Soon Yee Claypot Rice: Grilled Eel Claypot Rice at Bukit Batok

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Even after the extension of the circuit breaker measures, I felt no fear because I knew my claypot cravings were safe. If I had it my way, I would name claypot rice Singapore’s national dish. Challenging would be an understatement if used to describe where you could find good claypot rice. Luckily for you guys, I found one.

Nestled in an inconspicuous corner in one of Bukit Batok’s many coffee shops features Soon Yee Claypot Rice. Beyond its humble facade, this humble stall near St Luke’s Hospital in Bukit Batok is immensely popular amongst the neighbourhood’s residents. They offer a plethora of dishes, ranging from Claypot Rice to Tom Yum Soup to Crispy Soft Shell Crab.

With many delicious dishes under its belt,  I tried the Chicken Claypot Rice (S$7), Grilled Eel Claypot Rice (S$16 for a two-person portion), Prawn Roll (S$10) and Sesame Chicken (S$5).

An absolute crowd-pleaser and their crown jewel, the Chicken Claypot Rice is an all-time classic. It is accentuated by juicy chunks of well-marinated chicken, copious amounts of Chinese sausage (lup cheong) and fragrant salted fish. The lup cheong added a depth of flavour, giving it a textural contrast amidst the rice and meat within. Fans of salted fish will clamour in joy as large chunks were visible, adding a robust and bold flavour that brings that extra oomph to the dish.

The house-made chilli sauce elevated the dish and sealed the deal for me. I swear it was the showstopper and the star of the entire meal. Encompassing a good amount of heat, it was packed with a powerful garlicky note and added a zing and slight tanginess to my palate. It was an indomitable pairing when stirred into the rice, with its sharp and numbing spice elevating the umami flavour in the dish.

Don’t leave the premise without trying the Grilled Eel Claypot Rice, a modern twist with a contemporary flair that I very much enjoyed. I dare say the eel claypot rice variant is to die for, making me smack my lips in satisfaction. Prized for its soft, fatty rich meat, the store managed to unlock the unadulterated flavour of the Japanese eel. It was tender to-the-bite and glazed with a sweetened soy-based sauce.

Even though being slightly more pricey when compared to the ordinary clay pot rice, this luscious unctuous meat makes up for its price tag.

The Sesame Chicken is a homely dish that a lot of us enjoy. For those unfamiliar, chicken pieces are braised in a blend of roasted sesame oil, dark and light soy sauce, ginger and other ingredients. Sadly, this dish fell flat to me and I would have preferred to have more ginger slices added. On the plus side, the boneless chicken chunks were moist, tender, and had a mildly sweet and earthy flavour.

Last but not least, the Prawn Roll, essentially known as ngoh hiang, still managed to retain its crispy edges after being left out for quite some time. A  well-loved hawker snack, the prawn rolls possessed an earthy flavour and were light and airy. It had a soft interior and was immensely comforting. I wouldn’t say it was phenomenal, but it acts as a more-than-decent accompaniment to the claypot rice.

All in all, I wouldn’t crown this specific claypot rice as the champion of clay pots, but I deem it a worthy contender to any around the area. The claypot rice was toothsome and tasty, and although it fell short of the smoky fragrance and missed the crisp charred rice bits (due to the fact it was a take-out), I still deem it pretty decent.

They also have a hotline for you to pre-order your dishes, eliminating the wait time and allowing you to conveniently pick them up quickly if you find yourself in the vicinity. Otherwise, you can try out our One-pot Chicken & Mushroom stay-home recipe and whip up this hearty dish yourself!

Expected Damage: S$6 – S$15  per pax