#1 Chicken Rice

Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice

Chang Cheng Mee Wah Coffeeshop, #01-39

Hainanese Steamed Michelin Bib Gourmand Est. 1978
87
Certified
Shiok
Google 4.3★

About

The Sin Kee name traces back to 1971, when Mr Leong Fook Wing started as a street stall on Smith Street. The Margaret Drive lineage began in 1978. After Mr Leong passed in 2008, son Benson relaunched at the current Holland Drive coffeeshop in 2016. It holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand (since 2018).

The chicken is poached in aromatic stock and ice-bathed. Texture is consistently tender. The ginger dip is a distinctive feature: ground ginger mixed with oil, it gets frequent praise from regulars, though some reviewers find it milder than expected. The chilli sauce also holds its own. The rice is fragrant and well-oiled.

Open 11am to 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays. Cash only. The coffeeshop setting means slightly more elbow room than a hawker centre. Worth arriving before the lunch rush if you want to avoid a wait.

ShiokScore Breakdown

Scored across 5 dimensions specific to chicken rice. Learn what each means →

Rice Fragrance 85

Aroma and flavour of the rice. Pandan leaf, chicken fat, garlic oil. Should smell before you taste.

Chicken Texture 90

Between silky and dry. The collagen 'jelly' layer under the skin is a sign of quality, not a defect.

Chilli Quality 84

Every stall's secret weapon. Ginger-forward vs lime-forward vs garlic-heavy. Balance of heat, acid, and flavour.

Sauce Balance 91

Dark soy sauce sweetness, ginger paste sharpness, and how they complement the chicken and rice together.

Portion Value 83

Amount of chicken relative to price, rice quantity, and overall value compared to hawker norms.

Style: Hainanese Steamed

The original. Chicken poached in aromatic stock then ice-bathed for silky texture. Subtle, clean flavour. The jelly layer under the skin is the hallmark.