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I do indulge in the chicken rice at Chatterbox once in a blue moon, but let’s be real. At S$25++ per set, it’s not something I’ll eat often. So when my ex-colleague was talking about Chef Lai’s Cafe, an eatery at Adelphi opened by an ex-Chatterbox chef, my curiosity was piqued. Truth be told, what I just shared happened over 2 years ago, and I can’t believe I’m finally checking it out!
I contacted Chef Arron Lai, the owner, and I was told to swing by his newer outlet at Sim Lim Square that opened in March 2025. This is the first time in 10 years that he has opened a second branch.
The walls of his cafe are covered with photos from his 16-year career at Chatterbox, which was located in the now-defunct Mandarin Orchard Hotel. After his time there, he moved to Hong Kong to open his own chicken rice restaurant.
What I tried at Chef Lai’s Cafe
To come to an ex-Chatterbox chef’s place and not order the Chef Lai Hainanese Chicken Rice Set (S$7.50) would be an atrocity. The portion may not be as generous as what Chatterbox serves, but hey, it still looked enticing enough to get my stomach rumbling. Presented neatly in a tray was a bowl of chicken rice, chopped chicken thigh, a plate of veggies, and a bowl of soup. S$7.50 as compared to S$25? Yes, Please!
Every ounce of flavour and fragrance from the aromatics had penetrated each grain of chicken rice, making every mouthful enjoyable. Just imagine the combination of rendered chicken fat, garlic, shallots, lemongrass and pandan leaves all coming together to create that heavenly taste.
The best part? Those with a good appetite can order the set which allows you to have a free refill of the fragrant rice and soup (at Sim Lim Square outlet only).
Each slice of chicken thigh was flawlessly moist, and had a bouncy texture — a testament of the chef’s awesome culinary skills. Underneath was a thin layer of soy-based sauce that added a tinge of savouriness without overpowering the chicken’s natural flavour.
The dark soya sauce was a premium, thick, and incredibly fragrant variety. Meanwhile, the chilli had just the right amount of spice with an irresistible, vibrant zestiness that left me wanting more.
The accompanying cabbage with carrots was cooked till they were beautifully tender, while the soup of the day turned out to be a tasty herbal chicken broth with chicken, wolfberries and red dates. Similar to the rice, the soup is free for the customers to go back for refills (if they order a set). If you do decide to come on a daily basis, you’ll be glad to know that Chef Lai’s Cafe changes up the variety each day.
My mum was one of my dining partners at the table, and when I ordered the Braised Pork Belly Rice (S$6.50) aka the bane of her life, I was expecting her to have just one mouthful before she threw in the towel. Errr… well, let’s just say she ended up finishing almost half the bowl! “This will be the only braised pork belly rice that I’ll eat and finish,” she added.
Before my first bite, I noticed that the pork pieces were meaty and hardly had pockets of fat in them. “Oh no!” I thought. They would probably be a little dry and tough. Guess what? I was wrong and judged too soon. I was flabbergasted at how pieces of meat with little to no fat could achieve such softness.
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Chef Lai’s version tasted closer to home instead of the ones done in Taiwan with each juicy chunk of pork boasting subtle hints of star anise. The peanuts gave the dish texture while the braised egg was a nice accompaniment to have. Oh, and this dish comes with the herbal chicken soup from earlier as well.
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We also tried the Chef Lai Curry Chicken Rice (S$6.50), a classic, unpretentious dish of chicken chunks and potato doused in curry, paired with a bowl of rice and herbal chicken soup.
I have no idea what sorcery went into concocting that bowl of curry, but it was one of the best I’ve had in recent times. Impeccably seasoned with a light spice that hardly burns your tongue, the curry was lusciously creamy and delicious.
You know it’s good when you feel like drizzling the curry on everything; after all, rice and curry is a match that never fails to impress. And this, friends, was an immaculate combination.
How about the chicken pieces along with that solo piece of potato then? Well, just as pristine as the curry itself. The chicken was the very definition of fall-off-the-bone, while the potato was fluffy as a cloud. The only problem? There was only one — I wanted more, for sure.
Final thoughts
I was honestly blown away by the food at Chef Lai’s cafe — no wonder I’d heard so many good things about it. What shocked me, though, was that there weren’t many customers patronising the place. Though I heard that business at Adelphi is brisk, but more people who work around Sim Lim Square should really give this place a try.
It also didn’t help that the popular 3 Meals a Day was located along the same corridor, and that Chef Lai’s Cafe was much deeper inside. Moving forward, I’ll definitely make a return visit whenever I’m purchasing computer stuff at this mall.
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