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If you visit Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre, you’ve likely noticed 2 chicken rice stalls drawing long queues: the well-known Hup Hong Chicken Rice, featured in the Michelin Guide 2023, and the equally popular but lesser-known 139 Hainan Chicken Rice.
Being a loyal patron of 139 Hainan Chicken Rice since childhood, my boyfriend recommended I visit this stall, so I decided to drop by for a try.
Before noticing the signboard, the first thing I saw was the long queue. Hmm, I wondered which stall was so popular. The next moment, my boyfriend signalled for me to join the queue with him, and I realised this was the stall we were here for.
While waiting to order, I glanced at the signboard to look at the prices. Their Chicken Rice sells at S$3 for small and S$4 for large, while the Char Siew and Roasted Meat Rice is priced at S$4. That’s cheap considering the meal comes with 2 types of meat!
What to order at 139 Hainan Chicken Rice
To try a variety of items, we ordered 2 sets of chicken rice with additional items. The first set was a small portion with roasted chicken breast meat, char siew and an egg. The second was a large portion with steamed chicken drumstick, roasted pork and an egg. The total amounted to S$12.40.
While most chicken rice stalls serve chicken breast meat by default, this stall allows you to specify which chicken part you want, so that you can get the exact texture and flavour you want.
Although the soup portions are usually separated for individuals, our 2 portions of soup were combined into a large bowl. Perhaps the chicken rice hawkers knew we were sharing a meal.
I first tried the char siew, which was drizzled with sweet sauce. I enjoyed the sweetness of the meat, but if you prefer something less sweet, you can ask for no sauce or request that the sauce be put aside.
The portion of roasted chicken breast was generous, and the chicken was very tender.
$1.80 Chicken Rice at The Hainan Story from 25 May to 12 Jun
Next up was the roast pork, which came with a thin and crisp golden skin on the top. When observing the middle layer, I realised there wasn’t as much fat compared to most other roast pork. Instead, the meat was leaner, making it a healthier option for roast meat lovers.
Meanwhile, the steamed chicken drumstick was juicy and flavourful. It also came with a bouncy, gelatinous texture.
The meat was accompanied by a generous amount of bean sprouts and cucumber. I was also glad that they topped it with my favourite coriander; it enhanced the flavour of the chicken rice!
Despite my low spice tolerance, I decided to challenge myself with a small amount of chilli sauce because why not? While I enjoyed the shiokness of the spice, it was too much for me.
Finally, I tried the soup. I wasn’t expecting much from this bowl of soup because it’s usually just something to accompany the chicken rice rather than the highlight of the meal.
To my surprise, there were cubes of silky tofu inside. What a rare addition to chicken rice soup!
The soup was very refreshing, and I gulped the entire bowl of soup down my throat. Trust me, I’m usually not a fan of chicken rice soup, but the soup here is so good I would even drink a second bowl if I could.
Will I come back again? Of course I will, and perhaps I’ll bring my brother along too as he’s a huge fan of chicken rice and I’m sure he’ll love the food here.
Who 139 Hainan Chicken Rice is best for
If chicken rice is the top on your list of favourite local delights, you won’t want to miss out on 139 Hainan Chicken Rice. For those looking for something different from the typical chicken rice, you can also customise the meal by specifying your preferred chicken part or adding char siew and roast pork.
How to get to 139 Hainan Chicken Rice
The nearest MRT station is Chinese Garden (EW25). Head for Exit B, and walk for roughly 21 minutes to work up an appetite. Alternatively, head for Exit A at Jurong East (NS1/EW24). Take bus 98 at J Gateway and alight at Blk 229.
Do we recommend 139 Hainan Chicken Rice?
Yes, we do! If you’re looking for affordable yet quality chicken rice, char siew or roast pork, 139 Hainan Chicken Rice is worth a try. The snaking queue is proof that fellow Singaporeans have given it a stamp of approval. Why not give it a go?
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