Ming Kee Chicken Rice & Porridge 明记鸡饭粥 Bishan (Old Bugis). One of Singapore's Best & Oldest

Ming Kee 明记 at Bishan MRT station is quite aggressive in giving their poached chicken the Cantonese "cold turkey ice dunking" treatment, so their cold served chicken boasts the clear 3-layers of tender juicy meat, jelly fat and soft smooth skin.



Came to the famous Ming Kee chicken rice stall in Bishan on a Saturday morning soon just after they opened for the day and there was already a queue at the stall.




The friendly lady boss with decades of experience looked unfazed by the long queue as she chopped the chicken steadily and quickly. (There was no chance to speak with her as she was extremely busy.)

Bugis Street of my memories. National Archives of Singapore.

Mdm Yeong founded the stall some 50 years ago at old Bugis street and moved to Balestier Road when that colourful strip was demolished in the 1980s for redevelopment. She moved again to Bishan in 1990. Mdm Yeong is now assisted by her daughter, son-in-law and grand daughter. More accurately, Mdm Yeong is happily retired but likes to be around the stall as she loves being here.



Our half a bird at SGD13 after about 45 minutes waiting on a Saturday morning. (At SGD13, I feel it is very reasonably priced at today's cost of living in Singapore.)

The chicken came chopped precisely. Beautifully plated. (This was not a media tasting or photo shoot, so kudos to auntie for taking so much pride in the food she serves.)



One look and I could see that it's "win already 贏了" (as they say in Singapore and Malaysia).

Succulent meat, jiggly jelly fat and soft smooth skin. Everything I look for in a poached chicken was there.



The succulent chunks of chicken were served slightly chilled (as they were kept dunked in ice water after cooking). It's a technique known in Cantonese as 過冷河 or "crossing the cold river" which gels the visceral fat, seals in the flavours.

The juicy flesh is just mildly savoury sweet with nice natural chicken flavour. The jiggly gelatin and soft smooth skin added flavours and texture to the soft bouncy meat.



The rice is soft, fluffy, the grains loosen up and separate easily. Mildly aromatic, slightly savoury sweet and not overly greasy.



Watery chili sauce and savoury sweet dark soy sauce. I don't use dipping sauces much these days as I like to taste the chicken's natural flavours.



The rice and the chili sauce might be average at Ming Kee, but the delicious chicken totally won me over.



The still long snaking queue after we finished our delicious brunch.

Come back again?

Definitely.



Ming Kee chicken rice is in Kim San Leng coffee shop which is about 3 minutes walk from Bishan MRT station. The coffee shop is across the road from Bishan Community Club and between GIANT and NTUC supermarkets.

Restaurant name: Ming Kee Chicken Rice & Porridge (old Bugis Street) 明记鸡饭粥 (in Kim San Leng kopitiam)
Address: Blk 511 Bishan Street 13  #01- 522 Kim San Leng Food Centre, Singapore (a short 3 minutes walk from Bishan MRT station)
GPS: 1.348926, 103.850079
Hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm (closed on alternate Tues)
Non Halal



Date visited: 4 Jul 2015

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