Buttrmilk, Paya Lebar: “The secret seasoning makes this one of the best fried chickens I’ve had”
Variety is the spice of life but fried chicken is what truly gives me life. New to KINEX mall in Paya Lebar is halal-certified Buttrmilk, a Southern-style fried chicken and waffles eatery from the people who established Fatburger and 800° Woodfired Kitchen here in Singapore.
Buttrmilk is located on the basement level of KINEX, nestled in between 800° Woodfired Kitchen and Blimpie. Do note that they all share one common entrance and ordering counter, which you’ll find right as you enter the dining space.
I expected the place to be crowded since I visited during the peak weekend lunchtime, and even more so when I saw they have a shared seating area of slightly over 20 seats. It seemed odd, but excited to get my hands on some chicken and waffles.
What I tried
Whenever I visit a fried chicken stall, I make it a point to try the original version, rid of any sauces. I ordered the 2 piece Drum & Thigh Combo (S$12.90), which is pretty much the staple meal when one visits a fast-food joint. Each combo came with one drumstick, one chicken thigh, a choice of sauce, a side, and a drink. I went for the spiciest sauce, Chilli Jalapeno,and chose French Fries over Tater Tots.
Wow. Before I deep dive into the juicy chook, I thought I’d mention that one of my favourite fried chickens in Singapore is Arnold’s. That being said, and dare I say it—this could easily fight it.
The 24-hour marination in a secret blend of spices and seasoning is sinfully savoury and tangy, with a tinge of heat. It’s deep-fried to golden brown perfection, with a crunch so loud, crisp and ASMR-worthy. What I loved most was the freshness of the chicken to produce a tender, juicy, and succulent.
It’s so good on its own, you’d probably forget you had a dipping sauce to enjoy it with (like I did).
Next up, we had Buttrmilk’s star—The Original Buttrmilk (S$10.90).
A bold take on the American classic, Buttrmilk’s version features a thick, fluffy waffle, large deep-fried chicken breast, homemade slow, and a choice of sauce. This time, I opted for Soy Garlic.
I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of savoury fried chicken atop sweet waffles. Plus, the combination of dry meets dry was not the most enticing. Nevertheless, I cast my doubts away and slathered the soy garlic sauce on top of the chicken.
To my surprise, Buttrmilk’s rendition threw my low expectations into the bin and refreshed it with a whole new perspective. The dense, pillowy, pancake-esque waffle was slightly sweet and so enjoyable with the crisp fried chicken fillet.
Unlike what one might expect from deep-fried chicken breast, this challenged the stereotype and remained juicy and moist even after sitting out on the table for a while. To top it all off, the intense soy garlic sauce balanced flavours out decently, albeit having a strong garlic intensity.
A word of advice: don’t dip your chicken into the sauce but rather, pour it over your waffles for maximum satisfaction.
Lastly, I couldn’t leave the place without trying the Fried Chicken Sandwich (S$8). Could this modest chicken burger be the underdog of the meal?
No need to rush down to Buttrmilk and queue for this, just like how the Americans did when Popeyes supposedly revolutionised chicken burgers. Within, you’ll find a deep-fried succulent chicken breast patty stuffed between two brioche buns, with a generous helping of chopped lettuce, sliced tomatoes and mayonnaise.
For its price point, this is your average, run-of-the-mill chicken burger—decent, yet skippable. I’d stick to the glorious fried chicken drumsticks and thighs instead.
Final thoughts
If you do pay a visit, go straight for the Buttrmilk chicken combos and waffle specials. I’d recommend skipping on the fries to save more space for chicken, though.
I’m not the biggest fan of sweet meets savoury in one dish, but Buttrmilk’s chicken and waffles combination is arguably one of the best out there. Plus that secret seasoning? I guess I’m officially a fan.
Expected Damage: S$10.90 – S$16.90 per pax
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