Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Claypot rice is a dish that reminds me of my childhood as my family used to have it every other week. The humongous, steaming claypots are always a spectacle to behold (and taste). It’s a traditional dish that’s stayed popular over the years, and for good reason. Nothing really screams comfort food like a generous serving of claypot rice, so here are 10 claypot rice spots in Singapore that’ll give you a good taste of nostalgia.
1. Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice (联合本记煲饭)
A 44-year-old establishment in Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice (联合本记煲饭) prides itself on delivering nostalgic flavours with traditional cooking methods. Despite its unassuming location in the hawker centre, the stall faces a staggering long line of customers each day, with the wait time sometimes hitting an hour.
Their most popular dish, the Chicken Rice (S$8/S$10/S$12/S$15/S$20), contains the ingredients of all the other claypot rice renditions. From 2 types of lup cheong to salted fish, this dish has everything.
However, it was the tender and flavourful chunks of chicken meat and rice that sealed the deal for us. Succulent and perfectly chewy, the chicken had clearly soaked up the fragrance and flavour of the soya sauce. My mother always says that good things come to those who wait, and this definitely proved the validity of that statement.
To avoid disappointment and long waiting time, try calling them before their operational hours to reserve your desired order.
335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, #02-197/198/199, Singapore 050335
+65 6227 2470
Tue & Wed, Fri to Sun: 3pm – 9pm
Closed on Mon & Thu
Facebook
2. New Lucky Claypot Rice (新鸿运瓦煲饭)
No list of claypot rice places in Singapore can ever be complete without New Lucky Claypot Rice (新鸿运瓦煲饭). Located in Holland Drive Market & Food Centre, the stall has retained its Michelin Bib Gourmand award every year since 2017.
During peak hours, the wait can go up to 90 minutes. Despite this, people are still willing to wait, so you know they must be doing something right.
Their signature Claypot Wu Wei Rice (S$15 for 2 pax, S$25 for 3 pax, S$30 for 4 pax) comes with a hearty selection of ingredients which includes salted fish and lup cheong (Chinese sausage).
Cooked over charcoal, the rice retains a delectable smoky flavour. You can also find crispy charred bits of rice stuck to the pot—the most flavourful bits, in my opinion.
44 Holland Drive, Holland Drive Market & Food Centre, #02-19, Singapore 270044
+65 6778 7808
Thu to Tue: 10.30am – 12.30pm & 5pm – 8pm
Closed on Wed
Facebook
3. [CLOSED] Golden Chef SG (金师傅)
Golden Chef SG (金师傅) at 256 Yishun Ring Road was featured in our best-rated series and it truly lives up to its title. The stall is is setup by 3 young dudes from Johor Bahru: Yu An, 26, Huan Rong, 23 and Marcus, 23 — with 2 of them working at Jumbo Seafood previously.
Traditionalists can feast on the Signature Chicken Claypot Rice (S$7.80). The rice has chunks of chicken, Chinese sausage slices and green veggies, with an artfully-drizzled dark soya sauce on top. On the side, a small saucer of homemade chilli is served.
The rice is flavourful, smoky, aromatic and contains lots of charred crispy bits. The chicken is tender and well marinated and the homemade chilli packs a tangy and fiery punch.
Blk 256 Yishun Ring Road, #01-1005, Singapore 760256
+65 9385 3144
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Facebook | Instagram
4. Deng Wen Ji 鄧文记
At first glance, you may mistaken Deng Wen Ji 鄧文记 at East Village to sell only char siew wanton mee only. But if you take a closer look, you’ll notice a claypot rice picture on its yellow signboard. Yes, this eatery offers sha po fan as well, along with Hokkien mee.
The Charcoal Claypot Rice (S$18) is lovingly cooked over charcoal, resulting in a delightful smoky aroma that permeates the dish. The recipe comes from an ex-chef of the famed Geylang Claypot Rice (spot #5), and he has more than 20 years of cooking experience.
After the staff mixes the amount of dark soya sauce that you want, what you’ll get is perfectly cooked rice with a flawless coating of dark sauce on each grain. It’s crowned with succulent chicken, savoury Chinese sausages, and a generous piece of salted fish, every mouthful left us wanting more. Simply sublime.
430 Upper Changi Road, East Village, #01-09, Singapore 487048
+65 6214 3182
Tue to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 10pm
Facebook | Instagram
5. Geylang Claypot Rice (芽笼砂煲饭)
Previously located in Geylang, the famous Geylang Claypot Rice (芽笼砂煲饭) has recently been revamped. Their brand new outlet in Beach Road features a brighter and cosier environment while preserving the same old-school flavours all Singaporeans know and love.
With over 34 years of history, the long-established brand is most popular for its Signature Chicken Claypot Rice (S$22.80). The dish consists of a wide selection of ingredients including chicken, bits of salted fish, pork belly and vegetables.
The chicken was seasoned impeccably, resulting in a flavourful bite that was tender and juicy. I mean, is there any woe that can’t be solved without a comforting bowl of claypot rice?
