We tried Singapore’s best-rated claypot rice

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After visiting and sampling several best-rated food establishments on Google, I’ve come to a conclusion that even though a stall has a high rating, the food may not be that good. For the next instalment of our best-rated series, claypot rice takes the spotlight, and my investigative digging led me to Golden Chef SG (金师傅) at 256 Yishun Ring Road.

best rated claypot rice - coffee shop

Huh? Just a 1-month-old stall and it already has a 4.9 star rating out of 5 with a total of 153 reviews (at the time of writing)? Did they bribe the customers with free food?” That was exactly what I thought when I first discovered how new they were.

best rated claypot rice - stall front

To test its authenticity, I was more discreet than usual. I revealed my camera only after I made payment and finished the food. Because, ahem, I was once a chef, and we tend to cook more carefully when we notice someone snapping photos of our dishes.

best rated claypot rice - owners

Golden Chef SG is setup by 3 young dudes from Johor Bahru: Yu An, 26, Huan Rong, 23 and Marcus, 23. Yu An and Huan Rong (pictured above) got to know each other while they were chefing at Jumbo Seafood for over 2 years.

Yu An not only wanted to sell his childhood-favourite claypot rice, but also wished to create something that no one else has ever attempted. They decided to venture on their own, and later roped in Marcus, who has experience in Western cuisine.

What I tried at Golden Chef SG

best rated claypot rice - cheesy scallop

The Cheesy Half Shelled Scallops & Fresh Prawn Claypot Rice (S$9.80) looked like something that claypot traditionalists might consider blasphemous. If lasagna and baked rice had conceived an infant that took a nap inside a claypot, it would look like this.

best rated claypot rice - rice closeup

The claypot rice was served with a couple of half-shelled scallops, 2 peeled prawns, broccoli, tomato sauce, then topped with torched cheese. As I attempted to toss everything, the rice at the bottom had already stuck to the base of the claypot, requiring some effort to separate it.

best rated claypot rice - charred bits

I was then rewarded with chunks of smoky, crispy charred rice clusters, flavoured with the slightly tart tomato gravy and juicy bits of onion.

best rated claypot rice - prawn closeup

The prawns were surprisingly plump and succulent, almost akin to those served in restaurants (if only there were more).

best rated claypot rice - scallop

The scallops didn’t disappoint either; they were cooked to perfection. The cheese tied everything together, making each spoonful more decadent and rich. Overall, it was like a fusion of tomato baked rice, infused with the smokiness coming from the claypot.

best rated claypot rice - chicken claypot

Moving on, it was time to try what everyone is familiar with, the Signature Chicken Claypot Rice (S$8.80). The rice had 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 was served.

We tried Singapore’s best-rated bak chor mee

best rated claypot rice - charred base

After mixing everything, the white grains of rice gradually transformed into what my colleague calls a ‘milk tea’ shade. From the first mouthful, I was already sold. It had all the traits that a good claypot rice possesses: flavourful, smoky, aromatic and lots of charred crispy bits.

best rated claypot rice - chicken closeup

best rated claypot rice - chinese sausage closeup

The chicken was not only tender, but the seasoning managed to penetrate the flesh thoroughly— definite plus points for that! My dining partner commented that the Chinese sausage served at other establishments sometimes has an unpleasant oily taste. Thankfully, the lap cheong here was delicious and got his approval.

There were also tiny but mighty pieces of salted fish which weren’t overly salty, but provided a gentle savoury kick that uplifted the dish.

best rated claypot rice - chilli

As for the house-made chilli, it was a sneaky little ninja. It initially tasted like the typical lime-flavoured chilli dips often served with chicken rice. But nothing prepared me for the surprise burst of heat that made me cough a little.

It was like a tiny stick of dynamite had exploded in my mouth. I glanced at my other dining partner, and her expression mirrored mine exactly.

Strangely, the overwhelming spiciness somehow urged me to keep going back for more. It was addictive and shiok. However, for those who can’t handle the heat, I strongly advise you to tread cautiously.

Final thoughts

best rated claypot rice - overview

The bulk of good reviews for Golden Chef SG comes from its good servicela la claypot and claypot rice.

These 3 guys not only manage to find the right balance between innovation and fusion, but also tackle the classics pretty well. After enjoying both varieties of claypot rice, I feel that they have the potential to go far. However, the 4.9 rating to me is a little too perfect, so I’d bring it down to a more reasonable 4.5.

If you’re on the hunt for a new claypot rice spot to check out, here’s a good place to start.

Expected damage: S$8.80 – S$9.80 per pax

Order delivery: Deliveroo

We tried Singapore’s best-rated Hokkien Mee

Price: $

Our Rating: 4.5 / 5

Golden Chef SG

Blk 256 Yishun Ring Road, #01-1005 , Singapore 760256

Price
Our Rating 4.5/5

Golden Chef SG

Blk 256 Yishun Ring Road, #01-1005 , Singapore 760256

Telephone: +65 9385 3144
Operating Hours: 11am - 12am (Daily)
Telephone: +65 9385 3144

Operating Hours: 11am - 12am (Daily)
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