Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
I’ve been obsessed with all things Hainanese lately, particularly Hainanese chicken rice. There’s something deeply comforting about fragrant, fluffy rice paired with juicy steamed chicken, all doused in soy sauce and served with signature chilli and scallion sauces. As a spice aficionado, I’ve also always been a sucker for Thai food. So when 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice made its debut in the Hartamas food scene, it felt like a fairy had listened to my foodie dreams and decided to make them come true.
Okay, this spot is not new new. It opened its doors back in May 2026, but only recently started making waves on social media. I actually discovered it through a delicious-looking Instagram post that I can no longer find, but the moment I sent it to my group chat, everyone responded with some variation of yes, I’ve seen it before or I’ve been wanting to try it.
As its name suggests, 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice centres its menu around Thai-inspired Hainanese chicken rice. Beyond that, though, I’d say the Hainanese influence largely ends there. This is very much a Thai food joint through and through.
A note for newcomers: the fairly cramped space is especially popular with office workers, so plan your visit accordingly. Waiting for a table during peak hours would definitely be a death sentence for your feet.
What to order at 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice
After mulling over the menu for close to 20 minutes, we settled on two mains, a side and a drink to wash it all down.
First up was one of their signatures, the Southern Thai Fried Chicken Rice (RM15.90). The plate came with fragrant rice, a whole chicken leg sliced in half, cucumbers, fried shallots, a bowl of soup and, most importantly, 4 different sauces. Now, this is what I’m talking about, baby.
The rice leaned more towards oily rather than fluffy and moist, with fairly subtle flavours. Some might even call it plain, but I thought it worked well as a base for the flavour bomb that was the chicken and sauces.
The Southern Thai fried chicken, also known as Hat Yai fried chicken, was wet-battered and deep-fried until beautifully crisp. The garlic-forward marinade came through nicely in the batter, although I did wish the chicken had been brined longer. Despite being juicy, the meat was slightly tough and the seasoning didn’t quite make its way down to the bone. Still, I had very little to complain about when it came to the fried chicken itself.
The sauces, however, were a dream. They didn’t explicitly list their names, but from what I tasted, they went beyond the classic Hainanese chilli and scallion-garlic oil sauces to bring in more Thai flavours. One was a tamarind-forward dip mixed with bird’s eye chillies and possibly a hint of belacan, while another reminded me of the sauce typically served with Harimau Menangis beef (nam jim jaew) — acidic, citrusy, slightly umami and generously laced with coriander.
The latter was definitely my favourite.
I don’t know about you, but my chicken rice orders have always come with bean sprouts, so naturally, we added a sizeable plate of Ipoh Bean Sprouts (RM7.50). The taugeh were the plump, crunchy kind, and there really wasn’t much to complain about here.
Now, would it surprise you if I said I actually preferred our next dish much, much more than the chicken rice?
Enter the Prawn Pad Krapao (RM19.90).
There were several spice levels available, and I opted for mild out of respect for my dining partners, who can’t quite tolerate the heat. As it turned out, that was a pretty wise decision because even the mild version packed some serious heat.
Among the halal pad krapao I’ve tried, this is easily one of my favourites. The warm, fluffy rice made the perfect vehicle for the incredibly flavourful prawn krapao. While some places make their pad krapao taste overwhelmingly soy-saucey, 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice gave theirs much more depth with a noticeable char. The Holy basil came through beautifully, and with a runny sunny-side-up egg on top, it was absolute heaven in my mouth.
The prawns were the small frozen kind, but honestly, I didn’t mind. Pad krapao is often served with minced protein anyway, so their size worked perfectly well with the dish.
For drinks, we went for the less-sweet version of their claybrew iced chocolate-coffee drink, Tiger Bites Lion (RM7.80). This, dear reader, might be the first local coffee drink that I’ve truly, truly liked.
The chocolate was subtle enough to complement rather than overpower the strong coffee, giving it an almost savoury, buttery and milky richness. The result was a silky drink that worked surprisingly well alongside the rich meal.
Who is 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice best for?
555 Thainanese Chicken Rice is a fairly family-friendly spot that also caters well to the office crowd, particularly during lunch hours. Just keep in mind that the dining area is rather compact, so larger groups may find the space a little tight during peak periods.
How to get to 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice
Located in Desa Sri Hartamas, 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice is more convenient to reach by car, as there isn’t a direct public transport option nearby.
Parking can also be challenging during peak hours, particularly around lunchtime when the surrounding office crowd descends on the area. Coming a little earlier would be a good idea if you want to avoid circling the neighbourhood in search of a parking spot.
Do we recommend 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice?
Yes, especially if you enjoy Thai food and want something a little different from the usual Hainanese chicken rice.
The chicken rice itself was enjoyable, but for me, the real stars were the 4 sauces and the Prawn Pad Krapao. The latter alone is enough to make me want to return, particularly for that smoky, basil-heavy sauce paired with a runny egg.
Prices are also fairly affordable considering its Desa Sri Hartamas location, while service during our visit was warm, quick and efficient. It may not be the biggest or most comfortable restaurant around, but if you’re willing to sacrifice a little elbow room for bold Thai flavours and a very satisfying plate of pad krapao, 555 Thainanese Chicken Rice is worth adding to your list.
People also read:
What is there to eat at SKS City Mall JBCC?
Where do I go for the best brunch and date nights in Bangsar?
