Yes!
Finally had this famous one Michelin-starred eatery off my checklist.
I am sure you locals and tourists alike would have, by now, long heard of Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken.
Located on the 2nd level within the Chinatown Food Complex, this hawker stall created quite a stir ( a positive one) when it was conferred the one star Michelin honor in the Inaugural Michelin Guide 2016. Ever since the announcement, Singaporean foodies simply went "crazy" and its popularity basically scored even higher than before.
It's not often you can find such affordable hawker food pinned with such honor and of course everyone became curious. We were no exception and wanted to taste how good it really was.
The Wait
Expect long queues and a long, long wait. We started queuing at 930am and there were others already waiting in line. And mind you the stall was only starts operations at 1030am.
We were eventually the 7th in queue by the time they served their first customer at 1040am.
Excruciating Wait
It was another long and excruciating wait for another 45mins before our turn came and we got our orders by 1130am. We stood there ( forever). Sure, you can take turns standing in line, but well, you get the idea.
Total waiting time: 2hours
Why?
I wondered why it took so long for Mr Chan Hon Meng, the famous face and owner behind the brand, to serve the chicken. Sure, perhaps customers in front were ordering huge quantities- I spotted aunties ordering like 5 packets of the chicken and roast meat whatnot- or perhaps that's just the pace he works? At 1030am ( the opening hours), the chicken were not hanged and displayed despite the long queue already waiting. It wasn't till 1040am that things were in place. Factor in time when people order noodles and these have to be cooked... phew.. well. Things were pretty slow despite witnessing the heavy crowd.
So if the start was as such, it was no wonder that throughout the day, the pace was not able to pick up. Repeat that daily and everything just drags on.
There was actually a lady ( In black below. Daughter of Mr Chan perhaps) who helmed the head ot the queue to make sure no funny people tried to jump queue and passed on orders.
The display of chicken and char siews.
Looking appealing but I bet patrons were all hungry from the long wait.
The Orders
Finally we got our food and couldn't wait to tuck in.
Half chicken $7 and Soy sauce Drumstick Noodle $3.
Sure, the chicken didn't disappoint and was so smooth you can swallow without chewing (for a thin slice, that is). Tender and chewy, the skin was colored in glistering soy sauce and grease. It was good.
The noodle was springy and coated in sweet sauce and oil. It was tangy and the chili was a good complement for the meat and noodle.
Conclusion
For the pricing, it's inarguably the cheapest Michelin starred food you can get and the taste was great. But well unfortunately, for the time spent, there wouldn't be a second time anytime soon if I have to spend another 2 hours just to have chicken rice.
Besides, if you walk around Chinatown Food Complex, there are so many other Soy Sauce Chicken Rice stalls and for the same pricing! I wouldn't discount them and said theirs are not good because, you know to us novice foodies, Chicken Rice simply tasted quite the same and just as great in general. Time is more crucial a factor here.
So, yup been there, done that.
Checked.
Time to move on to other yummies.
P.S: Yes, the heat is so great Mr Chan is set to open a dine-in restaurant- Hawker Chan- set to open by mid-November and will be located at 78 Smith Street in Chinatown. See CNA report for more details.
Liao Fan Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken & Noodle
Blk 335, Smith Street #02-126, Chinatown Food Complex,
Singapore 050335
Opening Hours: 10:30am to 7:00pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Fri)
8:30am to 7:00pm (Sat – Sun)
Closed Wed