Best chicken rice in Singapore
Chicken rice is a dish that can completely change your perception of a seemingly simple combination: chicken and rice. Any attempt to crown a single stall as “the best” is almost guaranteed to stir up passionate reactions from netizens. Today, we’re sharing our updated ranking of the 10 best chicken rice stalls in Singapore for 2026!
While no top chicken rice list would be complete without some of the country’s heavyweight names, we also decided to spotlight a few lesser-known stalls that have quietly built up cult followings over the years.
The criteria
There are three distinct elements to a good plate of chicken rice: chicken, rice, and chilli. A good serving must perform well across all three components, while also delivering strong value for customers, which represents the relationship between portion size and price. This helps to level the playing field and gives hawker centre chicken rice an equal footing against restaurant versions.
We opted for the steamed chicken rice from each stall, scoring each component out of 10, with chilli rated out of 5. The final rankings were then calculated based on the percentage achieved out of a maximum score of 35 points.
10. Nan Xiang Chicken Rice
A friend has constantly prompted me about a lesser-known chicken rice spot tucked away in a corner coffee shop just outside Tanjong Katong Girls’ School. The Katong area has long been a hub for underrated finds, with the old-school coffee shop standing in contrast to the area’s hipster cafes. It is home to Nan Xiang Chicken Rice, a stall that has built up a loyal following over the years, with plates starting from just $4.
The garlic and ginger notes were quite apparent in the rice, but we felt the chicken flavour, which should be the star of the show, was slightly diminished and could have been given more room to shine. As a result, the balance between aromatics and the natural essence of chicken rice was not quite there.
While the chicken came in thick slices, it was noticeably lacking in moisture. I also couldn’t detect much trace of light soy sauce, leaving the chicken sorely missing that umami depth. All in all, it came across as a little too dry.
The chilli sauce, leaning on the watery side, was nothing much to shout about either, but it did serve its purpose in injecting some much-needed flavour into the dish with its mild heat.
Overall, Nan Xing Chicken Rice provides good value, but the chicken rice did not quite deliver the satisfaction we were looking for. It is possible that the plate we received was not fully representative of their usual standards, but ultimately, we can only judge based on what was placed in front of us—and for that reason, they start off our list.
Rice: 5.5/10
Chicken: 4.5/10
Chilli: 3/5
Value: 6/10
Total: 54.29%
Address: 271 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437054
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9am to 8pm
Nan Xiang Chicken Rice is not halal-certified.
9. Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice & Kitchen (East Coast)
One of the more prominent supper spots in the country, Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice & Kitchen has made a name for itself by serving quality chicken rice whenever those late-night cravings strike. While the brand also has outlets in River Valley and Beauty World, only its flagship Katong outlet stays open past midnight. We ordered the smallest chicken portion at $5.80++, along with the rice at $1.40++.
The rice here was fluffy and well-separated, with no hint of mushiness. Compared to more heavily oiled versions, the flavour profile was quite light on chicken flavour as well. While this prevented it from feeling overly cloying, a slightly more fat-rich base could have added extra indulgence and aroma.
Five Star uses kampung chickens, which are typically smaller and leaner than conventional ones due to their free-range upbringing, hence allowing them to stay more active. This resulted in high-quality chicken with a clean, pure flavour, though it lacked that plump bite. The accompanying soy sauce is on the stronger side, yet it was still quite tasty.
Their in-house chilli sauce came in a thick, coarse blend, delivering a tangy acidity that complemented the chicken and soy sauce especially well. It leaned slightly on the spicier side, along with subtle sweet hints.
While the individual components were satisfactory, the portion size felt underwhelming. There was a disclaimer that removing the bones would result in some meat loss, but at close to $7 for the smallest portion, it did not quite justify the premium. This was not helped by the thinner kampung chicken cuts that are less substantial to chew on, with the meat coming quite thin as well.
Rice: 6/10
Chicken: 6.5/10
Chilli: 3.5/5
Value: 4/10
Total: 57.14%
Address: 191 East Coast Road, Singapore 428897
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 2am
Website
Five Star Kampung Chicken Rice & Kitchen is not halal-certified.
8. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Look up any Singapore food itinerary video by tourists on YouTube and you will almost always find the Michelin-approved Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice in the mix. You know a stall is popular when there are queue poles set up to manage the ever-present line that stretches around the bend at Maxwell Food Centre. Portions here begin at $5 for roasted and $6 for steamed chicken rice.
The rice got off to a mixed start, with some parts clumping together. Although the fragrance of garlic, pandan leaves, and chicken stock came through nicely, the textures felt slightly uneven throughout. Flavour-wise, the richness of the chicken fat was still quite evident in each bite.
