Local Food: 10 Places to get the best chicken rice in Singapore

Local Tastes: 10 Places to get the best chicken rice in Singapore

Lim Han

15 Mar 2017

1/10
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Crowned as one of the top few names in the realm of chicken rice, this restaurant serves a variety of dishes, of which none can steal the spotlight from their signature chicken rice. How can you beat silky, melt-in-your-mouth chicken strips served with fragrant moist rice? There’s just no comparison there.

1 Kadayanallur St, #01 -10/11 Maxwell Food Center, Maxwell Food Centre

Photo: @kung_kung6232
2/10
Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice
Having a strong familial link with Tian Tian Chicken Rice (the owner of Ah Tai was a former chef at Tian Tian), you can only expect the same kind of quality over here. Although their rice cannot beat that of Tian Tian’s in terms of flavor and aroma, their chicken is equally juicy and succulent. To seal the comparison, Ah Tai’s offers friendlier and more personal service.

1 Kadayanallur St

Photo: @rubbisheatrubbishgrow
3/10
Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice
This long-standing establishment is one name that will never fail to pop up in conversations revolving around chicken rice. Although this former humble eatery has revamped itself into a full-blown restaurant, the quality of their chicken rice remains impeccable. Think succulent and tender chicken slices paired with perfectly oiled and textured rice – that’s what you’ll be getting at Wee Nam Kee.

101 Thomson Road, #01-08 United Square, United Square

Photo: Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice Facebook
4/10
Hainanese Delicacy
With snaking queues lining the entrance, it’s hard to even get a glimpse of the food Hainanese Delicacy is serving. Not that you wouldn’t already know what they’re famous for, with the countless ravings from friends and family. Specialising in chicken rice, you can bet they’ve fully mastered their craft, as exhibited in the plates of tender, soft chicken and aromatic rice.

#05-116 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd

Photo: @dehornedunicorn
5/10
Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice
This chicken rice food chain restaurant is in itself a testament to the success of its delectable chicken rice. Offering a comfortable dining atmosphere with consistent quality across all outlets, it’s no wonder Boon Tong Kee has such a huge loyal following. Its note-worthy rice is infused with a distinctive aroma and cooked to perfection.

399, 401 & 403 Balestier Road

Photo: Boon Tong Kee Facebook
6/10
Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice
Get a bang for your buck at this eatery, where you can get a four-component meal for only four dollars. No kidding. Indulge in soft and luscious chicken slices topped with a piquant concoction of fried garlic, chili, carrot and radish strips before cleansing your palette with their soup-of-the-day. Then shock your taste buds with the side of Achar, offered in two flavours.

Katong Shopping Centre Basement, 865 Mountbatten Rd

Photo: @chocolatebasil
7/10
Yishun 925 Chicken RIce
Owning several outlets, with one of them even offering a steamboat selection, Yishun 925 Chicken Rice is not messing around. Chicken thigh lovers, why not take a risk and opt for its supposedly drier and tougher counterpart, the breast? We promise the chicken breast offered here is far from that - smooth and juicy. Therein lies the true prowess of this stall - not every eatery can produce a seriously tender chicken breast.

5 Jln Legundi, Singapore 759269

Photo: @kcijoel
8/10
Loy Kee Chicken Rice
Retaining its old-school interior with its wooden tables and vintage chairs, complete with swirling fans, this is the place to go if you’re looking for a quality nostalgic dining experience. With fragrant mounds of rice and delectable chicken, their chicken rice promises to never fail your taste buds. Not to mention, they have one of the better chili sauces out there.

342 Balestier Rd

Photo: @lamkieve
9/10
Ming Kee Chicken Rice
Anybody up for some chilled chicken? Don’t be put off by this, you’ll surprise yourself with how much you love it. Ming Kee shocks their cooked chicken with ice cold water, which creates a jelly-like texture under the skin. Their thick and succulent chicken slices will be gliding into your mouth and exploding with flavourful juices.

511 Bishan Street 13

Photo: @fonefc
10/10
Hua Kee Chicken Rice
Although surrounded by other foodie hotspots in the famous Redhill Market, Hua Kee is a sure stand-out with its constant long queues. They slice their chicken in thick juicy chunks, retaining their chewy succulence. Their chicken also comes with hair-thin cucumber slices which adds a refreshing tinge when paired with the chicken.

Blk 85 Redhill Lane, #01-72, Redhill Food Centre

Photo: @charlesfoodadventures

When it comes to picking the best chicken rice places in Singapore, you can bet we didn’t just wing it.

Heralded as one of the big names in Singaporean cuisine, one bite is all you need to understand the monumental significance of this phenomenal local dish. Don’t underestimate this seemingly one-dimensional dish, composing of just chicken and rice. The two ingredients, when infused with carefully curated flavours and cooked to perfection, meld together to form one of the most spectacular gastronomical matrimonies to ever exist. It’s no wonder chicken rice is such a staple dish in many Singaporeans’ diets.

With innumerable independent shops and stalls proffering this renowned dish, hunting down the best few is an almost insurmountable task. Thankfully, we’ve done the work for you. All you have to do is to click away and find out the top 10 best chicken rice spots in Singapore. Your chicken rice cravings are bound to be aroused.

Lim Han

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