Sin Swee Kee: Hunting for Best Chicken Rice in Singapore

May 21, 2010 | 19 Comments

Best Chicken Rice Singapore

Tian Tian Hainaese chicken rice, Boon Tong Kee chicken rice, and Loy Kee chicken rice are arguably the biggest names for chicken rice in the local food scene. I’ve tried all three before, they are definitely among the best chicken rice in Singapore.

There’s nothing wrong with the three chicken rice stalls, but I do not like the fact that everyone thinks that they are the best chicken rice in Singapore. I am not one who likes to go to hyped-up places, and I think this is my problem.

Seah Street and Purvis Street have been known for housing many Hainanese Chicken rice stalls with Chin Chin Hainanese chicken rice, Yet Con chicken rice and Sin Swee Kee chicken rice along them. On this occasion, we decided to check out Sin Swee Kee at Seah Street.

We had (half a chicken) of the Roasted and the Hainanese steamed chicken. I couldn’t quite put a finger to it, but the chicken at Sin Swee Kee didn’t really make an impression. It was not bad, but it wasn’t something that would make me go gaga. All I can say is I definitely had better chicken rice elsewhere before.

Hainanese Pork Chop Singapore

I have no intention to stir up a fight between the supporters of Yet Con and Sin Swee Kee, but I think that the former does a better Hainanese Pork Chop. It may have something to do with the sweet sauce, or the fries, but anyway, I have a better impression of Yet Con’s Hainanese pork chop.

Sweet & Sour Pork

Don’t judge. I know you are probably thinking that we are idiots. But we actually (or rather my friend) stupidly ordered the Sweet & Sour Fish instead of the Sweet and Sour Pork. I was having a mad craving for Sweet & Sour Pork, and I insisted on ordering it even though we already had the Sweet & Sour Fish and the Hainanese Pork Chops (which was also in sweet & sour sauce).

Sweet & Sour Pork > Sweet & Sour Fish

But unfortunately, both the sweet and sour dishes were not the ones that I’m looking for. The sweet and sour pork wasn’t crunchy enough, and lacked the wow impact. I’m sorry if it seems that I can’t explain the wow factor for sweet & sour pork clearly. That sort of feeling is indescribable, and you probably will know it only when you have it. Oh well, the hunt for the best Sweet and sour pork continues!

* * *

Obviously supporters of Sin Swee Kee Chicken rice restaurant will call this as the best chicken rice in Singapore, but I am not quite convinced. Having tried both Yet Con, and Sin Swee Kee, I will must check out Chin Chin Hainanese chicken rice next!

Anyway, I am not very familiar with the history behind Swee Kee Chicken rice. Can someone enlighten us about the story behind Sin Swee Kee and Old Swee Kee?

Hawker Food Review
Sin Swee Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant
35 Seah Street
Tel: +65 6337 7180

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Category: # Restaurant Review, * Central Singapore, Dining Guide Singapore, Food Photography, Singapore Food Blog
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Comments

19 Responses to “Sin Swee Kee: Hunting for Best Chicken Rice in Singapore”

  1. Camemberu
    May 21st, 2010 @ 10:55 pm

    OK lah, Sin Swee Kee is pretty decent, convenient and good value for money! :) Did not know they had sweet and sour stuff. Looks good though.

  2. the lacquer spoon
    May 22nd, 2010 @ 12:11 am

    Mouth-watery! Hainanese Chicken rice is my fav dish to order in a Singaporean restaurant in Tokyo, but I’m now dreaming about tring the authentic dish at Sin Swee Kee :)

  3. Shirin
    May 22nd, 2010 @ 5:02 am

    i just had dinner and now you’re making me hungry again! (: x

  4. penny aka jeroxie
    May 22nd, 2010 @ 6:35 am

    Cool. I shall be looking forward to your selection on the best chicken rice. Definitely try it when I get back.

  5. Poundcakezarah
    May 22nd, 2010 @ 9:09 am

    I like that. :) Now I’m craving for chicken rice again!

