hawkers From Renowned Local Stalls For The Month Of August

This August, The Line at Shangri-La Singapore partakes in Singapore's 57th birthday celebration by spotlighting must-try dishes from renowned local stalls. Second generation hawkers will be making their appearance by serving local dishes, including Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah, Habib's Rojak, Tiong Bahru Tau Suan and Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee, available on selected days during dinner.

Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee

Not often will you get to try Fried Hokkien Mee in a buffet offering that is done using charcoal. However, to present the authentic taste of Geylang Lor 29 Charcoal Fried Hokkien Mee, you will catch the 2nd generation owner live in action, dishing out charcoal-fried hokkien mee.

Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah

Being a Westie, it was such a joy to be able to try Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah. Stretchy popiah skins, well-stewed turnips that are just lightly seasoned, and soft and fluffy eggs are definitely one of the best popiahs I ever had in a buffet.

Habib's Rojak

Habib's Rojak has been around for more than 30 years. It is known for its zesty and fragrant chilli gravy. The buffet offers a few popular items that best bring out the flavours of Habib's Rojak - Crispy Prawn Fritter, Coconut Fritters, Potato Dough and Egg Dough. It's a station not to be missed, especially if you are not a westerner.

Chilli Crab with Fried Mantou

Beef Noodles

The buffet also offers other well-loved local dishes, such as Chilli Crab and Beef Noodles, alongside other 16 live theatre kitchens featuring Seafood, Sashimi, Japanese, Middle Eastern, Asian, Noodles, Roasts, Dessert stations and more.

Tiong Bahru Tau Suan

End your feast with a bowl or two of Tiong Bahru Tau Suan. I like that it wasn't cloyingly sweet. What is equally good or even better is its Pulut Hitam, loaded with chewy black glutinous rice. The good quality coconut milk served on the side complements both desserts well.

This celebratory buffet menu will be available between 2 to 21 August2022. Prices start from SGD 68++ per person for lunch and SGD88++ per person for dinner.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Line
Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
Lobby Level
22 Orange Grove Road
Singapore 258350
Tel: +65 62134398
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk down to the end of Orchard Road. Turn right onto Orange Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 23 minutes.[Map]

Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice (源源砂煲饭) @ Bukit Batok - Claypot Rice with 40 Years of Heritage Opens New Stall

After 40 years, Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice has a new stall in the recently renovated and brightly-lit Mei De Coffeeshop in Bukit Batok. Founded initially by Uncle Seah at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre in Bukit Merah in 1982, his son and second-generation owner, Raymond Seah, officially took over in 2019. Raymond then explored an apprenticeship model intending to preserve his father's legacy.

Cooking with charcoal fire is not an easy skill, especially to master the different techniques required for cooking single pax claypots versus bigger claypots that serve 2 to 5 pax. Raymond focused on imparting the craft of cooking single pax claypots to his apprentices, and that is what you will find here in Bukit Batok, the first stall to be helmed by his trained apprentice chef. The chicken stock and homemade secret black sauce will continue to be made and supplied by Raymond.

Claypot Rice 砂锅饭 4/5

Each portion of Claypot Rice ($8) is served with a generous drizzle of the homemade black sauce and a classic mix of ingredients - marinated chicken, lup cheong, liver sausage, salted fish and vegetables. Please give it a good mix before digging in!

The result of cooking over charcoal fire shines through, as you get a lovely smokiness in terms of fragrance and taste. There was also a nicely-charred crust at the bottom of the pot, which is one of my favourite things about claypot rice.

I enjoyed how the black sauce is not too sweet so that while it adds on sweetness, it doesn't end up overwhelming the flavours of the other ingredients. The chicken chunks were tender and thoroughly marinated with a lingering hint of hua diao wine.

Deep Fried Prawn Rolls 五香虾枣 3.8/5

The Deep Fried Prawn Rolls ($8) was served piping hot as they are freshly fried upon order. Each of them had a thin, crunchy exterior that reminded us of fried wanton skins. The well-packed filling was perfectly seasoned with a distinct touch of star anise.

Seasonal Vegetables 油菜

If you need more greens to go with your claypot rice, the Seasonal Vegetables ($4/$6) are also available for order.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice
Blk 273 Bukit Batok East Ave 4
Mei De Coffee Shop
Singapore 650273
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 177. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes [Map]

Wild Coco @ McNair Road - A Delicious Plate Of Nasi Lemak As Good As Dickson Nasi Lemak

Are you missing Dickson Nasi Lemak after it temporarily closed its shop upon Malaysia's live chicken export ban to Singapore? If you are, I have a piece of good news. I have discovered Wild Coco at McNair Road, which sells an excellent plate of Ayam Goreng Berempah that is comparable to Dickson Nasi Lemak. Furthermore, you can dine-in at Wild Coco, unlike Dickson Nasi Lemak, which only could takeaway.

