We all know the iconic local dishes like chilli crab and Hainanese chicken rice.
But what about the comforting chicken curry? There’s just something about a piping hot bowl of fragrant curry with potato chunks and a juicy chicken drumstick. It certainly brings back memories of golden evenings, gathered with your family for a simple communal dinner.
At Fu Xiang Signatures, twin brothers Edwin and Edric hope to recreate this heart-warming feeling with every bowl of chicken curry they serve up. Nine years ago, this pair of second-generation hawkers took over the family business founded by their parents in the late 1990s.
It’s all about reliving the good old days and promoting local food heritage, with a healthy dose of comfort food.
With nine stores island-wide and a flagship store in Food Republic at VivoCity, they’ve certainly managed to marry their love of food with creating a lasting legacy. While the brothers used to be in the fashion industry, their parents were a strong influence on them.
Since young, they’ve helped out at the humble little coffeeshop stall – from taking orders to assistance in the kitchen.
And their experience shows in the kitchen: both of them are deft hands in the kitchen, with mouth-watering aromas emerging from their creations. The classic dishes like Curry Chicken (S$6.80/set, S$10/3 pieces, S$28/9 pieces) and Singapore Curry Assam Fish Head (S$28/ Ala carte) are a mainstay of the menu, but the duo has also added in newer dishes like Chicken Biscuit Curry Rice Set (S$6.80), and Hotplate Sambal Fried Chicken Set (S$6.80).
We couldn’t wait to dig in! The Curry Chicken (S$6.80/set, S$10/3 pieces, S$28/9 pieces) is what they’re famous for, so we started with this dish.
The traditional curry recipe was passed down from their parents, and it stays within the family. From cutting, peeling, blending to finally cooking, the whole process takes nine whole hours! Made with 21 different ingredients including herbs and spices, the curry is a labour of love indeed.
From the first spoonful, I could tell this curry was in a league of its own. Savoury and creamy with a good amount of spice, each spoonful left a lingering heat in my mouth.
I particularly liked the aromatic taste of the thick sauce that’s best enjoyed with a plate of fluffy white rice and the juicy chicken drumstick. Tastes like home!
For those who’d like to share, the Singapore Curry Assam Fish Head (S$28/Ala carte) is the top choice from Fu Xiang Signatures. Served in a claypot with chunks of eggplant, okra, and fried beancurd skin, the highlight of this colourful dish was the huge fish head.
The fish was soft and flaky, and there was just so much of it! The fried beancurd skin also added a delicious crunch. This is a dish that you simply have to enjoy with friends and family.
If you’d like something with a twist, try one of their newer dishes, the Hotplate Sambal Fried Chicken Set (S$6.80+ S$1 for cheese). This dish from Fu Xiang Signatures is actually suitable for kids. The blow-torched cheese helped to undercut the spiciness of the sambal, and had an insane cheese pull too!
The chicken chunks were crispy on the outside, and tender and juicy on the inside. The first few bites were more sweet than spicy, but the heat only came near the end. This dish had a pretty low level of spice, so most will be able to handle it.
Another innovative dish that Fu Xiang Signatures has come up with is the Chicken Biscuit Curry Rice Set (S$6.80 +S$1 for cheese). Most breaded chicken dishes use breadcrumbs as a coating for the chicken, but what about biscuit crumbs?
Fu Xiang Signatures used biscuit crumbs to make the chicken super crispy! Each bite brought an audible crunch, contrasting with the succulent chicken meat. If you can’t get enough of the biscuits, you can get a few more pieces from the side counter.
For those who’re over the salted egg yolk trend, here’s a refreshing take from Fu Xiang Signatures. The Emperor Cream Sauce Chicken/Fish Set (S$6.90) may smell and taste like salted egg yolk, but it actually has no salted egg yolk! Each mouthful was creamy, with a slight kick of spice.
As diners, most of us simply enjoy the delicious dishes without thinking more. It’s humbling to see how much work goes on behind the scenes. Fu Xiang Signatures aims to go even further, with lofty plans to eventually expand overseas. Who knows, maybe one day chicken curry will become one of our national dishes!
Expected Damage: S$6.80 – S$15 per pax
Price: $
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Fu Xiang Signatures
1 Harbourfront Walk, #03-01, Food Republic, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Fu Xiang Signatures
1 Harbourfront Walk, #03-01, Food Republic, VivoCity, Singapore 098585