Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle @ Smith Street Food Centre - Cheapest Michelin 1 Star

The result of the first edition Michelin Guide Singapore 2016 was announced on 21 July 2016. Two hawkers are awarded 1 star rating in the Michelin guide which comes as a surprise amidst the tough competition. It has brought Singapore's local food to the world. Not forgetting that the cheapest Michelin 1 Star establishment is in Singapore, as for now.

One of the two hawkers that won a Michelin star is Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle at Smith Street Food Centre. Actually there is one thing that I don't quite understand. Clearly the signboard has the logo Liao Fan (了凡) written on it but everyone just conveniently called the stall, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle all these years. Why so?

Soya Sauce Chicken Rice 4.5/5

So how cheap is our cheapest Michelin 1 Star establishment? The Soya Sauce Chicken Rice is only $2! That is about US$1.47 or Euro $1.34. That is how cheap you can get for a plate of rice drizzled with a sweet and savoury sauce and chunky pieces of tender soya sauce chicken. What I like most is the chicken skin, which has that distinct soya sauce aroma infused into it. If you think the chicken is already good on its own, wait till u dip it into the tangy chilli sauce. It further elevates the whole appreciation of the juicy chicken. My own complain is the peanut was not crunchy at all.

Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle 4.2/5

Since I was already in the queue for an hour, I might as well order a few more dishes to try. I ordered both the Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle ($2.50) and Char Siew Noodle ($2.50). The noodle is cooked to a springy bite and dressed in sauce which is on the sweet side for me. The sweetness of the sauce and the savoury chicken kind of balanced off, for an enjoyable plate of noodle.

Char Siew Noodle 4/5

The Char Siew Noodle was good but not perfect. Unlike the soya chicken, the sweetness of the char siew and sauce when come together was a bit too sweet for me. Putting that aside, I have to say the char siew is definitely one of the best I have eaten. The caramelized sweetness, aromatic char on the exterior, the layers of lean and fat textures, simply melted my heart.

I am glad that I went to queue the very next day after it was awarded Michelin 1 Star. Now I can proudly proclaim that I have eaten at a Michelin 1 star establishment.


Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle
Chinatown Complex
Smith Street Food Centre
Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-166
Singapore 050335
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line)

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

Direction: 
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street. Turn right onto Trengganu Street and walk to the end of the street. Cross Smith Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Barashi-Tei @ Middle Road - Homely Japanese Restaurant, Reasonable Priced Food

Barely a few months old, Barashi-Tei at Middle Road is already making friends with their regulars.  Its setup is very simple and homely, similar to those along Mohammad Sultan Road.

 Sashimi Salad 3/5

Avocado Salmon Salad 3.5/5

For starters, we had 2 salads.  Sashimi salad ($13.80) is always a refreshing start but the combination of smoky aburi salmon and buttery avocado of the Avocado Salmon Salad ($13.80) makes the latter more satisfying.

Wasabi Ebi and Kuruma Ebi 3/5

For some small bites, we had Wasabi Ebi ($7.80) which is deep fried and Kuruma Ebi ($7.80) which is pan fried. The Ebi were fresh and bouncy, which were quite tasty even on their own. The dressings were a little too thick and saucy for me. 

Sake Jyu 3/5

Chirashi 3.8/5

We had 2 dons - Salmon and Chirashi ($23.00). The Sake Jyu ($16.80) left me dissatisfied with its thin salmon slices. On the other hand, the Chirashi saved the day with its chunkier sashimi and I enjoyed every bit of the melt-in-your-mouth sensation and buttery texture of the fresh sashimi.

Dragon Maki 3/5

Spicy Salmon Maki 2.8/5

Rice Paper Ebi Maki 2.5/5

We tried 3 of their maki which don't differ much in taste. All 3 of them used fried ebi as the key ingredient and same sauce for dressing. Between Dragon ($8.80) and Spicy Salmon ($12.80), you may just opt for one, depending whether you prefer avocado or salmon. The fried ebi was well done with succulent shrimp centre and paired well with both avocado and aburi salmon. The spicy dressing makes the dishes interesting but can be a little overwhelming when there is too much of it. As for Rice Paper Ebi Maki ($12.80) which is created for customers who are afraid of carbs, didn't work for me at all. The thin rice paper fails to hold the dry ingredients together and one might be better off eating each ingredient separately. 

Sirloin Steak Foie Gras 3.8/5

Their Sirloin Steak Foie Gras ($19.80) is quite notable. I thought the presentation could be improved, as it certainly tastes better than it looks.

Sanma Shioyaki 3.8/5

Ika Teriyaki 3/5

Some dishes great for sharing over beers and sakaes would be Sanma Shioyaki ($6.80) and Ika Teriyaki ($13.80). From my understanding, sanma is one of the most well-known seasonal fish representing autumn in Japanese cuisine. Perhaps it is the novelty of eating it, I enjoyed savouring it bit by bit. The Ika was kind of tough, I was expecting to be softer and chewier.

Gindara Nabe 4/5

I can imagine having their Gindara Nabe ($24.00) on a cold rainy evening. The broth, together with all the wholesome ingredients offer the comfort that I need after a long day. It definitely helps to clear my palate for the dessert.



Strawberry Mousse 2.8/5

We ended the evening with their strawberry mousse.  Not anything fancy but good enough to sweeten my evening.

The quality of Barashi-Tei is really quite impressive and definitely wins those chain Japanese restaurants in malls that charge exorbitant prices for pathetic amounts. What are being offered seem authentic too, which is not a surprise given that the chef was trained under a veteran Japanese chef for 10 years. For a fuss-free dining experience and affordable Japanese cuisine, Barashi-Tei is a good option if you are in the vicinity. 

Written 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.


Barashi-Tei
Elias Building
266 Middle Road
Singapore 188991
Tel: +65 84215228
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Rochor (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Rochor MRT staton. Take Exit A. Walk down Prinsep Street towards Middle Road. Turn right onto Middle Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]