Situated near major attractions like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and the Sri Mariamman Temple, this sprawling hawker centre on the second floor of Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre is where you should head to before and after sightseeing. There's much to see in the Chinatown area, and even more to eat here — all day long. While the air-conditioned one Michelin-starred Hawker Chan along Smith Street may be tempting, we urge you to try the original stall here, Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (#02-126). The queue may be long, but for this perfectly cooked, succulent and flavourful bird (from $7), it'll be well worth the wait. Make the most out of your order and add on their Char Siew (from $2.50, barbecued pork) too, thick cuts of glistening fat with caramelised edges that will leave you wanting more! If you're in a group, consider ordering the hearty Claypot Rice (from $5) from Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice (#02-198/199) to share. Cooked upon order, expect tender chunks of chicken meat, salted fish, lup cheong (Chinese preserved sausages) set atop a bed of white fluffy rice. Be sure to scrape out all the charred bits at the side of the claypot as you mix the dish with black sweet sauce and chilli. If you're here in the evening, chill out with craft beers on tap from Smith Street Taps (#02-062) or On Tap Fresh Brew Craft Beer (#02-75) — prices start from an affordable $6/pint!
Photos by Burpplers Sarah Wong, I Makan SG and Burpple Tastemaker Russell Leong
Winner of Singapore Hawker Master (Yong Tau Foo) in 2012, this place definitely lives up to its name. It's one of the few places that stuffs yong tau foo pieces with their homemade fish paste, guaranteeing freshness and none of that factory-made stuff. The major draw of this place is their superb stock prepared with ikan bilis, and the generous amount of fried ikan bilis that comes with your noodles. Be prepared to queue, as with all hawker stalls serving authentic, heartwarming food.
Xiu Ji Ikan Bilis Yong Tau Foo. #02-87/88, Chinatown Complex Market
Mon - Sun: 0545 - 1500
Honestly, this stall makes us question why people are so obsessed about techniques like sous vide. When it comes to cooking perfect chicken, there is no need for all fancy techniques. The soy sauce chicken here is simply superb - succulent, flavourful, and extremely value-for-money ($7 for half chicken; $14 for whole). Paired with noodles tossed in a slightly sweet sauce, you'll need a moment with this dish. They also do really good char siew and sio bak! Make sure you order enough to make your 30 minute-long wait worth it, because you'll definitely want more.
Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken, #02-127, Chinatown Complex
Mon - Fri: 1030 - 1900
Sat - Sun: 0830 - 1900
Closed on Wed
If you want claypot rice that's a cut above the rest, this is it. Cooked upon order, you'll get great traditional claypot rice cooked over charcoal, and the wait can stretch up to an hour. Tender chicken meat, salted fish, lup cheong, charred rice bits, excellent sweet sauce and chilli? Check. This is one of the best places you can get claypot rice at in Singapore, but don't go when you're ravenous because you might get really hangry!
Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice
#02-198/199, Chinatown Complex Market
Tel: 62272470
Mon - Wed: 1600 - 2300
Fri - Sun: 1600 - 2300
Closed on Thu
