In pursuit of the best soya sauce chicken Singapore has to offer, we hunted for this stall with a long queue
By Samantha Francis
Barely five minutes into the queue, a commotion broke out behind me.
Apparently, a middle-aged lady had tried to cut into the queue. Furthermore, in front of me, sighs were heard as someone ordered four whole chickens.
Expect Long Queues
Overall, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodles does count among the best when it comes to soya sauce chicken.
This was just another day at the wildly-popular Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodles stall, I suppose. This stall sports the longest queues among several Cantonese-style chicken noodles stalls in Chinatown, even during off-peak hours.
About 45 minutes after I started queueing, I finally stood before the rows of glistening soya sauce chickens. While the chickens appeared rather small, they were priced affordably — each one going for $14.
By the recommendation of Mr Chan, the stall owner who hails from Hong Kong, I ordered the signature Soya Sauce Chicken Noodles with an extra heap of char siew ($3.50).
Succulent and Fragrant Meats
Stewed in an aromatic rose wine scented braising sauce and fragranced by the soya sauce, the chicken meat was smooth and tender, with a succulent mouthfeel.
The braising sauce gave the meat an extra dimension, without overpowering its juiciness. I only wished they’d been less stingy with the skin.
On the other hand, the thick slices of char siew were well charred and caramelised. The marinade lent a robust sweetness, which penetrated the meat nicely.
The noodles, cooked al dente, were doused with a blend of soy sauce and oil. Overall, it didn’t complement the meat as well as I’d expected it to. Personally, I feel that plain rice might have been a better vessel for the rich flavours of the meats.
For its quality and affordability, this stall does count among the best when it comes to soya sauce chicken.
Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodles, Chinatown Food Complex, 335 Smith St, #02-166, Singapore 050335
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of Weekender, Issue 149, April 1 – April 14, 2016, with the headline ‘Soya sauce chicken worth 45-minute queue’.
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