Nanyang Chicken : the worth-trying Soya Sauce Chicken

This is a soya sauce themed cafe that serves Soya Sauce Chicken as its signature dish. The owner is behind the Nanyang Sauce, it is a rebranding of Swan brand, one of the oldest artisanal soya sauce markers in Singapore. They are still making their sauces the same way that they did 50 years ago. This cafe that opened on September 2018 is located along South Bridge Road and there used to be another outlet at East Coast Road but has closed, their brewery is at Chin Bee Avenue. 

When I was looking at the menu, the friendly staff quickly came out of the door and said, "I can help." I ordered the Princess Chicken ($12.80) for myself and Soya Sauce Chicken Rice ($12.80) for my dining companion with a cold coffee ($2.50). 

The cold coffee came first, enough ice cubes were added to keep it cold without diluting its taste.

The Princess Chicken and Soya Sauce Chicken Rice were served along with their in-house Chicken Rice Chilli Sauce and Sambal Prawn Chilli Sauce. The service staff said, "If you like the sauces, you can get a $3 off for them, the Ikan Belis and also other sauces too based on the amount spent today."

The welcome soup is a chicken soup served in a small glass and it is refillable. We were also served a sample portion of their Ikan Belis which they labeled as Nanyang Snacks. 

My dining companion, said, "I was wondering why there is a sourish taste in their soup then I realized it is probably from the plum that was used as part of its ingredients." He liked it enough to have a refill when the waiting staff came by our table with a kettle. 

My dining companion said, "This is hawker food at cafe prices. It is not cheap but at least it came with a whole piece of a chicken leg." He took a bit and said, "It is not bad but a bit too salty. " The chicken leg was well-braised with a good infusion of aromatic soya flavor. It tasted different from the other Soya Sauce Chicken, it is distinctly savory and no hint of sweetness. 

The braised chicken leg was served with slices of braised mushroom, cherry tomatoes, and lettuce with the selection of noodles or rice. 

The service came by and asked, "How was the food?" And, she said, "I hope you will leave us a good review." It stated on the number tag that "Review us on Facebook or Google." Though their prices are a little on the high side, their attentive service makes it worthwhile. 

NANYANG CHICKEN

70 South Bridge Road SINGAPORE 058700

Operating Hours: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm (Closed on Sundays)

Sheng Ji Soya Sauce Chicken Rice / Noodle

This is amongst those stalls that has a consistent queue in this food centre. It was so even after 2 pm on a Saturday. Most of these customers ordered the Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle and some have it with rice. Their Soya Sauce Chicken must be good since it is their signature item and they even stated it on their signboard. The stall is manned by an elderly couple. It was sold out at 2 pm when I re-visited on a Sunday. 

For just $3, I was given a chicken wing with some breast meat together with a good portion of noodles and some green. The chilli was added to the side. The noodles were cooked nicely to the perfect texture, slightly springy and not too soft. To start, tossed it lightly to mix the noodles with the braised sauce underneath as well as the chilli. The level of spiciness for the chilli was quite mild. 

The Soya Sauce Chicken was not the best that I have eaten but if to compare to that Michelin starred Soya Suace Chicken, I would think this is better. It was quite flavorful and rather tender. I did not like it as much but my dining companion thought it was quite good. 

SHENG JI SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN RICE / NOODLE

69 Geylang Bahru #01-13 Geylang Bahru Food Centre SINGAPORE 330069

Operating Hours: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm

Hai Kee Soya Sauce Chicken : impressively good

There are many noteworthy Soya Sauce Chicken, some of the popular choices are Fragrant Soya Sauce Chicken and Fatty Ox Hong Kong Kitchen at Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Chiew Kee and Chew Kee at Upper Cross Street and Lee Fun Nam Kee at Toa Payoh Lorong 4.

Hai Kee Soya Sauce Chicken is another established brand for Soya Sauce Chicken. It was first started by Mr Wong Si Han in 1959 at Upper Cross Street before relocating to Katong in 2000 when Mr Wang Kia Jeck took over the business. The business expanded to include 8 outlets islandwide but it started to decline during the bird flu epidemic, it started to shut down one after another and finally ended it. They reopened in 2010 at Eunos Crescent and then another one in Changi in 2013 followed by the one in East Coast Road in 2015.

Joseph Wang, decided to take over the family business when he was 21, right after completing his National Service and is currently working along with James Wang, his brother. Now, they left with the stall at Changi but opened a new one at Bedok North, manned by James and Mr Wang Kia Jeck, their father. Their menu is broadened to include roasted pork and char siew. 

The well-marinated Soya Sauce Chicken was tender and smooth with a light fragrance of the soy sauce, it went well with the accompanying chili sauce and the coarse ginger paste. The texture of the rice was grainy, fragrant and not overly oily. My dining companion prefers the one from Lee Fun Nam Kee to this though. 

