Like it or hate it, chicken rice is one of Singapore’s most treasured dishes. You can find it at most food courts, hawker centres, and fancy restaurants that offer authentic local food. Why? It’s a flavourful dish that looks deceptively simple but is difficult to execute.
For example: Is the rice fragrant and pillowy enough after simmering in chicken stock? Does it go well with both roasted and steamed chicken? What are the vegetable options? Is there grated ginger to go with the chilli sauce? How about a drizzle of thick dark soy sauce over the rice?
It can be tough to choose - from the most popular chicken rice in Singapore to lesser-known hidden gems, there are simply a lot of options. Heck, there’s a movie called Chicken Rice War for a reason - it’s a serious game in this field. So let us guide you through the best chicken rice Singapore has to offer!
1. Chatterbox
Established along Orchard Road in 1971, Chatterbox gained fame for elevating the humble Hainanese chicken rice, a traditional hawker dish, into a gourmet dining experience.
Over the years, Chatterbox became synonymous with tender chicken, aromatic rice and flavourful sauces.
This chicken rice features free-range chicken, carefully poached to achieve the perfect tenderness. This succulent meat is accompanied by fragrant rice infused with chicken fat and pandan leaves, along with signature chili sauce, ginger paste, and dark soy sauce.
As this restaurant rose in stature, its other local delicacies like beef rendang and laksa gained fame too.
Last October, Chatterbox opened a new outlet in Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 transit area. At the Chatterbox Express, diners can not only feast on Chatterbox’s restaurant quality chicken rice, but also savour other traditional classics like curry chicken and laksa too.
Chatterbox
Address: Hilton Singapore Orchard, 333 Orchard Road, #05-03 Hilton, Singapore 238867
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday - 11:30am to 4:30pm, 5:30pm to 10:30pm, Friday to Sunday, Eve of Public Holidays - 11:30am to 4:30pm, 5:30pm to 11:00pm
Chatterbox Express
Address: Changi Airport Terminal 1, Departure/Transit Lounge East Level 2 (#02-52)
Opening hours: Opens daily from 6:00am to 2:00am
2. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Of course, we have to include the Tian Tian. Ask anyone who works in the vicinity of Maxwell and, by extension, Chinatown and they’ll tell you: the queues never end at Tian Tian.
Putting aside the quality of the food (which is very good), Tian Tian’s reputation precedes it. Fans of its dishes include Gordon Ramsey and the late Anthony Bourdain, while it stands strong in the Michelin Guide as a can’t-miss destination. Take it from Bourdain himself: “Chicken rice is so fragrant and delicious that it can be eaten on its own”.
The chicken rice that Tian Tian offers is delectably rich in flavour, while its offering of fresh chicken meat will turn steamed chicken-agnostics into converts.
That’s right: although Tian Tian may have both steamed and roasted chicken, as does most chicken rice stalls, you’ll want to have a serving of its steamed chicken.
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00am to 7:30pm
3. Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice
If you’re in Maxwell and the Tian Tian queue is long, well, there are still plenty of other chicken rice options available which are just as good without the waiting time.
Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice isn’t just any ordinary chicken rice stall—it’s manned by Tian Tian’s former chef Wong Liang Tai, and some say his offerings are even better than his former employer’s.
Despite Tian Tian’s famed house recipe that is closely guarded to the chest, Wong Liang Tai brings with Ah Tai not a mere replication, but a new spin that offers a delectable combination of tender chicken, fragrant rice, and complementary sauces.
The competition between Ah Tai and Tian Tian has also added an interesting dynamic to the Maxwell Food Centre, with patrons often comparing the two stalls. This rivalry has further cemented both stalls' reputations, drawing more attention and crowds eager to taste and judge for themselves.
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Stree, #01-07 Maxwell Food Centre
Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday - 11:00am to 7:30pm
4. Boon Tong Kee
Boon Tong Kee has been serving chicken rice to countless Singaporeans since 1979.
Known for its silky-smooth chicken and consistently high-quality rice, Boon Tong Kee offers a slightly more refined dining experience.
Their chicken rice is served with a deliciously thick and rich dark soy sauce, which is both an interesting addition to the familiar chicken rice formula—and a classic touch for those who grew up with the dish.
Today, Boon Tong Kee’s iconic chicken rice can be found at eight different outlets across Singapore. If you’re looking for a grand night out, head over to Boon Tong Kee’s swanky Compass One and Vista Exchange Green restaurants. If you want a Hong Kong-styled outdoor seating experience, however, nothing beats its long-running Ang Mo Kio outlet.
At its restaurants, you can also purchase its factory-packed sauces: dark soya sauce, XO sauce, ginger paste, and, of course, chilli sauce.
Address: 399, 401 & 403 Balestier Road
Opening hours: Opens daily from 11:00am to 11:00pm, closed from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on weekdays, closes earlier at 10:30pm on Sundays
5. Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice
Sure, chicken rice isn’t what you would normally associate with the word “healthy”. However, when it comes to the most popular chicken rice in Singapore, Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice may be your healthiest option.
Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice was established in the early 1980s. Its founder, Lee Tai Keng, aimed to provide a premium version of the classic Hainanese chicken rice by using high-quality ingredients and traditional methods—which is why they only use kampung chicken meat, which is leaner and less fatty than the usual chicken.
The preparation of Five Star’s chicken is meticulous—the birds are poached at precise temperatures to ensure the meat remains tender and juicy. This method also helps in retaining the natural flavours and moisture of the chicken.
Over the decades, Five Star has expanded from a single outlet to several locations across Singapore, maintaining its reputation for delivering one of the best renditions of this beloved dish.
Address: 191 East Coast Road
Opening hours: Opens daily from 10:00am to 2:00am
6. Ming Kee Chicken Rice
Ming Kee Chicken Rice was established by Madam Yeong, who learned the art of making chicken rice from her father, a Hainanese chef.
Today, Ming Kee serves up one of the most famous chicken rice Singapore possesses—if not for its reputation for serving tender chicken first chilled in an ice bath.
The cooking process ensures that the meat retains its natural flavours while being perfectly cooked by the time it reaches your table. It involves poaching the chicken in a meticulously seasoned broth, which is then chilled to firm up the skin and lock in the juices.
Despite its popularity, Ming Kee has maintained consistent quality and affordable prices over the years. That’s an amazing feat, truly.
These days, Madam Yeong runs the stall with her daughter and granddaughter, making it a three-generation business that will, no doubt, continue to thrive in the years to come.
Address: 511 Bishan Street 13 #01-522 Kim San Leng Coffee Shop
Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday - 9:30am to 8:00pm, Friday - 9:30am to 6:30pm
7. Chin Chin Eating House
Deep in the heart of Singapore’s city district lies Chin Chin Eating House, one of the oldest restaurants in the country.
In business since 1934, you can expect nothing less than the best chicken rice Singapore has to offer. Located on Purvis Street, it has a rich history—having been founded by Hainanese immigrants who brought their culinary traditions from their homeland.
As you can expect, its chicken is poached to perfection, ensuring tender, juicy meat, and is served with fragrant rice cooked in rich chicken broth.
Dining at its indoor restaurant is also an experience. Chin Chin retains a charming, old-world atmosphere with its simple, unpretentious decor, feeling like a step back in time when you enter its doors.
Chin Chin Eating House is more than just a restaurant—it is a cultural landmark in Singapore, and a must-visit when it comes to a nice chicken rice feast.
Address: 19 Purvis Street
Opening hours: Monday - 12:30pm to 3:00am, Tueday to Thurday - 11:00am to 3:00am, Friday - 11:30am to 12:00am midnight, Saturday and Sunday - 12:30pm to 12:00am midnight
8. Yishun 925 Chicken Rice
With a simple and unpretentious name comes some of the most fragrant chicken rice you’ll ever taste. Despite having been founded in the early 1990s, this is actually one of the more relatively new stalls.
Here, like some of the outlets on this list, only steamed chicken is offered. Even if you’re a roasted chicken absolutist, all your prejudices come melting down (like chicken fats) once you try a bite.
Its gravy is robust with a savoury, earthy flavour as it complements its tender chicken meat and tangy achar perfectly.
Being a neighbourhood hotspot, Yishun 925 Chicken Rice holds nostalgia aplenty for nearby residents, evoking memories of growing up in the area and enjoying meals with family and friends.
Address: 925 Yishun Central #01-249
Opening hours: Opens daily from 11:00am to 8:30pm
9. Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice
While more popularly known as Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice, or simply the “katong shopping mall chicken rice” that your Singaporean friends rave about, Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice is an essential stop.
Most chicken rice stalls prepare their dishes on a single plate. Here, however, expect a big spread, so bring a group of friends along!
What is best known about this stall’s recipe is its rice—sporting an intense yellow glow, courtesy of a dash of chicken oil every time it’s cooked. You’ll probably be dreaming about its rice for days to come too.
Steamed chicken rice has its fierce defenders, but we can tell you that Katong Mei Wei best specialises in roasted chicken rice. The roasted chicken skin is unbelievably flavourful, despite its thinness, and the accompanying fried garlic adds an extra vibrant kick. You’ll probably want to close off that part of your brain that glows red whenever you eat something unhealthy, it’ll be worth it.
Address: 865 Mountbatten Road #B1-85/87 Katong Shopping Centre
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday - 10:45am to 7:00pm, Saturday and Sunday - 11:00am to 7:00pm
Ask anyone what’s so great about chicken rice, and they’ll give you countless reasons. But, really, one thing that stands out is its versatility: you can find great chicken rice at hawker centres and at gourmet restaurants. You’re never lacking any options in Singapore when you need your fix.
And if you’re wondering where to eat in Changi Airport, check out these restaurants with a view of the Rain Vortex and this plethora of breakfast and brunch options.
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