Ayam Goreng Berempah 4.5/5

We had the Ayam Goreng Berempah ($9.80), which comes with a whole spiced chicken leg, fried egg, ikan bilis, peanuts and sambal chilli. The deep-fried whole chicken leg is crispy on the exterior and well-flavoured by the beautiful aroma of the various spices. On the other hand, the meat is tender and juicy. It is comparable to Dickson Nasi Lemak.

As for the rice, Wild Coco's version is more subtle, while Dickson Nasi Lemak's version is robust and rich. The sambal chilli is also better at Dickson Nasi Lemak, which is spicier and more fragrant.

However, Wild Coco fares better in other areas. First, their Ayam Goreng Berempah comes with a fried egg instead of a hard-boiled egg at Dickson Nasi Lemak. Second, you can dine-in at Wild Coco, meaning you can have your food fresh out of the kitchen while Dickson Nasi Lemak can only takeaway.

After comparing the Ayam Goreng Berempah at both Wild Coco and Dickson Nasi Lemak, I find both have pros and cons. However, Wild Coco has a slight edge because you can dine in, and there are more varieties such as Fried Sambal Fish Nasi Lemak and other side dishes.


[CLOSED]
Wild Coco
Blk 122 Mcnair Road
#01-45
Singapore 320122
Tel: +65 91193822
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Boon Keng (NE Line), Farrer Park (CC Line), Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon: 1030am - 3pm
Tue-Sat: 1030am - 830pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Boon Heng MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to Towner Road. Walk to traffic junction of Towner Road and McNair Road. Cross the road onto McNair Road and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to bus stop at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple (Stop ID 07211). Take bus number 21, 125, 130 and 139 . Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road and walk to McNair Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Novena MRT station (Stop ID 50038). Take bus number 21. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Mr Meepok @ Clementi West Street 2 - Local Bak Chor Mee With A Japanese Twist By Young Hawkers

Recently a new Bak Chor Mee stall - Mr Meepok opened in my hood at Clementi West Street 2. I noticed a couple of young men running the stall. The stall has five items on the menu - Signature Minced Meat Noodle, Daily Noodle, Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle, Handmade Fishball Noodle and Laksa

While queueing for my order, I noticed one of the staff was busy losing the noodles and weighting them into individual portions. It seems like everything is measured to perfection for the one noodle dish.

The stall is better known for its Japanese-influenced bak chor mee, such as the Signature Minced Meat Noodle and Daily Noodle. The signature minced meat noodles come with an onsen egg and other accompaniments such as meatballs, minced pork, abalone slice (mock) and braised mushroom. The daily noodle is Japanese-style maze soba using meepok, paired with onsen egg, chashu, seaweed, and minced meat..

Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle 4.2/5

Since this is my first time visiting the stall, I decided to play safe and go for the traditional Mushroom Minced Meat Noodle ($3.80). It's also a test of whether the stall gets its fundamental right. It did not disappoint. The noodles cooked to al dente have a delightful bite. The well-balanced mixture of chilli sauce and fragrant vinegar made each strand of noodles a slurping enjoyment.

As for the accompanying ingredients, they are probably from suppliers. They are decent but not fantastic. I even added $1 for 3 more fishballs. 

Overall, it is a good and above average bowl of bak chor mee. The texture of the noodles is a stand out tossed in a delicious concoction of chilli sauce and vinegar. It is worth a miss if you are in the neighbourhood. I will be back to try its Japanese influenced bak chor mee.


Mr Meepok
Blk 727 Clementi West Street 2
#01-1294
Singapore 120727
Tel: +65 87791844
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 7am - 2pm, 5pm - 945pm
Sat-Sun: 7am - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Dickson Nasi Lemak @ Joo Chiat Road - Rated Best Nasi Lemak In Malaysia

Recently. my friend Alison invited me to do a Nasi Lemak PK episode on her Youtube Channel - 艾莉愛吃 Ali Eats, and we decided to check out Dickson Nasi Lemak at Joo Chiat Road. Rated as best Nasi Lemak in Malaysia, it is opened by the same folk behind Champion Bolo Bun. Apparently it claims to use the same recipe as the renowned Village Park Restaurant in Malaysia.

Unfortunately, Dickson Nasi Lemak is not a dine-in restaurant. Customers can only takeaway from the restaurant. Currently, the menu is minimal. During my visit, it only has the Ayam Goreng Berempah ($9.20). Upon ordering at the cashier, customers will be given a buzzer and need to wait for another 10 minutes for the kitchen to bring out their takeaway. I suspect the wait is for the kitchen to freshly fried a new batch of chicken leg for each order.

Ayam Goreng Berempah 4.5/5

The packet of Nasi Lemak comes with a deep-fried chicken leg, ikan bilis, hard-boiled egg and sambal chilli. The rice is very fragrant and packed with a rich coconut milk flavour. I can even taste a bit of sweetness in the rice. Probably some sugar is added.

