{"id":54259,"date":"2025-11-04T16:00:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T08:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/?p=54259"},"modified":"2025-11-04T16:14:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T08:14:58","slug":"boontongkee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/boontongkee\/","title":{"rendered":"Boon Tong Kee: The Taste That Defines Singapore\u2019s Chicken Rice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Chicken Rice<\/strong> is Singapore\u2019s national dish \u2014 an <strong>iconic soul food<\/strong> cherished by all, across generations and backgrounds.<\/p>\n<p>In this feature, <strong>Boon Tong Kee<\/strong> takes centre stage\u2014a legendary name synonymous with Singapore\u2019s chicken rice scene, an enduring icon recognised as a <span style=\"color: #cc0000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/bibgourmand\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Michelin Singapore 2025: 12 Must-Try Starred and Bib Gourmand Spots\" style=\"color: #cc0000;\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Michelin Bib Gourmand<\/strong><\/a><\/span> selection.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"List_TOC\">\n<li><span><a href=\"#About\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Outlets &amp; Access<\/a><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Balestier\">\u2022 Original Branch in Balestier<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#RiverValley\">\u2022 River Valley Outlet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Chinatown\">\u2022 Chinatown\u2019s New Outlet<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span><a href=\"#Foods\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Must-Eats at Boon Tong Kee<\/a><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Chicken\">\u2022 Signature Boiled Chicken<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Other\">\u2022 Beyond Chicken Rice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/bibgourmand\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Michelin Singapore 2025: 12 Must-Try Starred and Bib Gourmand Spots\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/bibgourmand\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"About\" class=\"H2SubEng\">01<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Outlets &amp; Access<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Boon Tong Kee operates 8 outlets across Singapore, including its <strong>flagship outlet in Balestier<\/strong>. For tourists, the <strong>Chinatown branch<\/strong>, which opened in 2025, is particularly convenient.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Balestier\">Original Branch in Balestier<\/h3>\n<p>Boon Tong Kee\u2019s first-ever outlet opened in 1983 in the heart of <strong>Balestier<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10286 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Sign-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee logo sign\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Since the <strong>nearest MRT station (Novena)<\/strong> is a fair distance away, taking a <strong>taxi is the simplest and quickest way<\/strong> to get there for tourists.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10281\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10281 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Balestier-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee Main Branch in Balestier\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Main Branch in Balestier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Inside, the slightly outdated interior may not be trendy, but the restaurant is <strong>spacious, spotlessly clean<\/strong>, and fully air-conditioned.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3160 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Interior-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee restaurant interior\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Large tables are available too, making it a comfortable choice for group dining.<\/p>\n<div class=\"card\">\n<h4>Boon Tong Kee | Balestier<\/h4>\n<div class=\"infocard\">\n<p><strong>Map<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dwYs44NBeMeEXJ3i7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">399, 401&amp;403 Balestier Rd, Singapore 329801<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dVy6UTKaNVATMfA26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Website<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"RiverValley\">River Valley Outlet<\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>River Valley outlet<\/strong> is just an 8-minute walk from the <strong>Great World MRT station<\/strong>, part of the Thomson-East Coast line extension.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10285\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10285 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_RiverValley-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee River Valley outlet\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">River Valley outlet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The restaurant itself has also been renovated, giving it a cleaner and more modern look.<\/p>\n<div class=\"card\">\n<h4>Boon Tong Kee | River Valley<\/h4>\n<div class=\"infocard\">\n<p><strong>Map<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/z2zMYHEte5cYGPzc6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">425 River Valley Rd, Singapore 248324<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Website<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Chinatown\">Chinatown\u2019s New Outlet<\/h3>\n<p>In 2025, a new outlet opened along <strong>Smith Street in <span style=\"color: #cc0000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/chinatown\/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Chinatown: Where History, Food, and Culture Come Together\" style=\"color: #cc0000;\" rel=\"noopener\">Chinatown<\/a> <\/span><\/strong>\u2014 right in the middle of one of Singapore\u2019s most popular tourist areas.