Chinatown Complex Food Centre, #02-126
Chan Hon Meng made international news in 2016 when his soy sauce chicken rice stall received a Michelin star. At $2 a plate, it was the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in the world (now $3.50+). The original stall lost its star in September 2021. A separate restaurant outlet at 78 Smith Street received Bib Gourmand recognition from 2019 to 2023, but neither outlet appears in the 2025 Michelin Guide.
This is a soy sauce chicken, not steamed Hainanese style. The chicken is braised in a soy-based sauce with Chinese herbs, giving the meat a dark glaze and deeper flavour. The rice is plain by comparison. The sauce balance is where Hawker Chan scores highest. It walks the line between sweet and savoury without tipping into cloying.
The fame brought crowds and rapid expansion to 30+ outlets across 8 countries. Opinions are divided on whether quality has held up since. The original stall at Chinatown Complex is still considered the best of the chain.
Scored across 5 dimensions specific to chicken rice. Learn what each means →
Braised in a dark soy and spice master stock. Sweeter, richer, darker meat. The sauce is the star. Recipe often kept secret for generations.