This might not be the best Soya Sauce Chicken but it is definitely much better than Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice Noodle that has been awarded Michelin star but failed to live up to the hype. 

HAI KEE SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN

Block 217 Bedok North Street 1 Food Loft Coffeeshop SINGAPORE 460217

Operating Hours: 9.00 am to 8.00 pm (Closed on alternate Tuesdays)

324T Changi Road Kim San Leng Coffeeshop SINGAPORE 419799
Operating Hours: 9.30 am to 6.30 pm (Closed on Fridays)

Xing Xing Soya Sauce Noodle : one of the best in Ang Mo Kio

This was, in fact, my third visit. I came to take away during the first 2 times. Mr Tay, the owner, kind of remember me as I chatted with him the last time. This stall is located at the coffee shop near to the Mayflower Food Centre where the popular Hong Kong Street Zhen Ji is located.

I said, "Your Soya Sauce Chicken is very nice, it is even nicer than that Michelin Soya Sauce Chicken." Uncle replied, "Oh, I know him." I continued to say, "That Soya Sauce Chicken is not the best but it is cheap." Uncle said, "Yeah, it is only $2 and so many elderly folks queue for it." I replied, "But now, not quite possible as the queue is very long." Uncle also said, "I used to own a stall at Philip Street as there is always a long queue." He even took out his phone and showed the picture of a stall by the name of Gourmet Corner. 

I asked, "Do you open on Monday?" Uncle replied, "Yeah. We are closed on Tuesday." I said, "Most of the stalls usually closed on Monday". He said, "That is the reason why we choose to close on Tuesday." I asked Uncle, "Besides, your Soya Sauce Chicken, which is the best in your opinion?" Uncle chuckled and he did not answer.

This time, I decided to have the Chicken Drumstick Noodle ($4) with Dumpling Soup ($5). While waiting, one of his regular customers came by and she asked, "Boss, no roasted pork for today ah?" Uncle replied, "Not for Monday" and that customer walked off.

While preparing, Uncle asked again, "Which part do you want?" I replied, "I want the drumstick.". While deboning the drumstick, he added extra meat from the chicken breast. He also added a fried wanton. I said, "Today, got fried wanton?" He said, "For you to try." I did not ask for extra chilli this time but I think he remembers that I did ask for it the previous time. He scooped a pile of chilli into the bowl and asked, "Enough?" and I nodded my head. It was then mixed with some braised sauce before he tossed the noodles in it. He added some crispy lard bits the previous times but it was missing this time. He asked me to come back 5 minutes later to collect the Dumpling Soup but he brought it to my table when it was ready.

The soya sauce chicken though flavourful but not as sweet as some that I had eaten, its texture was smooth and soft. The egg noodles were cooked well to the right texture with the desired springiness.

While eating, he came by to ask, "How is the dumpling?" I said, "Very big, and nice too." He replied, "I added a lot of ingredients, including the prawns". He said, "Try the fried wanton. I used the same filling in it." There was a total of 5 pieces of dumplings served in a lightly flavored soup. I asked Uncle, "Those dumplings are handmade by you?" He said, "Everything is handmade here."

This is one of the better Soya Sauce Chicken in Ang Mo Kio and you should try it if you happen to be in the vicinity.

XING XING SOYA SAUCE NOODLE

Block 158 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 #01-590 SINGAPORE 560158

Operating Hours: 7.30 am to 3.00 pm (Closed on Tuesdays)

628 Soya Sauce Chicken in Ang Mo Kio

This is one of the newest stalls in this food centre that opened in March 2017, it used to be a mixed vegetable rice stall that was around for quite a few years. I was their only customer when I went for dinner at about 6 pm. I decided to go with their Soya Sauce Chicken Drumstick Noodle at $4.50, it is $1.50 more expensive as compared to their regular Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle at just $3 for their dry and soup version. If you do not like the noodle, there is an option to have with horfun too. Apparently, it is only $4 if you order the Soya Sauce Chicken Drumstick Rice. 

If you are thinking of getting half or a whole chicken, there are 2 sizes. The smaller chicken is $7 for half and $14 for the whole, the bigger chicken is $11 for half and $22 for the whole, it is served with some braised peanuts. You can choose to go with rice or noodle for just $1.00 each. They also served BBQ Pork Noodle for $3, it is actually the roasted pork that they are using. 

It tasted close to the Michelin-starred Hawker Chan Liao Fan Soya Sauce Chicken, which is not even that good, to begin with, and definitely not quite worthy of that Michelin award as there are many better Soya Sauce Chicken in Singapore just like Lee Fun Nam Kee in Toa Payoh and Chiew Kee Soya Sauce Chicken in Chinatown, which are my current favourites. Even this Soya Sauce Chicken from 628 Soya Sauce Chicken is not too bad as well. You should give it a try if you happen to be in this food centre. 