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_54255\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Chinatown-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee Chinatown outlet\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" class=\"wp-image-54255 size-medium\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chinatown outlet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Its central location makes it especially convenient for travellers looking to drop by for lunch or dinner during a day of sightseeing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"card\">\n<h4>Boon Tong Kee | Chinatown<\/h4>\n<div class=\"infocard\">\n<p><strong>Map<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/uK27JzNGHtT41fgV7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">11 Smith St, Singapore 058925<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Website<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"Foods\" class=\"H2SubEng\">02<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Must-Eats at Boon Tong Kee<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 id=\"Chicken\">Signature Boiled Chicken<\/h3>\n<p>Chicken in Hainanese Chicken Rice is typically prepared in one of two ways: <strong>poached (white)<\/strong> or <strong>roasted (brown)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>At Boon Tong Kee, their top recommendation is clearly the white chicken, as highlighted by the <strong>\u201cSignature Boiled Chicken\u201d<\/strong> on their menu.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10283 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Menu-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee menu\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Chicken is available in a range of portion sizes \u2014 from a single serving to options for 2, 3\u20134, or even 6\u20137 people \u2014 catering to <strong>groups of all sizes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3157\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3157 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_ChickenRice-600x470.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee chicken rice\" width=\"600\" height=\"470\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Single serving<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One thing to note: at Boon Tong Kee, chicken and rice are <strong>ordered separately<\/strong>, rather than as a set. If you order just the chicken, <strong>rice isn\u2019t included <\/strong>\u2014 so be sure to add it when ordering.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3189 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Chicken-600x400.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee chicken rice\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Moist, tender, thick-cut chicken is served tableside with a silky, light sauce poured over.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_10284\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10284 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Rice-600x288.jpg\" alt=\"Boon Tong Kee chicken rice\" width=\"600\" height=\"288\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pyramid rice, exclusive to River Valley outlet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But it\u2019s not just the chicken that has earned Boon Tong Kee its reputation \u2014 the <strong>rice<\/strong> plays a starring role too. Fragrant with ginger and infused with rich chicken stock, the rice is a delight in its own right.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"Other\">Beyond Chicken Rice<\/h3>\n<p>Boon Tong Kee offers far more than just chicken rice \u2014 its menu features a wide range of <strong>Chinese-style dishes (Tze Char)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10282 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_FriedTofu-600x440.jpg\" alt=\"Crispy Beancurd (fried tofu) at Boon Tong Kee\" width=\"600\" height=\"440\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A particular favourite is the <strong>Crispy Beancurd (fried tofu)<\/strong>. These perfectly bite-sized cubes offer a delightful crunch, making them an incredibly addictive snack.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10287 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/BoonTongKee_Vegetables-600x288.jpg\" alt=\"Stir-fried vegetables at Boon Tong Kee\" width=\"600\" height=\"288\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <strong>stir-fried vegetables<\/strong>, with their fresh crunch, are another highly recommended option.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Chicken rice is a must when visiting Singapore \u2014 and <strong>Boon Tong Kee is the perfect place to enjoy the authentic experience<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"card\">\n<h4>Boon Tong Kee<\/h4>\n<div class=\"infocard\">\n<p><strong>Map<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dwYs44NBeMeEXJ3i7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">399, 401&amp;403 Balestier Rd, Singapore 329801<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Website<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/boontongkee.com.sg\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chicken Rice is Singapore\u2019s national dish \u2014 an iconic soul food cherished by all, across generations and backgrounds. In this feature, Boon Tong Kee takes centre stage\u2014a legendary name synonymous with Singapore\u2019s chicken rice scene, an enduring icon recognised as a Michelin Bib Gourmand selection. Outlets &amp; Access \u2022 Original Branch in Balestier \u2022 River Valley Outlet \u2022 Chinatown\u2019s New Outlet Must-Eats at Boon Tong Kee \u2022 Signature Boiled Chicken \u2022 Beyond Chicken Rice https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/bibgourmand\/ &nbsp; 01 Outlets &amp; Access Boon Tong Kee operates 8 outlets across Singapore, including its flagship outlet in Balestier. For tourists, the Chinatown branch, which&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[431],"tags":[489,493,633],"class_list":["post-54259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-drink","tag-under10dollars-en","tag-bib-gourmand-en","tag-chicken-rice-en","area-chinatown-en","area-balestier-en"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54259"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54259\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54282,"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54259\/revisions\/54282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merlion-channel.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}