点评:People often assume that Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore is identical to the dish from Wenchang City in Hainan Island. But anyone who has tasted Wenchang chicken rice will quickly recognize the difference. The Wenchang version is a rustic, homestyle ancestral dish, while Singapore’s refined adaptation is fragrant, silky‑skinned, and deeply flavorful. Here, Hainanese chicken rice has become both our national dish and a global culinary icon.
I’ve tried the chicken rice at Tian Tian in Maxwell Road and Feng Feng at S11 kopitiam in Marsiling. Each reflects a unique style of poaching: Tian Tian’s version is tourist‑friendly, with smooth, juicy meat, while Feng Feng’s is tender and silky, evoking a kampong homestyle tradition.
Today, I visited Yap Kee (叶记) at Marsiling Lane Food Centre, one of the “Old Guards” of this hawker hub. What makes Yap Kee special is its versatility — heritage Hainanese chicken rice alongside roasted options and char siew/pork rice, all at affordable prices. I ordered a plate of roasted chicken rice and was surprised to find it priced at just S$3. Expecting a smaller portion, I was instead served fragrant rice topped with generous cuts of chicken. The dish was delicious, hearty, and satisfying.
Yap Kee delivers authentic Hainanese chicken rice at one of the lowest prices in Singapore, while still offering variety — steamed, roasted, char siew, and roast pork. It’s a stall that prioritizes community affordability over fame, a rare find in today’s hawker scene.
I’ll definitely return.
翻译:人们常常以为新加坡的海南鸡饭与海南岛文昌市的同名菜肴完全相同。但凡尝过文昌鸡饭的人都能立刻察觉出两者的差别:文昌版的鸡饭是一道质朴、富有家常风味的传统美食;而新加坡版的则经过精心改良,具有香气扑鼻、鸡皮滑嫩且味道浓郁的特点。如今,海南鸡饭不仅已成为新加坡的国菜,更是世界范围内备受推崇的美食标志。我尝过麦士威路“天天”店的鸡饭,也试过马西岭S11咖啡店里的“丰丰”鸡饭。两家店的煮鸡方式各具特色:“天天”的版本很适合游客,鸡肉滑嫩多汁;而“丰丰”的鸡肉则柔软细腻,充满了乡村家庭风味的传统韵味。
今天,我光顾了位于马西岭巷食阁的“叶记”,它是这片食肆区的老字号之一。Yap Kee的特别之处在于其丰富的菜单选择——既有传统的海南鸡饭,也有烤鸡饭和叉烧饭/猪肉饭,而且价格十分亲民。我点了一份烤鸡饭,惊讶地发现其售价仅为3新元。原以为分量会较少,结果端上来的却是香气扑鼻的米饭,上面铺满了大块的鸡肉。这道菜美味可口、分量十足,令人满足。
Yap Kee以新加坡最低的价格之一提供地道的海南鸡饭。虽然菜品种类丰富——有清蒸的、烤制的、叉烧以及烤猪肉。这家摊贩更看重让社区民众负担得起价格,而非追求名声,这在如今的食摊行业中实属难得。
我一定会再光顾的。