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Let’s be real: it’s hard to find meals below S$4 nowadays, let alone Michelin-recommended ones at that price. Well, you’ll be delighted to know that there’s a gem that offers exactly that. It’s none other than Zi Jin Cheng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, a Michelin-recommended stall that serves tasty chicken rice priced at just S$3.50 a plate!
Zi Jin Cheng is housed in Alexandra Village Food Centre, among a plethora of hidden gems with delicious eats aplenty. They’re a pretty fresh addition to the Michelin guide, having earned their spot on the coveted list in 2023.
Fun fact! Their name, 紫金城 (zi jin cheng), is a play on 紫禁城 (also zi jin cheng), the Chinese name for Beijing’s famous Forbidden City. However, the Michelin guide has their name misspelled as ‘Zi Jing Cheng’. Oops.
As their lengthy full name suggests, Zi Jin Cheng specialises in Hainanese boneless chicken rice; nothing else. Oh yes, they only offer steamed chicken, too.
The stall isn’t one you’d recognise in a heartbeat, especially in comparison to huge fixtures like Tian Tian Chicken Rice and Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice. Nonetheless, in the words of the Michelin Guide, you can “expect to queue any time”.
I guess that’s exactly what makes it a hidden gem.
Besides, how could the stall not draw queues? Zi Jin Cheng’s 1 person chicken rice Set Meal gets you a plate of fragrant rice accompanied by a generous portion of tender, flavourful chicken, along with a bowl of soup. It’s a steal and a half, if you ask me. The best part? They debone the chicken for you, priming it for non-stop devouring.
If you’re looking to feast, the 2- and 3-person sets cost S$9 and S$13.50 respectively. Alternatively, you can get a Half or Whole Chicken at S$12 and S$24 respectively.
Be warned, though; they’re said to sell out by early afternoon on some days. You best get there early, or risk disappointment if you see nothing but bare chicken bones hanging over the metal rod behind the glass-fronted counter.
https://sethlui.com/best-chicken-rice-singapore/