628 SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN

Block 628 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 #01-59 AMK 628 Food Centre SINGAPORE 560628

Operating Hours: 10.00 am to 9.00 pm (Closed on Sundays)

Lee Fun Nam Kee : the Michelin standard Soya Sauce Chicken

There is a story behind Lee Fun Nam Kee. It started by Mr Lee Nam as a food stall in 1966 at the food centre in Toa Payoh Lorong 4 before moving to its current location. He also co-founded another stall with a Mr Wee in Novena. Mr Lee decided to sell away his share of Nam Kee to Mr Wee and he then renamed it to Wee Nam Kee. Mr Lee was sued by the Nam Kee along Thomson Road for using Nam Kee as its name in the 80s. Mr Lee then added Lee to Nam Kee so it became Lee Nam Kee and later, he decided to add his wife's name to it and so Lee Fun Nam Kee is formed. It has been around for more than 40 years since then and it is now in the good hands of the second generation.

It was not too crowded when I was there for lunch. I ordered a portion of Soya Sauce Chicken ($6) to go with Plain Noodle ($2) and a bowl of Fresh Shrimp Dumpling Soup ($5) with their Homemade Barley ($1.80). This was my first time dining there, I usually will just order half of their Soya Sauce Chicken with rice and their Fresh Shrimp Dumpling Soup to takeaway. 

They are specialised in Hainanese style soya sauce chicken, which is different from the Cantonese version and its braising sauce comprises of 15 different types of herbs. It is a unique recipe that was created by the founder. It does taste different in an old-fashioned way which you do not get it elsewhere, the braising sauce is slightly sweeter, thick, starchy and not too salty with a slight herbal flavour. The chicken is so tender, moist and rich in flavour, not particularly spectacular but it is kind of special. 

This in, in fact, the Michelin standard Soya Sauce Chicken, not the other one. It is so much better than the soya sauce chicken from Liao Fan Hawker Chan that has been awarded 1-Michelin star. I was never a fan of their chicken not then and not now though this is more expensive but it is worth the value. 

This was my first time having it with their noodles and somehow, I would still prefer their rice a little more. The rice is slightly greasy but fragrant which is how a good chicken rice should be, it is so good that you could even eat it on its own. It is even so after left it for a few hours when I took away to have it for dinner at home.

Their Fresh Shrimp Dumpling Soup is a personal favourite which is a must-order each time. It consists of 5 pieces of plump dumpling for the smallest portion at $5, you could taste the crunchiness of the water chestnut embedded amongst the well-seasoned filling. 

This is a definite must-try if you are a fan of soya sauce chicken. 

LEE FUN NAM KEE
Block 94 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 #01-04 SINGAPORE 310094
Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 3.00 pm / 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm

Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle Rice : soon to be gone

I came to bid farewell to Hambaobao as their last day will be on the 5 February 2017, their license cannot be renewed. In fact, not just their license but also for the other stalls in this food centre. It has been brought over by a mystery buyer for the sum of $17.5 million and it is to be converted into an air-conditioned food court.

I was there slightly after 1 pm, there was no queue at Hambaobao and even so,  I was informed by Ryan that the expected waiting time then will be at least 1 hour. I did not want to wait but thought of coming back the next day. Ryan said, "Even if you come at 12 pm, you will have to make sure that you are amongst the first few to avoid long waiting time." I guess it is just not meant to eat it one last time before they cease to operate. They have no plan for relocation at this moment.

I walked around the food centre to look for an alternative and this stall has caught my attention. The queue was long there but it moved quickly, I decided to join in nonetheless. I have tried their Stewed Beef Brisket Noodle once and I liked it but it is only available during the weekends. I went for their Soya Sauce Chicken Horfun ($4) together with a bowl of Wanton Soup ($3) this time.

The Soya Sauce Chicken was noticeably flavorful, tender and is, therefore, better-than-expected. In fact, it is comparable to the Michelin-starred Soya Sauce Chicken in Chinatown. I thought that Michelin-starred Soya Sauce Chicken is overrated and is not worth queuing, even though it is cheap but really not the best. My current favourite is Lee Nam Fun Kee in Toa Payoh. 

The Wanton Soup came with 5 pieces of plump wanton serving with some green in a lightly flavoured soup. Their tasty wanton is bigger in size with prawn and minced meat as filling. 

I did not get to ask how long more would they still be around in this food centre but a good guess is they would not be around for too long. Most of the other stalls are already in the midst of vacating or have already vacated their stalls. It is really sad to see the food centre go. 

HONG KONG SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN NOODLE RICE

44 Upper Bukit Timah Road #04-51 Beauty World Food Centre SINGAPORE 588177
Operating Hours: 8.30 am to 6.00 pm

Soya Sauce Chicken in Chinatown

Which one is your favourite Soya Sauce Chicken amongst the many choices in Chinatown. Read my article on MAKANSUTRA.