One of Singapore’s best-known chicken rice spots, Boon Tong Kee started off as a street-side stall in 1979 by Cantonese hawker, Thian Boon Hua, now 72. This particular Balestier location was opened by him in 1983 as his business flourished, and has been the flagship outlet ever since. Boon Tong Kee currently operates 7 outlets throughout Singapore.
Cantonese preparation of poached chicken (called “pak cham kai” in Cantonese) differs from the better-known Hainanese poached chicken in that the Cantonese will immerse their whole poached chicken in ice-cold water right after boiling, whereas the Hainanese do not. That Cantonese process results in a much-sought-after gelatinous, jelly-like layer between the chicken skin and the chicken meat-underneath.
Cantonese poached chicken also tends to have a softer meat texture, whereas the Hainanese have always liked their poached chicken with a firmer, more toothsome texture. Different strokes for different folks.
Usually, the Cantonese serve their poached chicken with plain white rice, but Boon Tong Kee, in a nod to Singaporeans’ liking for flavoured rice, serves fragrant, chicken-flavoured rice.
Our lunch last weekend:
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Poached chicken, drizzled with chicken fat-sesame oil-light soy sauce dressing
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Poached chicken livers and gizzards
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Stir-fried beansprouts with hard tofu, scallions and red peppers
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Baby bokchoy (“siew pak choy”) with layered soybean sheets in chicken stock
Poached, marinated chicken feet with chopped cabbage, sesame-lime dressing, were served as a relish.
Spicy vinegary-gingery chili sauce and thick dark soy sauce were provided on the table as side-condiments.
Boon Tong Kee at Balestier Road had expanded its menu to become a full-fledged “dai chow” restaurant back in 1999, offering a plethora of Cantonese cooked dishes. But we stuck to the original chicken rice dishes. The restaurant’s busier than ever nowadays.
Address
Boon Tong Kee
399, 401 & 403 Balestier Road, Singapore 329801
Tel: +65 6254 3937
Operating hours: 11am-3pm, 5pm-11pm Mon to Fri, 11am-11pm Sat & Public Holidays, 10am-10.30pm Sundays.
