When I think of egg fried rice, Uncle Roger’s infamous haiyaaaa comes to mind. That aside, egg fried rice is a staple in Asian households. It’s no surprise many are making their own rendition of the versatile dish. Enter Ōji Egg Fried Rice at Bedok Marketplace— a stall that sells Japanese-style fried egg fried rice, helmed by ex-hotel chef Danny Huang.
Having worked at multiple hotels across SEA, the ex-chef decided to come back and start his own eatery. Doing what he does best, he decided to elevate a comforting plate of egg fried rice by using Koshihikari rice grains, imported from Japan, and even cooks it in a special Japanese wok.
No stranger to the hawker-scene, this is Ōji Egg Fried Rice’s second outlet, and a bigger one at that. Using premium add-ons like salmon and US rib-eye to a simple plate of egg fried rice is what sets Ōji Egg Fried Rice apart from the rest.
What I tried
With an extensive menu at the new branch, I was spoilt for choice. Lucky for me, Danny took over the decision-making process, and suggested a few dishes for me to try. My indecisive soul’s indebted to him.
I got a colourful spread of three bestsellers: Pork Katsu Chop Egg Fried Rice (S$6.90), Signature Spicy ‘Mala’ Salmon Fried Rice (S$8.90), and Ōji Premium Egg Fried Rice (S$15.90).
The Pork Katsu Chop Egg Fried Rice comes with a side of miso cabbage soup. Hungry as I was, I set my camera down and proceeded to stuff my face.
Don’t be surprised to find your plate of egg fried rice missing the quintessential wok hei— it’s done on purpose to not overcook the egg. The rice alone was moist and sticky, and creamy due to the addition of the egg, but tasted vapid.
What I’d recommend is to have each spoonful of rice with the homemade Sichuan sambal on the side for an elevated egg fried rice experience.
The pork katsu chop is easily one of the best I’ve had in a while. Its well-seasoned meat, tender and soft, exploded with a burst of flavour with each bite. You won’t even need a knife to break the meat apart. That’s how tender it is. Having a slice of pork with the egg fried rice and homemade sambal brought this dish to the next level.
Although advertised as miso soup, it tasted like a bowl of diluted soup. Fried rice typically isn’t served with a side of soup and in my opinion, it can do without it.
Next up, the Signature Spicy ‘Mala’ Salmon Fried Rice. Only available at the Bedok branch as it was created here, the first thing I noticed was that the rice comes in a darker hue.
It is also served with a side of shredded cabbage, pickled ginger and is topped with a sunny-side-up.
I noticed bits of salmon mixed in the rice. I was expecting a tongue-numbing sensation with each bite, considering how it has mala. However, it was surprisingly sweet and extremely flavourful with subtle hints of the mala sauce.
Personally, I’d suggest for you to get this if you like all things mala.. It was a simple yet tummy-filling dish— one I’d order again if I find myself craving mala and egg fried rice.
Lastly, the Ōji Premium Egg Fried Rice. For S$15.90, the rice itself comes with an additional egg along with the tasty pork katsu chop, two tiger prawns, and a chunky salmon fillet, topped with a generous amount of tobiko (flying fish roe).
The rice tasted richer than the original, due to the additional egg, and was definitely richer. It didn’t help that it came loaded with three other add-ons. This meal is fit for someone with a huge appetite.
The prawns were as fresh as they could be. Straight out of the sea to the plate, if you will. No complaints here; it was buttered to perfection.
As someone who religiously avoids salmon because of its intense brininess, the one here’s something else. The meat was soft and flaky, and came without any hint of brininess. At least the one I was served with came without it.
I’d recommend this dish to anyone who’s a fan of a ‘surf and turf’ combination.
Final thoughts
I came here expecting Japanese-style egg fried rice but was blown away by the Japanese-style add-ons instead. No doubt Ōji Egg Fried Rice sells a delicious plate of homely and simple egg fried rice, but it’s not distinct enough to stand out (alone).
I will, however, come back for their ‘market fresh’ add-ons as they elevated the mediocre plate of egg fried rice.
Expected damage: S$6.90 – S$15.90 per pax
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Price: $
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Ōji Egg Fried Rice
348 Bedok Road, The Bedok Marketplace, Singapore 469560
Ōji Egg Fried Rice
348 Bedok Road, The Bedok Marketplace, Singapore 469560