The spiced marinated chicken leg is super good. It is tender and juicy. I could taste spices such as turmeric, lemongrass and cumin, giving it a beautiful aroma. You will like the accompanying sambal chilli for those that can take spicy. It is fiery, with the heat lingering at the back of your tongue.

Dickson Nasi Lemak
320 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427571
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun: 8am - 10am, 1130am - 230pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 16. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Ah Ma Chi Mian (阿嬤吃麵) @ Clementi - A Bowl Of Satisfying Bak Chor Mee From The Founder’s Grandmother Recipe

Starting with their first stall at Hougang, Ah Ma Chi Mian (阿嬤吃麵) has expanded aggressively with 11 stalls around the island now. I visited their stall at Clementi Ave 3, located inside a coffeeshop near Clementi MRT station. 

Ah Ma Specialty Noodle 4/5

I had the Ah Ma Specialty Noodle ($5.50) with al dente noodles, abalone slices and ikan bilis. It is served together with a bowl of soup with pork slices and pig's liver. Though I find the chilli lacking the spicy kick, I enjoyed the noodle texture. The addition of crunchy ikan bilis accentuated the enjoyment.

As for the bowl of soup, it was tasty, but the pig's liver texture is no way near the best I have eaten. My best for pig's liver is still reserved for Mui Song Minced Meat Noodles.

Signature Scallop Dry Mee Sua 4/5

My partner, on the other hand, had the Signature Scallop Dry Mee Sua ($6.80) that comes with scallop, abalone slices and meatball. It also comes in a bowl of soup with pig's liver and pork slices.

Overall, I find it a decent bowl of hearty and comforting noodles. I can't say it is the best, but it is satisfying.


Ah Ma Chi Mian (阿嬤吃麵)
Blk 450 Clementi Ave 3
#01-271
Singapore 120450
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 730am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit D. Turn right at block 450. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map].

Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant (开洋海鲜菜馆) @ Clementi Ave 2 - Zichar Stall By Disciple Of One Of The Four Heavenly Kings

For those staying in Clementi, we are blessed to have one of the best zichar stalls in Singapore. Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant (开洋海鲜菜馆) is located inside a coffeeshop at Clementi Ave 2. The man behind the wok is non-other than Chef Hoy Yong, the disciple of one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Singapore.

Fried Hor Fun with Egg 4.5/5

One of their popular items, which you probably get to see on every table, is their Fried Hor Fun with Egg. We have the medium portion priced at $11. For the price, the portion is very generous with prawns, vegetables, fish slices, pork slices, and squids, topped with pork lards. The sight of the runny egg, coupled with the breath of the wok, already made me drool before digging in. It is definitely one of the best hor fun I have eaten.

Pig's Stomach Soup 4.5/5

A must-try if it is your first time visiting Hoy Yong is their Three Treasures - Pig's Stomach Soup, Braised Pork Ribs and Deep Fried Duck Roll. I had two out of the three dishes, starting with the Pig's Stomach Soup ($14). You can taste the soup that has been boiled for hours from its creaminess with a piquant peppery kick. What astonished me was the amount of ingredients in the bowl of soup. You get chicken pieces, fish maw and pig's stomach. It is restaurant quality serving!

Deep Fried Duck Roll 4.5/5

The other Three Treasure item we tried is the Deep Fried Duck Roll ($14). It is a unique and tasty creation. It is like a tempura Ngoh Hiang in the crispy crumb, stuffed with roasted duck, pork and prawn. Best to have it together with the mayonnaise.

Garlic Kai Lan 4/5

When you have a master behind the wok, even the Garlick Kai Lan ($12) tasted great. The greens still retain a delectable crunchy texture, simply stir-fried with garlic, ginger, and some pork lards.

Claypot Egg Plant 4.5/5

The other vegetable dish we ordered is the Claypot Egg Plant ($18). Not shown in the picture is the fried egg hidden inside the claypot, soaking up the delicious sauce. Instead of the usual minced meat, it uses crunchy shrimp coated in batter for extra textural enjoyment.

Herbal Kampong Chicken 4.2/5

To round up our meal with a meat dish, we decided to go for the Herbal Kampong Chicken ($18 Half). It was sauna-bath in aluminium foil wrap, cooked to fork-tender in a flavoursome herbal broth.

Hoy Yong is indeed a gem in the West. Its restaurant-quality dishes make it a notch above many zichar stalls in Singapore.


Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant
Blk 352 Clementi Ave 2
#01-153
Singapore 120352
Tel: +65 67782223
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 52 and 154. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dover MRT station. Take Exit A Walk to bus stop at Dover MRT station. (Stop ID 19031).  Take bus number 74. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]