Nam Kee Chicken Rice in Singapore

However, there is one place called Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant, which was recommended by a friend of a friend and is located at Upper Thompson Road in Singapore.

Locals would also call the place ‘Chicken Rice at Thompson Row’, which has a very unique and distinctive taste and I had to try it for myself when I was here.

Nam Kee Best Chicken Rice in Singapore? 

Rated as one of the best chicken rice in Singapore but apparently, this place attracts many mixed reviews from locals and foreigners.

The older generation would classify this place as one of the best while the younger generation would tend to disagree on many points. Again, as they say, food is always a subjective topic.

Honestly, I was just out to experience the Singaporean local food since I regularly visit the island republic, and here is my personal opinion to the Nam Kee Chicken Rice in Singapore.

Fried dumplings sold as an extra at Nam Kee in Singapore

For starters, Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant can be pretty crowded or even full during lunch and weekends so best to avoid the busy hours if you are gain to try this well-known chicken rice.

I would also recommend you go just before the lunch hour so nothing is sold out, especially the roast chicken, which is the most popular here.

On the service there, you should casually expect the typical ‘I am very busy so do not rush me’ attitude there. Some people can accept this and some just can’t.

Also, I found a lot of expatriates in Singapore love to frequent this place. Most of them eat-in and some prefer taking away. This has been the word of mouth for the expatriates living in Singapore.

Nam Kee looks pretty plain from the outside and inside, it is a very simple and basic coffee shop set up, where it is clean and fully air-conditioned.

They do have a few tables placed outside the premises. Prices are a little more than your stall hawker and the rice and chicken can be a tad salty on occasion.

The many side dishes available at Nam Kee Chicken Rice in Singapore

Nam Kee Chicken Rice also serves other side dishes than chicken rice. Among the dishes, you can order a variety of vegetables stir-fried, deep-fried won ton (sui kow), pork dishes, fish and even replace your rice for porridge.

They also have noodles and other styles of chicken. Check their menu when visiting and yes, this place is not Halal, so Muslims cannot eat here.

The chicken rice chili they serve is also worth a mention as it tastes good with a lot of garlic added. Don’t forget they have the minced ginger for your chili. Not many places have this.

Now, the chicken – The Roast chicken (Siew Kai ~ my favorite) has a nice crunchy skin with the meat a little juicy (could be juicer) and tender, which is just nicely salted to perfection while the White chicken (Pak Kai) is just average but acceptable.

The Soy chicken they have is also just average and their fragrant rice (Yau fan) is also nicely flavored and not over oily.

Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant entrance

Overall, I found the chicken rice here quite acceptable and much better than most of the other chicken rice hawkers I tried in Singapore.

I also dare to say that Nam Kee Chicken Rice is much better than a lot of chicken rice shops in Malaysia. This is how much our Malaysian local food scene is losing touch.

So, is it worth the try here? I would recommend it from personal experience. At least once too, if you are visiting the republic.

Either go for the full course or just for the basic chicken rice. If it was really that bad as many people claim, why are people filling up the place, I wonder.