Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice: 45-minute wait for famous traditional claypot rice with over 40 years history

I am someone who is an avid dabao-er — most of the time, I’d rather have my hawker dishes to go so that I can enjoy them from the comfort of my own home. However, one of the dishes I can never takeaway is claypot rice. These delicious bowls are served piping hot within claypots that they are cooked in, making the dining-in experience one that you cannot forgo. I decided to check out one of Singapore’s most famous claypot rice stalls, Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice.

lian he ben ji claypot rice - storefront

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice, located within Chinatown Complex Food Centre, was a struggle for me to find, as it was literally tucked away at the back of the huge hawker centre. When I finally found it, I was surprised to find that there was no queue, despite what I’d previously heard about the stall — I later found out that there was in fact, a queue, and the patrons had merely already placed their orders and were sitting down to wait.

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice 2

I was informed that there would be a 30 minute waiting time, due to the preparation of the dishes. Each claypot is steamed over a stove for 5 minutes before ingredients are added to it. The rice is then placed over an intense charcoal fire for a minimum of 25 minutes.

After placing my order, I sat at a nearby table and waited for my dish to be served.

What I tried at Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice

lian he ben ji claypot rice - mixed rice

I ended up waiting for my rice for around 45 minutes — when the dishes were cooked, the staff ran around the area, serving them to the various customers that were seated near the stall. I realised just how popular the stall was, as practically every table within a 30m radius of them were occupied by patrons who had been waiting for their rice, just like me.

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice offers 3 types of rice, with their Mixed Rice being the most popular option. The dish was available in 5 different portion sizes, ranging from S$8 to S$20. I got the individual serving at S$8, which came topped with chicken, lup cheong (Chinese sausage), salted fish and vegetables.

lian he ben ji claypot rice - chicken

The juicy-looking pieces of chopped chicken caught my eye, and I loved how tender they were. The chicken was comforting and not too chewy, with a homely taste. It was definitely my favourite element of the dish.

Deng Wen Ji 鄧文记: The best hokkien mee, claypot rice & wanton mee under one roof

lian he ben ji claypot rice - sausage

The lup cheong, on the other hand, contributed greatly to the fragrance of this dish, giving the claypot rice a boost of sweetness. When paired with the more savoury elements of the Mixed Rice, it was effective in offering a strong contrast in flavour, making it all the more addictive.

lian he ben ji claypot rice - rice

As I was savouring the dish, I found myself biting into incredibly salty and mushy pieces of salted fish. While I enjoyed the flavour boost provided by the fish, on its own, it was a little overwhelming and filled my mouth with the taste of salt. However, mixing it into the rest of the rice was a delight, as the saltiness balanced out the more neutral taste of the rice.

lian he ben ji claypot rice - sauce

Aside from my bowl of claypot rice, I was also given a pot of dark sauce to add to my rice — I was happy about this, given how the rice, when served, wasn’t flavourful or saucy enough for my liking. I ended up pouring in a liberal amount of dark sauce (perhaps I overdid it a little, so be careful of that when you’re pouring), which instantly lifted the dish, giving it a richer and more savoury taste.

Final thoughts

lian he ben ji claypot rice - mixed rice

I honestly wasn’t all that blown away by Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice’s Mixed Rice. I thought that the ratio of rice to toppings were a little off, with there being a bit too much rice. Plus, the dish as a whole wasn’t as fragrant or aromatic as I had hoped.

Despite that, I loved how comforting the Mixed Rice was, with the various elements coming together to create a harmonious blend of flavours. The S$8 price tag is a little steep in comparison to other hawker dishes, but the portion is pretty sizeable, and I could not finish the whole thing, even though it was an individual portion.

If you’re in a rush, Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice is probably not a great spot to get a late lunch or dinner. However, if you have the time to wait, definitely give them a try for a comforting meal.

Expected damage: S$8 – S$13 per pax

Yong Nian Claypot Chicken Rice 永年瓦煲鸡饭: Hidden Malaysia-Style Claypot Rice in Bukit Merah

Price: $

Our Rating: 4 / 5

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice 联合本记煲饭

335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex, #02-198/199, Singapore 050335

Price
Our Rating 4/5

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice 联合本记煲饭

335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex, #02-198/199, Singapore 050335

Telephone: +65 6227 2470
Operating Hours: 4.30pm – 10.30pm (Tue, Wed & Fri to Sun), Closed on Mon & Thu
Telephone: +65 6227 2470

Operating Hours: 4.30pm – 10.30pm (Tue, Wed & Fri to Sun), Closed on Mon & Thu

Newest