Restaurant Siang Hiang: RM3.95 since 2017 huge student-favourite chicken rice

Back in my student days, I was lucky to study in a university filled with affordable food options. A typical meal of mixed rice or nasi ayam penyet would set me back RM4 to RM5, and if I was feeling fancy, I’d splurge RM8. Naturally, I assumed this was standard in KL. Oh, how wrong I was!

In my quest for budget-friendly meals while surviving on my trusty lunch boxes (thanks, Ibu), I stumbled upon a not-so-hidden gem in Setapak popular among students. From just RM3.95, Restaurant Siang Hiang hasn’t raised its prices in 7 years. Why? “To give back to students,” says the owner. I was sold on the spot.

With a jaw-dropping 4.7-star rating from 255 Google reviews (at the time of writing), this place is now on my list. However, since Restaurant Siang Hiang is non-halal, I brought my trusty companions along to try the chicken rice. As expected, the place was packed — we even had to share a table with strangers, which gave me all the nostalgic student-day vibes.

What I tried at Restaurant Siang Hiang

Restaurant Siang Hiang has 2 stalls: 1 for chicken rice and another for mixed rice. I’ve heard great things about the mixed rice, but I was on a mission to try the cheapest option — the Steamed Chicken Rice (RM4.50). True to the owner’s word, the price hasn’t changed, though we did pay an extra 55 sen for the thigh. Still, an incredible deal!

Despite the crowd, our food arrived just 3 minutes after ordering, and the portion was almost too good to be true for KL prices. Honestly, I half-expected to get less than promised, but I was pleasantly surprised. Each serving came with a bowl of refillable vegetable soup, free drinks (Chinese tea or plain water), and even a slice of watermelon. 

Do note that it’s entirely self-service to fetch the drinks, and the fruit is limited to 1 piece per pax.

My dining partner was immediately impressed. While the rice and soup were fairly standard, the chicken was tender, smooth, and soaked in soy sauce with a hint of sweetness. It had a slight chewiness, which is common with thigh meat cooked longer, but it was still delicious.

The real highlight was the fried garlic topping. It added a perfect crunch and really elevated the flavour. We even asked for extra garlic — it was that good!

As an addition to the first dish, we decided to try a side of Roasted Chicken (RM3), opting for the breast this time. As a fan of dark meat, I was a bit hesitant — chicken breast is notoriously tricky, and we all know how some places can overcook it, turning it dry and tough. But considering the price, I was ready to settle. After all, beggars can’t be choosers, right?

To our surprise, the breast was incredibly soft and tender, without the dryness I had feared. Compared to the steamed chicken, the roasted version definitely had more depth in terms of flavour. The first thing that hit us was the wonderful aroma — it had a much richer, roasted fragrance that made it stand out immediately.

My friend picked up on a lovely hint of smokiness in each bite, which gave the dish a distinct, almost charred taste that lingered pleasantly on the palate. It was far more flavourful than expected for such a simple dish, and paired well with the earlier plate of steamed chicken rice. Overall, the roasted chicken was a satisfying add-on.

Final thoughts

We left Restaurant Siang Hiang completely satisfied, and it’s easy to see why this spot is most-liked by students. Not only do they offer generously portioned meals at unbelievably low prices, but they also throw in free drinks and a slice of watermelon for every visitor. And the chicken rice? Definitely hits the spot!

For the price, the quality far exceeded our expectations. The tender, flavorful chicken, refillable soup, and those little extras really made the meal feel like a steal. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you’re getting far more than what you paid for.

For broke students (I hear you!), this place is a must-try. 10/10 would recommend if you’re looking for good food on a budget.

Expected damage: RM3.95 – RM4.50 per pax

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