Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice: Michelin Plate hawker specialising in steamed chicken in Jurong East
I was in a rush to get to Jurong East on this particular afternoon, as the stall I wanted to cover had tricky timings. It officially closes at 1.30pm, but its popularity has its items being sold out long before that. Chicken rice is my all-time favourite comfort food, so I was all hyped up to eat at the Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice stall.
Nestled behind a row of shops, it was the epitome of old-school vibes. This is where Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice (yes, it’s a mouthful), is located. It has received a Michelin Plate recognition from Michelin Guide, so I had high expectations. I had no trouble in finding the stall even amidst the lunchtime rush that enveloped Yuhua Market & Hawker Centre. The queue at the stall made it stand out vividly.
As my turn finally came, the person behind the counter informed me that they were sold out for the day. It was 12.50pm. I was crushed since I really wanted to try their food, and also because I had travelled more than an hour for it. The next day, I was there bright and early at 10am, really hoping that the food better be worth it.
What I tried at Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
The menu offered variety in its different cuts and pieces of chicken. My friend and I wanted to try out at least three of them. Interestingly, they only have the option of steamed chicken rice, so I couldn’t purchase my go-to option which is roasted. We finally landed on Drumstick with Rice (S$5), Chicken for 1 Person with Rice– Breast Meat (S$4.50), and Chicken Thigh (S$4).
First, let’s talk about the rice in general because it stands out. It’s fragrant and has a distinguishable sesame oil taste to it. It was cooked in a manner that wasn’t soggy but still moist. It also packed a predominant chicken flavour, and the meat came in a pool of something sweet and savoury. It tasted like a mixture of soya sauce and sesame oil, and the chicken truly absorbed the essence of it.
For the dish with the breast meat, the pieces were succulent and not dry in the least. It was an extremely pleasant surprise to find it so full of flavour. The sesame oil taste lingers in your mouth, and while it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I truly enjoyed it.
Next came the Chicken Thigh. The fat was the melt-in-your-mouth kind and absolutely delicious. The chicken was moist and perfectly cooked too. Together with all the chilli sauce I’d slathered and some ginger paste, I could call it heavenly tasting. Yes, big words I know but you’ll have to try it to verify it yourself.
Finally, we came to the Drumstick with Rice, which is my favourite cut of meat so I was excited. It did not disappoint. I could see now why Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice was so popular. Such a simple dish contained enough flavour that I could taste the chicken stock in the rice so distinctly. The drumstick went down smoothly. The meat very easily slid off the bone— that’s how soft it was.
These were all paired with a warm bowl of soup that gave the dishes a good dose of saltiness to it. The chicken rice here comes with a slice of tomato and pineapple. I must say, it’s quite hard to find pineapple being served with chicken rice these days. I love how it’s a great palette cleanser and is refreshing to have after or alongside your meal.
A few other options you can find on the menu are Chicken Wing with Rice (S$4.10), Drumstick & Wing with Rice (S$6.80) and Chicken for 2 Person with Rice (S$9). You can also go with the big orders like Quarter Chicken (S$11), Half Chicken (S$15), and Whole Chicken (S$30) if you can’t get enough of their meat.
Final thoughts
As a hard-core roasted chicken fan, I was initially disappointed with the lack of variety in the options. But I guess the belief of getting something done right and sticking with it applies here.
I can now declare this to be one of my top 3 chicken rice spots in Singapore. The Drumstick with Rice was my absolute favourite, and the others were close contenders. They’re all affordable too— my bill for the 3 dishes came down to S$13.50.
They each had their standout points despite them all being just steamed versions of different parts of the chicken. The rice is surely a star, and its unique taste will be something I’ll remember this stall by.
There’s no doubt that I’ll be bringing my foodie gang here to have their fill too. The warm ambience and incredible food made the early morning trip totally worth it. You can put me down as a “will-return” customer.
Other articles you might like:
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Evertop Family Restaurant, Joo Chiat: Affordable halal boneless chicken rice in the East
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