Tian Tian’s chicken is characterised by its translucent, jelly-like skin with a slippery texture. Despite this textural appeal, the chicken itself was on the blander side and was slightly tough in certain bites. We were also not huge fans of the thicker, more viscous sauce drizzled over the top, as its sweetness did not pair particularly well with the dish, where a much more savoury emphasis would have been preferable.
This is likely many tourists’ first taste of chilli sauce, but it came across as rather mild, lacking the sharpness we would expect—it leaned more towards a garlicky profile instead. It may serve as a good entry-level chilli sauce for some, but it did not quite hit the mark.
While Tian Tian’s chicken rice remains one of the most famous stalls at Maxwell, not every element lived up to expectations. That is not to say they serve a bad plate of chicken rice, as years of prestige and popularity speak for themselves. However, there are certainly better options elsewhere, especially if you are looking to avoid the long queues.
Rice: 6.5/10
Chicken: 6/10
Chilli: 3/5
Value: 6/10
Total: 61.43%
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-10/11, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8:30am to 8pm
Website
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is not halal-certified.
7. Chye Kee Goldhill Roasted Chicken Rice
You may not have heard of Chye Kee Goldhill Roasted Chicken Rice, but office workers and residents in the Novena area will certainly be familiar with this quaint stall tucked within a corner coffeeshop in Goldhill Shopping Centre. Having earned a loyal following, it is always packed during meal hours, with many regulars touting it as one of Singapore’s most underrated chicken rice spots. Portions here start from $4.
The rice grains here were finely defined and were nicely textured. However, it was almost almost too clean-tasting, with it lacking the oiliness you usually expect in a good plate of chicken rice.
The chicken was very smooth, and what stood out was how prominent the pure chicken flavour was, though the trade-off was that it leaned a little dry and lacked moisture. This was also attributed to how the light soy sauce was rather muted, which did not do much to elevate its flavours.
The chilli was what you would expect from an average chicken rice stall—nothing particularly impressive, though it helped inject some punch into an otherwise mild-flavoured dish.
If you are looking for a healthy plate of chicken rice, Chye Kee is the place to head to. You may appreciate this, especially if you are on a diet and looking to hit your macros in a cleaner way, though perhaps not if you are after something richer and more sinful. That said, it still offers good value with its generous portion sizes, and we can see why it remains popular with the lunch crowd.
Rice: 6/10
Chicken: 6/10
Chilli: 3/5
Value: 7/10
Total: 62.86%
Address: 151 Thomson Road, #01-151, Goldhill Shopping Centre, Singapore 307606
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am to 3:30pm
Chye Kee Goldhill Roasted Chicken Rice is not halal-certified.
6. Boon Tong Kee Restaurant
One of the most prominent names in Singapore’s chicken rice scene, Boon Tong Kee is often among the first places that comes to mind when it comes to the national dish. Established in 1979 as a humble hawker stall in Chinatown serving Cantonese-style chicken rice, it opened its first of many restaurants along Balestier Road in 1983, which is the outlet we visited. Prices here are on the more exorbitant side, with the smallest sharing portion starting at $14++.
With that higher price point also comes a noticeable uplift in quality, starting with the rice. Fragrant and well-balanced, the pandan aroma, along with hints of ginger and garlic, comes through clearly. The grains were also soft and fluffy, with a slight oiliness that binds everything together. However, we would have preferred it to be served a little warmer.
While there have been differing complaints about the kampung chicken at some of the other Boon Tong Kee branches, the quality at their first outlet has been fairly consistent. As expected, the chicken arrived in thick, succulent chunks that were satisfying to bite into. The ice bath process gives the slightly chilled chicken its silky texture, not just locking in moisture, but also keeping both the flesh and skin delicately smooth. It may lean slightly lighter in flavour, but dousing it in their signature light soya sauce helped add that umami kick.
The chilli did not quite live up to the heights set by the first two components, as it felt rather flat and lacked intensity. It was a little too sweet for our liking, without enough spice or tang to balance it out, such that it struggled to distinguish itself from the soy sauce.
While we do appreciate the evident quality of the chicken, the amount of meat amongst the many bones does not quite justify the premium price point. Despite each bite being satisfying on its own, the meal as a whole doesn’t feel particularly filling. Would it deter us from visiting Boon Tong Kee again? Not quite, as it still holds its appeal, but we are more inclined to choose other options that are gentler on the wallet.
Rice: 7/10
Chicken: 8/10
Chilli: 3/5
Value: 5.5/10
Total: 67.14%
Address: 399 Balestier Road, 401 & 403, Singapore 329801
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 2:30pm, Sun 11am to 10pm
Boon Tong Kee Restaurant is not halal-certified.
5. Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice Restaurant
Often mentioned in the same breath as Boon Tong Kee is Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice Restaurant at United Square, with the two heavyweights’ flagship outlets located fairly near each other. Founded in 1987, Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice initially faced significant losses in its early years of operation but has since expanded rapidly with multiple outlets across the island, with individual chicken rice sets starting from $5.90++.