If you’re not fond of poultry, there’s also the Pork Ribs Claypot Rice (S$22.80) option available.
361/363/365 Beach Road, Singapore 199576
+65 6744 4574
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm & 5pm – 10pm
Facebook
Crav-Pot: Industrial kopitiam stall with lemon butter pasta & over 15 claypot dishes
6. Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan
Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan, a humble claypot rice stall, is located within Beo Crescent Market, a small but well-loved hawker centre in Tiong Bahru. The guy behind the kitchen stove is actually an ex-chef who used to work at Marriott Hotel!
6 claypot dishes are available in different flavours, the cheapest of which are the Claypot Chicken Rice (S$5.30) and Claypot Pork Ribs Rice (S$5.30).
If you’re contemplating on what to get, I’ll recommend the loaded Claypot Sausages Bacon Chicken Rice (S$6.30) that has a little bit of everything. It contains lup cheong, browned pieces of chicken, little bits of bacon and plenty of fresh vegetables piled on top of the rice, which had been doused in what seemed like dark soy sauce.
Before you tuck in, you can smell the gorgeous charred scent of rice. The bacon and preserved Chinese sausages add salty and savoury notes to each spoonful of rice, with the lap cheong contributing an almost candied-like sweetness.
The pieces of chicken are grilled prior to being added to the claypot, resulting in gorgeously caramelised pieces of chicken. Some even still have the skin on, and the fatty, lip-smacking pieces of chicken skin are incredibly addictive.
38A Beo Crescent, Beo Crescent Market, #01-66, Singapore 169982
+65 8333 2813
Fri to Wed: 12pm – 8pm
Closed on Thu
7. Yew Chuan Claypot Rice (酉川沙煲饭)
Golden Mile Food Centre is home to many great eats in the CBD area, but Yew Chuan Claypot Rice (酉川沙煲饭) is undeniably one of the most popular ones there.
Run by a husband-and-wife duo, the stall has been in business for almost 20 years. But unlike many other stalls out there, they serve one dish, and one dish only.
Their Claypot Chicken Rice 沙煲鸡饭 (S$15/S$25/S$30/S$36) comes in many different sizes, ranging from portions for one up to a group of 5. Every claypot comes with unbelievably tender pieces of chicken, which they flavour with their secret-recipe marinade.
What’s also unique is that, over here, they serve two types of lup cheong. The different levels of sweetness added another dimension of flavours to every bite and makes for a memorable meal worth raving about.
505 Beach Road, Golden Mile Food Centre, #01-73, Singapore 199583
+65 9137 5661
Tue & Wed, Fri to Sun: 12pm – 8pm
Closed on Mon & Thu
8. Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice (三巴旺原味煲仔饭)
Located near the famous white bee hoon place, White Restaurant, Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice (三巴旺原味煲仔饭) serves up delectable bowls of steaming rice that’ll make you plan your second visit back even before you’ve finished your meal.
Their signature dish, the Claypot Rice (S$8.80/S$15.80/S$22.80) comes with chicken, mushroom and Chinese sausages. Mix well with some black soya sauce and oil and you’ll taste the fragrance of the sauce seeping through.
While they specialise in claypot rice, their Claypot Seafood Da Lu Mian (S$12.80/S$18.80) is also a hit amongst customers. The sizzling pot of seafood, runny egg and noodles will surely satisfy those seafood and bee hoon cravings of yours.
4 Jalan Tampang, Singapore 758948
+65 6757 7144
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Facebook
9. Le Chasseur
Its name might not sound like it but Le Chasseur in Eunos actually might just be your next favourite place to get a steaming bowl of rice.
The Singaporean owner-chef used to live in East Africa and owned a restaurant of the same name there. However, his restaurant in Singapore actually features zi char-style dishes that are familiar to our Singaporean palates.
Of their wide menu of Asian-inspired dishes, their Claypot Rice (S$12.50/S$23) receives the most praise. Despite the long waiting times, people are still willing to queue, and if there’s anything that indicates the quality of a dish, it’s the dedication that Singaporeans have in waiting to buy it.
We heard they also provide a satisfyingly spicy sambal belacan that pairs incredibly well. Why not give your spice tolerance a test while you’re at it?
27 Eunos Road 2, Singapore 409387
+65 6337 7677
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Facebook
10. Bao Fa Traditional Food 宝发传统小食
Not gonna lie, the West might just be giving the East a run for its money when it comes to good food, and fronting that list with comfort food-style claypot rice is Bao Fa Traditional Food in Bukit Batok. It offers a range of other comforting dishes of rice and noodles, so every visit will leave you spoilt for choice.
Their rice is cooked to order and will set you back S$15 for 2 pax. It’s an affordable option for lunch with a friend. Topped with salted fish and drizzled generously with chilli, this is something that will definitely be travelling to Bukit Batok for.
283 Bukit Batok East Avenue 3, Singapore 650283
+65 6561 0607
Fri to Wed: 11.30am – 9pm
Closed on Thu
Chinatown claypot rice showdown: Guan Heng Claypot Chicken Rice vs Lian He Ben Ji Claypot
