Advertisement

Taiwanese comedian Nono brings his fried chicken chain Monga to Singapore

(From left to right) Chen Jianbin, Mark Lee, Nono and Henry Thia at Monga Fried Chicken at JEM mall in Singapore on 27 Sept 2019. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)
(From left to right) Chen Jianbin, Mark Lee, Nono and Henry Thia at Monga Fried Chicken's first outlet in Singapore. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)

SINGAPORE — Taiwanese celebrity Nono co-founded the popular Monga fried chicken brand, which now has over 45 stores in his home country. Now, he’s brought the snack chain to Singapore.

Monga Fried Chicken opened its first outlet in Singapore at the Jem mall last week on 28 September, with plans to open more outlets across the island.

Nono himself was in town for the media launch one day before the shop opened to the public, and even put on an apron and got into the kitchen himself to fry up some of Monga’s famous chicken fillets for reporters.

READ MORE:

Singapore has 6 bars among the World’s 50 Best Bars

Meet the finalists of Miss Universe Singapore 2019

TVB stars Kenneth Ma, Mandy Wong, Lai Lok-Yi and Rebecca Zhu meet fans in Singapore

The comedian, well-known to those who watch Taiwanese variety shows, created the Monga brand together with Liu Mingdao, who has been nicknamed the king of Taiwanese fried chicken. Monga also has stores in Malaysia, the Philippines, Canada, the US and the UK.

Nono is apparently good friends with local comedians Mark Lee, Henry Thia, and Chen Jianbin, who graced the media launch too and bantered with the Taiwanese artiste.

“We are the first brand in Taiwan to serve fried chicken in such a thick-cut style,” said Nono in Mandarin. He added half-jokingly, “I hope that every Singaporean will soon be able to have a Monga outlet within walking distance of their home.”

Taiwanese comedian and Monga founder, Nono, handing out chicken fillets at Monga Fried Chicken at JEM mall in Singapore on 27 Sept 2019. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)
Nono handing out Monga fried chicken to reporters. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)

Monga got its name from the Wanhua district of Taiwan, which is traditionally known as “Monga” (meng jia in Mandarin). The vibrant neighbourhood is Taipei’s oldest district and also home to the bustling Snake Alley night market.

According to Monga, their fried chicken stands apart from other brands’ due to the painstakingly researched recipes and their insistence on cutting every chicken fillet into extra-thick slices that are at least 2cm thick. Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore tried the breast meat fillets and indeed, they are thick and huge, yet still maintain a juiciness.

Monga also uses honey instead of sugar to marinate the meat. The amylase in honey apparently helps to tenderise the meat and elevate the taste of the fillet.

Monga’s fried chicken fillets come in three different flavours: The King, which is dusted with original salt and pepper seasoning; Hot Chick, which is dusted with chilli paprika powder hand-made from Anaheim peppers; and The Taiker, which is dusted with Japanese sauce and seaweed powder imported from Okinawa.

Besides fried chicken, Monga also serves other snacks and drinks such as potato fries, sweet potato fries, and fried chicken skin. One chicken fillet will set you back $6.90.

Monga JEM

Address: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #B1-K10, Jem, Singapore 608549

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 9:30pm

Monga Fried Chicken at JEM mall in Singapore on 27 Sept 2019. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)
Monga Fried Chicken cuts its chicken fillets extra-thick, with a minimum 2cm thickness. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)