Zheng Swee Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice, which is located just next to Raffles Hotel near City Hall or Esplanade MRT, is supposed to be one of the best chicken rice restaurants in Singapore. I’ve been there a couple of times before when friends have come to visit me in Singapore as this restaurant is one of the chicken rice restaurants that is usually recommended in guide books or online.
It’s a very casual restaurant with tables both inside and outside and probably seats around 100 people. A plate of steamed chicken with rice is a very affordable $5.50 and roast chicken with rice is only $4.50. Alternatively you can go for the chicken rice set where you can choose steamed or roast chicken and this comes with rice and fried kai-lan (chinese broccoli) for around $7. They also serve other dishes including meat, seafood, rice and noodle dishes on their menu for people that don’t fancy eating chicken rice or for sharing if you want to have a big meal. Drinks can be purchased separately at the counter near the front of the restaurant and there are a fair choice of canned drinks as well as fresh sugar cane juice for $2.
I usually choose to have roast chicken when I eat chicken rice because I prefer the chicken skin on roast chicken as it’s much tastier than the bland skin on steamed chicken. The roast chicken with rice at Zheng Swee Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice is tasty, the portion of chicken that you get may be a little on the small side but would be ok for a light lunch or if you don’t have a big appetite. The chicken is tender and not dry and the rice is fragrant and not too oily and actually one of the better rices I’ve had in Singapore. The amount of roast chicken that you get is very little so if you want more chicken it may be better to get the chicken rice set where the portion of chicken you’re given is bigger or you could have the steamed chicken with rice where the portion size is also slightly bigger. Unfortunately the roast chicken that I had when I was there last, came with hardly any skin which was the main reason for choosing it over steamed chicken but I wasn’t too fussed as I was more interested in the actual meat. The chicken rice also comes with a light chicken flavoured soup and you can help yourself to chili sauce and ginger sauce to dip your chicken in.
Service here is quick and efficient, not particularly friendly but they get the job done. Dishes are served within minutes of ordering and payment is expected as soon as the food is received. I would definitely go back there again to try the pork chops which I’ve heard are good and maybe to pick up some takeaway chicken rice if I’m in the area.
Zheng Swee Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice
Address: 25 Seah St, #01-01, Singapore 188381
Tel: 6336 1042
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday: 11am – 10pm
Hope you’ve enjoyed my review, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review of the restaurant or if you have any questions!
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