Crunchy Fried Chicken Rice Balls From $2.50 At Sing Swee Kee

Hainanese chicken rice balls, a speciality in Malacca, isn’t commonly found in Singapore. Chicken rice restaurant Sing Swee Kee is one of the few eateries here serving the dish — it recently added the carby orbs to its menu in celebration of its new food court outlet at HDB Hub, Toa Payoh. But instead of just traditional chicken rice balls — there’s also a crunchy deep-fried version.

Both are available at the upcoming new stall opening October 25, and also at Sing Swee Kee’s HQ standalone restaurant on Seah Street.

Although the price of the chicken rice balls cost the same whether you’re dining at the HQ or Toa Payoh, prices for the brand’s traditional Hainanese poached or roasted chicken are slightly cheaper at the new food court outlet.

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The restaurant was first opened as Sin Swee Kee (notice the missing G) in 2001 at Mosque Street, Chinatown, before moving to its current premises on Seah Street, a part of the Hainanese enclave in Singapore. There it remained, until the brand was acquired by GS Holdings in May 2019. They renamed the brand to Sing Swee Kee. The company also runs Rasa Sayang Village, a halal eating house in Changi Village, among other F&B concepts.

The new Toa Payoh outlet (artist’s impression above) will be headed by “an experienced chef” from their team, with “SOPs” (standard operating procedures) to ensure that chicken rice cooked at the food court stall will be at a similar standard to the HQ branch’s.

Sing Swee Kee’s Toa Payoh outlet offers a condensed version of the main branch’s menu. Zi char-style items like fish head curry sold at the HQ branch won’t be offered here. Instead, chicken rice, noodle dishes and the usual sides like bean sprouts in oyster sauce or chicken organs are served.

As you’re dining in a food court, prices are slightly more affordable. For example, a whole chicken here costs $30, instead of $32 at the HQ branch. Also, the cheapest plate of chicken rice at Toa Payoh goes for $3.90, compared to $4.80 at Seah Street.

Here’re some of the dishes to expect at the Toa Payoh outlet.

Hot Thai fragrant rice is shaped by hand into golf-ball-sized rounds and deep-fried till “delightfully crunchy on the outside, yet still moist and flavoursome within”, declares the press release. Sounds sinful.

From November 1 to 15, customers will receive a free fried chicken rice ball with every $5 spent at both Sing Swee Kee branches (limited to one per customer for the first 100 customers).

These traditional chicken rice balls are larger, about the size of a tennis ball. You’ll probably need two of these to satisfy your tummy. Regular chicken rice is available too, from $1 a plate.

The rice ball set for one pax comes with two traditional chicken rice balls, a choice of poached or roasted chicken, and a braised egg. You have two options for the accompanying side dish: braised tofu, or oyster sauce bok choy.

Sing Swee Kee’s new outlet opens Oct 25 at #02-30, 500 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, S310500. Open daily, 9am – 9pm.

Sing Swee Kee’s HQ outlet is at 34-35 Seah St, S188391. Open daily, 9am – 8.30pm. Tel: 6337-7180. More info via Facebook and Instagram. Delivery via Deliveroo and Foodpanda.

Photos: Sing Swee Kee

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