Chicken Rice· 4 min read
What Is Hainanese Chicken Rice? A First Look for Visitors
Poached chicken, rice cooked in chicken stock, three sauces and a bowl of soup: here is what you get when you order this Singapore favourite.
Photo: Jpatokal, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped
Food & Drink
Chicken Rice Guides
Singapore's national dish, stall by stall: where to eat it, roasted versus steamed, and the sauces that make it.
This Hainanese chicken rice guide gathers our posts on one of Singapore's best-loved dishes. Read about what it is, how to order it, the three sauces and whether to choose roasted or steamed chicken.
Start with the first-timer post. Then read the queue tips before you head to a famous stall.
Plan it with EatStays: best chicken rice in Singapore and Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.
Showing 1–5 of 5 guides
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- Chicken Rice
Chicken Rice· 4 min read
Roasted vs Steamed Chicken Rice: Which Should You Order?
Almost every chicken rice stall offers steamed and roasted chicken, and this guide shows how the two differ and which one to try first.
Chicken Rice· 4 min read
How to Order Chicken Rice in Singapore Like a Local
A simple walk-through of ordering chicken rice at a hawker stall, from the queue and the menu to paying, sauces and finding a table.
- Chicken Rice
· 4 min read
Chicken Rice Sauces Explained: Chilli, Ginger and Dark Soy
What goes into the chilli, ginger and dark soy sauce served with chicken rice, and how to use each one on your plate.
Chicken Rice· 4 min read
Chicken Rice Queue Tips: When to Go and What to Expect
When to go for chicken rice in Singapore, how long queues take and what to do if a famous stall has already sold out.
Hainanese chicken rice: a guide for visitors
Chicken rice is often called Singapore's national dish. This Hainanese chicken rice guide explains what is on the plate, how to order it and where to try it. The dish came to Singapore with immigrants from Hainan, an island in southern China. Over time, local cooks made it their own. Today you will find it at hawker stalls, coffee shops, food courts and hotel restaurants.
New to it? Read What Is Hainanese Chicken Rice? A First Look for Visitors first.
What is on the plate
- The chicken: gently poached, then often cooled in iced water. This gives smooth skin and soft meat.
- The rice: cooked in chicken stock with ginger, garlic and often pandan leaf. It should smell fragrant and taste a little rich.
- The soup: a small bowl of clear chicken broth on the side.
- The sauces: chilli sauce, grated ginger and thick dark soy sauce.
- The extras: cucumber slices, and often a light soy and sesame oil dressing over the chicken.
The three sauces
The chilli sauce is made with fresh chilli, garlic and lime juice. It is tangy and quite hot. The ginger is pounded fresh. The dark soy is sweet and thick. Many people put a little of each on a spoon with some chicken and rice. Chicken Rice Sauces Explained: Chilli, Ginger and Dark Soy looks at each one.
Roasted or steamed?
Most stalls offer two styles of chicken. Steamed or "white" chicken is poached and served at room temperature. It is soft and mild. Roasted chicken has browner skin and a more savoury taste. Some stalls also sell char siew, a sweet roast pork, or roast duck.
Not sure? Ask for a mix of both if the stall allows it. Roasted vs Steamed Chicken Rice: Which Should You Order? helps you choose.
How to order chicken rice
- Choose the style: steamed (white) or roasted.
- Choose the cut: some stalls let you ask for drumstick or breast meat, sometimes for a small extra charge.
- Choose the size: a single plate for one, or a half or whole chicken to share. You then order rice separately.
- Add extras: extra rice, extra chilli or a plate of greens with oyster sauce.
Keep it short when you order. "One chicken rice, roasted, drumstick" works well. How to Order Chicken Rice in Singapore Like a Local has more tips.
Where to eat chicken rice
For the full list, browse Chicken Rice and Hainanese restaurants. These places make a good start.
- Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice: a hawker stall at Maxwell Food Centre, between Chinatown and the CBD. Expect a queue at lunch.
- Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice: chicken rice in the Newton and Novena area.
- Boon Tong Kee (Balestier): chicken rice in the Balestier and Toa Payoh area.
- Sin Kee Famous Chicken Rice: a local favourite in the Dempsey, Tanglin and Holland area.
- Kampong Chicken Eating House: chicken rice in the Tiong Bahru and Alexandra area. "Kampong" means village in Malay.
- Chatterbox: a sit-down restaurant in the Orchard and River Valley area, good if you want air-conditioning.
- Chin Chin Eating House: a Hainanese eatery in the Bugis and Kampong Glam area.
Queues and timing
Famous stalls often have long queues at lunch. Go a little before or after the main lunch rush. Check the stall's day off before you travel. Some stalls sell out early. Chicken Rice Queue Tips: When to Go and What to Expect has more advice.
Rough prices
A plate at a hawker stall often costs about S$4 to S$7. Sit-down restaurants charge more. Prices change, so check the menu.
FAQs about Hainanese chicken rice
Is chicken rice spicy?
No. The chicken and rice are mild. The heat comes from the chilli sauce, which you add as you like.
Why is the chicken served cold?
Steamed chicken is cooled after poaching. This firms the skin and keeps the meat tender. It is usually served at room temperature, not fridge-cold.
Is chicken rice from Hainan?
Its roots are in Hainan, an island in southern China. The version you eat in Singapore was shaped by local cooks. It is also popular in Malaysia.
How do you eat chicken rice?
Use a spoon and fork, or chopsticks. Take some chicken and rice, add a little sauce and sip the soup between bites.