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Unless you live under a rock, you should’ve heard of Fiie’s Cafe, otherwise known (affectionately) as Mr Grumpy Fried Chicken. This little cafe in Lucky Plaza is known for its owner’s fierce disposition—hence the moniker—and its amazing fried chicken. You’ll be delighted to know that they’ve officially opened their second outlet in Toa Payoh!
Fiie’s Cafe is located in a coffeeshop nestled under Blk 73 Toa Payoh Lorong 4. Don’t walk into the first coffeeshop you see — take it from someone who made the mistake to tell you that it’s further down the stretch.
Here, the stall goes by ‘Mr Grumpy by Fiie’s Cafe’ instead; they’ve sure embraced that nickname, huh? The signboard also sports a cute logo of an angry chicken wielding a knife, along with the big, bold title of “#1 Nasi Ayam Goreng In Town“. As expected, there was a queue, though nowhere as winding as Lucky Plaza’s.
There’s a chance that this news isn’t entirely new to you; we previously covered the opening of the Toa Payoh outlet in Oct 2023. However, I overheard from several patrons that the stall had been closed for quite some time since then. Nevertheless, it’s here to stay now and has been running smoothly for a few weeks.
The menu here is no different; they sell just the one dish: Nasi Ayam Goreng (S$6.50). You can opt to make your meal heartier with some Sides (S$1 each) such as begedil or quail eggs, or get some Additional Chicken for S$5 and Additional Rice for S$1.
My hands were clammy by the time my turn to order rolled around; I often stutter when I recite my order if I haven’t rehearsed it mentally enough. However, the man who took my order wasn’t gruff in the least.
Peering in, I noticed that the owner, Mr Shafiie, wasn’t present. Regardless, I could tell that we were in good hands as I watched the men work their magic. One battered and fried up the chicken at top speed while the other chopped, plated and served.
The plate I received was simple as is — a mound of white rice, fried chicken, cucumber slices, a pool of sambal and a bowl of soup. The sambal is ladled onto the plate before you collect your order; trust the process. Sorry to the spice-intolerant, though.
The rice was fragrant, with notes of ginger and chicken stock. It paired well with the piquant sambal which had a subtle spice that crept in.
The fried chicken was the undoubted star of the show. Each bite I had was delightful, complete with the exceptional crunch of the chicken skin and tender meat. I appreciated the light sprinkle of battered bits on the rice, too.
While the soup may look like just about any bowl that comes on the side of your chicken rice, don’t underestimate it! It was robust, reminiscent of soto ayam broth.
Fiie’s Cafe has definitely earned itself my loyal patronage. Although I cannot speak for how the fare at the Toa Payoh outlet compares to the original, I urge anyone — devotees and first-timers alike — to make your way down!