  6. Arnold
    May 22nd, 2010 @ 12:07 pm

    The photos on your site are marvelous. These alone are a reward for anyone visiting your site. Maybe one day you could include a few food photography tips, hint hint.

  7. FFichiban
    May 22nd, 2010 @ 2:37 pm

    Ooh mannnn craving chicken rice so badly now! Never tried hainanese pork chop so must get round to it sometime

  8. Lennardy
    May 22nd, 2010 @ 10:53 pm

    Totally un-food related, but your control of light in the first picture with the roasted chicken is amazing

  9. ladyironchef - Singapore Food Blog
    May 23rd, 2010 @ 3:40 pm

    camemberu: they have a lot of zi char dishes! check it out the next time u are there!

    lacquer spoon: tokyo has a lot of good food, but i dont think u can find the best chicken rice there! come to Singapore soon : )

    Shirin: Well, you have a reason to eat again and you can blame it on me! haha

    penny: yeah i am craving for chicken rice nowadays, will hunt for more places!

    Poundcakezarah: when i was writing this post, i had this massive craving for chicken rice!

    arnold: wow dude, you really flattered me! thanks it really makes my day! i’m writing a page on that, will publish it soon

    Ffichiban: U NEVER TRIED hainanese pork chop before? you are missing out dude!

    lennardy: wow thanks man! glad you like the photo!

  10. Yewon
    May 24th, 2010 @ 1:28 pm

    I like Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice, they have one of the best Chinese cabbage with oyster sauce imo…yum~

  11. ladyironchef - Singapore Food Blog
    May 25th, 2010 @ 12:24 am

    yewon: i always pass by five star hainanese chicken rice, but nv think of trying them. is it really good? haha

  12. Yewon
    May 25th, 2010 @ 10:15 am

    Yes Brad, I think Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice is really good but of course, that’s my personal taste :)

  13. BanBan
    May 26th, 2010 @ 8:53 pm

    Sin Swee Kee used to be not bad, till they revamped lately. The menu is changed, and prices are up. May have changed chef. There are a lot of chicken rice shops down Purvis Street.

  14. JunieMunie
    May 28th, 2010 @ 1:52 am

    From the pic, the chicken looks pretty good. Must be your photography skill. Always makes me drool even though i’m stuffed from a full meal. haha.

    I recently tried Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice near Novena… I must say the roast chicken rice is really quite good, a bit different from others that i’ve had. Skin is crispier than most roast chicken and has this fragrance that i can’t quite pin down.

    Not sure what you’ll make of it, but i’ll love to hear what you think if you get a chance to try it.

    And yes, our search for “Wow!” Sweet & sour pork continues…

  15. ladyironchef - Singapore Food Blog
    May 28th, 2010 @ 10:55 am

    banban: yea man, there’s so many chicken rice shops in the area, gonna try chin chin next!

    JunieMunie: I heard a lot about Wee Nam Kee, is it really so good? haha! okay will check it out soon! ya lets keep each other posted about the best sweet & sour pork : )

  16. TiAnTiAn
    September 24th, 2010 @ 3:21 pm

    tried the old swee kee @ 25 seah street – not fantastic…

    love the sin kee chicken rice @ queenstown food centre (40a commonwealth ave) :)

  17. ladyironchef - Singapore Food Blog
    October 2nd, 2010 @ 11:34 am

    tiantian: By any chance, is sin kee chicken rice related to sin swee kee? haha

  18. KJ
    January 8th, 2011 @ 5:02 am

    I visited a friend in Singapore and she took me to eat chicken rice near Novena (probably the one mentioned above). I must tell you it is almost two years later and I am still thinking about that meal. SOOOO GOOD!!!

  19. Audrey Tan
    April 4th, 2011 @ 2:19 am

    you REALLY should do a post on the best sweet & Sour pork in sg since you love it so much! (and that love is VERY infectious :s)

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