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Tucked among Michelin Bib Gourmand picks and long-time favourites at Mei Ling Market & Food Centre, DAN CURRY RICE is easy to miss. This new kid on the block, which opened just recently in Feb 2025, quietly dishes out their unique take on a local staple — curry rice.
I had gone to Mei Ling Market & Food Centre for the famed Amoy Street Boon Kee Prawn Noodle just a few stalls down. But just my luck, they were closed. Hungry and hopeful, I wandered down the row and spotted a bright yellow signboard that piqued my curiosity. A quick Google search revealed rave reviews about their chicken cutlet and beef shabu curry rice… consider me SOLD.
One of the owners shared that this isn’t your typical Hainanese curry rice. It’s a rojak blend drawing from Hainanese, Nyonya, Japanese and other influences. A little bit of everything, and a whole lot of heart.
What I tried at DAN CURRY RICE
I kicked off my lunch with their Curry Chicken Wing Rice Set (S$4.50) budget meal. It comes with a generously-sized wing drenched in a rich, orange-hued curry gravy.
This curry doesn’t scream heat. Instead, it offers a gentle, lingering warmth and a medley of spices that lean savoury with only a muted, underlying sweetness. Thick and slightly gritty, the curry had a texture I can only describe as nyam nyam.
The rice on its own was a touch dry, but once mixed with curry, it turned into a warm, hearty base that pulled everything together. I’d usually prefer a smoother gravy, but this pairing grew on me with every bite. Super addictive!
DAN CURRY RICE doesn’t fry their chicken wings, opting to stew them to the point where the meat slips off the bone with little effort, soaking up the spiced curry like a sponge. Not mind-blowing, but solid and satisfying enough.
What truly rounds out the dish are the sides.
Served in big, juicy chunks, the braised cabbage wasn’t overcooked or mushy. It retained just enough bite and carried a gentle, natural sweetness that balanced out the richness of the curry. As someone who loves my veggies, I was overjoyed when my dining companion pushed her plate over and asked me to eat her portion of cabbage.
Where a sunny-side-up usually sits, is a pile of scrambled eggs in its stead. This one had likely been left out for a bit, as it sat cold and had an almost rubbery texture. It brought a pop of colour to the plate and a bit of richness, but not so much in terms of seasoning or flavour.
If done well, I imagine scrambled eggs to be an excellent pairing but for now, I’d have preferred my sunny-side-up.
Indonesia Curry Rice: Long queues for highly raved Indonesian-style dishes by Chinese hawkers
Unfortunately, the Beef Shabu Curry Rice has been removed the menu. What a bummer…
But never mind that because the real showstopper was this Chicken Cutlet Rice Set (S$5.50).
Each cutlet is fried fresh to order. I watched as the owner dropped the huge battered chicken into the fryer, the oil hissing and crackling away — a promising start!
My friend and I were pretending to be mukbang-ers at the table, purposely crunching on the skin with our mouths open for the other to hear (I’ll stop there). But yes, the crunch was that dramatic.
The skin was glistening when it arrived, golden brown and crisp with just the right amount of oil. Bite into it, and you get that glorious crackle, followed by juicy, well-marinated chicken.
For an added layer of heat and umami, dip a piece into their fiery sambal belachan. I appreciated how the curry wasn’t slathered over the cutlet, because then you get to choose your own adventure with each bite.
Like the chicken wing set, this plate also comes with braised cabbage and scrambled egg. Once again, you can’t really go wrong with this combination.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise that led me to DAN CURRY RICE.
As someone who grew up with my ah ma‘s Nyonya cooking, this meal hit close to home. It reminded me of the special weekday nights she’d cook her curry chicken for the whole family — warm, savoury and comforting. The curry here leans that way too: homestyle and a little rugged in texture, yet full of heart.
To be clear, DAN CURRY RICE isn’t trying to be the best curry rice stall out there, and that’s exactly why it works. There’s a quiet honesty in what they serve, like they’re not trying too hard to be something they’re not. But that chicken cutlet? One of the best I’ve had. No question.
Expected damage: S$4.50 – S$5.50 per pax