Wee Nam Kee’s rice was very fragrant, coming out soft and fluffy. Although there were some slight clumps in certain areas, each bite still carried a comforting warmth and subtle sweetness, though it may lean a little on the greasier side for some.
The one aspect they nailed was the tenderness of the chicken. While it may not deliver the same satisfying bite as the thick chunks from Boon Tong Kee, it was tender enough to almost disintegrate in your mouth after just a few chews. It was also quite silky, though slightly drier than expected. The light soy sauce leaned on the stronger side, but we appreciated that they did not drench the entire plate in it, allowing the chicken’s flavours to shine.
Like many popular chicken rice restaurants among tourists, the chilli here is once again on the more muted side, but it was better balanced between sweet and spicy, while also carrying a pleasant zest.
The portion sizes at Wee Nam Kee was quite decent even for its price, which includes the added GST and service charge that come with dining in a restaurant. Every element is consistently solid and clearly a step above many other chicken rice spots, resulting in a quality plate that is definitely worth trying.
Rice: 7/10
Chicken: 7.5/10
Chilli: 3.5/5
Value: 6.5/10
Total: 70%
Address: 101 Thomson Road, #01-08, United Square Shopping Centre, Singapore 307591
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Website
Wee Nam Kee is not halal-certified.
4. Uncle Louis Famous Chicken Rice
Tian Tian may get all the attention at Maxwell Food Centre, but it is an open secret that there are several solid options in the same hawker centre that can give it a run for its money. One of them is Uncle Louis Famous Chicken Rice, helmed by former Hilton hotel chef Louis Tan, who made the transition to hawker life in the mid-1990s. Portions here start from $5 for steamed chicken rice.
The rice here was very aromatic, carrying savoury notes that were further enhanced by the use of rendered chicken fat for extra flavour. Its grains were quite firm, yet remained well separated without clumping together, while still retaining sufficient moisture in each bite. Though it may not feel as indulgent as some others, it was still certainly flavourful enough.
The chicken leans towards a lighter flavour profile rather than anything bold or punchy, allowing the natural chicken essence to come through prominently. It was high in quality and fairly juicy, while the skin had a gentle sheen from the poaching process. This is further complemented by the savouriness of the light soy sauce and its distinct sesame aroma drizzled on top.
Uncle Louis’ chilli sauce stood out as the best we had, offering one of the most complex flavour combinations. Beyond its heat, it carried clear notes of garlic, the tang vinegar, and even hints of lemongrass. What makes it especially appealing is its thick, almost pasty consistency that allows it to cling well to the chicken.
Overall, Uncle Louis offers strong value—including a bowl of peanut soup—and consistent quality across all elements, making it our go-to chicken rice spot in Maxwell, all without the long queues. Every component came together well to form a well-rounded plate that certainly deserves more recognition.
Rice: 7/10
Chicken: 7/10
Chilli: 4/5
Value: 7/10
Total: 71.43%
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-36, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 10pm
Uncle Louis Famous Chicken Rice is not halal-certified.
3. Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice
Many detractors will have their knives out whenever Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice is mentioned at the top of any list, but we feel it is still far from being appreciated enough. A long-standing fixture for decades at the basement unit of Katong Shopping Centre, it is often the first stop for tourists arriving from the airport, while continuing to draw regulars from all over the country. Their chicken rice set starts at $8 for the standard version.
Visually, the yellow hue of Katong Mei Wei’s rice is what first catches the eye. This comes from turmeric, which lends an earthy note, while hints of garlic and ginger add a pleasant aroma. However, the downside is that these stronger flavours somewhat masked the crucial chicken essence, while the rice itself was unfortunately a little dry.
While portion sizes were a recurring theme in the earlier entries, Katong Mei Wei does not disappoint in that area. Our plate was generously loaded with chicken, and it was not all bark and no bite. It was the smoothest chicken we had so far, while being tender to the bite and juicy. Tying it all together was a delightful soy sauce mixed with chicken broth, carrying a subtle sweetness that elevates the chicken, while finished with a garnish of fried garlic and carrots for a nice textural contrast.
Despite being a more watered-down version, the bright chilli sauce still brings through tangy and acidic notes that cut through the richness of the chicken well. It carried enough heat to awaken the senses, and paired well with the soy sauce.
Plenty of people are quick to scoff at the price tag, but it’s clear why it is justified. Beyond the large plate of chicken, you also get a side of high-quality achar featuring generous chunks of pineapple and vegetables, along with a substantial bowl of soup that rotates between peanut soup and cabbage soup with chicken bits. Given the overall quality and variety on offer, this well-rounded meal delivers on the satisfaction front, making the premium feel well worth it.
Rice: 6/10
Chicken: 8/10
Chilli: 3.5/5
Value: 8/10
Total: 72.86%
Address: 865 Mountbatten Road, Katong Shopping Centre, Singapore 437844
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 7pm
Website
Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice is not halal-certified.
2. Zi Jing Cheng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
You may not have heard of Zi Jing Cheng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, but chances are you will remember it after your first visit. Located within Alexandra Village Food Centre, it is one of the more low-key stalls on this list despite having earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand award three years in a row since 2023. Its menu solely focuses on steamed chicken rice, with portions starting from just $3.50 per set.
The rice carried a strong chicken aroma and was noticeably less greasy despite being cooked in chicken broth. Its grains remained relatively firm, and although the seasoning was not especially bold, the subtle savoury notes still came together nicely, resulting in a balanced and comforting bite overall.
The chicken was cooked to perfection, which came incredibly velvety and moist throughout. Served slightly chilled, it also had that delicate gelatinous layer between the skin and meat that added extra richness. The poached chicken itself was exceptionally tender, featuring a mix of thigh and breast meat that had been neatly deboned, making it easy to enjoy. Everything was finished with a light soy dressing carrying a subtle sweetness that elevated the natural flavours of the chicken well.
The chilli here was also on the watery side, and also one of the spicier ones we had so far. Its sharp heat built up quickly and lingered on the palate, adding an extra kick that balanced out the richness of the chicken nicely.
While Michelin-approved stalls tend to attract more scrutiny, Zi Jing Cheng is the stall that truly epitomises the meaning of the Michelin Bib Gourmand designation—high standards at affordable prices. Not many places still offer chicken rice at such a pricepoint, and although the portion sizes may not be the biggest, the overall execution easily makes it worthwhile. Judging by both taste and value, this is undoubtedly one of the best chicken rice stalls in the country.
Rice: 7.5/10
Chicken: 8/10
Chilli: 3.5/5
Value: 7/10
Total: 74.29%
Address: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-15, Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Opening hours: Wed-Sat 10:30am to 2:30pm
Zi Jing Cheng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice is not halal-certified.
1. Chicken House
We’ve come to realise that residents in the Novena and Thomson area are spoilt for choice when it comes to good chicken rice. Mention Chicken House to anyone staying along Upper Thomson Road and it will almost certainly ring a bell. Its iconic green signboard and old-school charm add to its appeal, with portions here starting at $6.80.
Starting with the rice, Chicken House’s version was the most fragrant out of the bunch. The grains were distinct and well-coated, carrying a notable depth from the chicken oil and aromatics, with the garlic and pandan notes coming through more prominently. Despite that, it was surprisingly still quite light on the palate, allowing one to enjoy the full range of flavours without it feeling heavy or overly rich.
Here, the famous kampung chicken was the showstopper. While many may expect it to be leaner due to its nature, it still came fairly plump with a slightly chewy yet juicy mouthfeel. The taste was robust, complemented by a gentle natural sweetness in the flesh. The skin didn’t take centre stage here, but it still offered a silky, springy texture that tied each bite together. Everything was naturally flavourful, which perhaps explained why only a minimal amount of light soy sauce was provided—but it still carried a subtle yet lasting umami depth.
The chilli sauce tasted vibrant and punchy, with a zesty, refreshing tanginess coming through clearly. It had a moderate level of heat and wasn’t overly watery, striking a good harmony with a gentle sourness that helped it stand out.
Even after trying many plates of chicken rice around the island, Chicken House was the one that left the most lasting impression on us. If you are looking for not just a cookie-cutter version of what chicken rice should taste like, but instead one that sits a cut above the rest, this is the place to head to. It delivers an all-round experience that brings together quality and balance, allowing it to edge out many of the other contenders in its category.
Rice: 8/10
Chicken: 8.5/10
Chilli: 4/5
Value: 6.5/10
Total: 77.14%
Address: 255 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574382
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 7:30pm
Chicken House is not halal-certified.
Where to get the best chicken rice in Singapore
What makes ranking chicken rice in Singapore such a difficult exercise is just how narrow the margins are between top stalls, as subtle differences in execution and balance can make the difference. Strong opinions will always exist when it comes to chicken rice, and rightly so—this is a dish people care deeply about, but the best way to settle any debate is still to go out and try them for yourself. For many of these stalls, another visit could easily shift perceptions in either direction, so we encourage you to take this as a starting point for your own chicken rice journey.
Best chicken: Chicken House
Best chilli: Uncle Louis Famous Chicken Rice
Best value: Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice
Best overall chicken rice: Chicken House
To find more of the best eats, check out our guide to the best nasi lemak hotspots, or read our ranked list of the best laksa in Singapore.
10 Best Laksa In Singapore Ranked—328 Katong, Sungei Road, 928 Yishun And More
Photos taken by Nathania Tay
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.
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