Chicken rice (khao mun gai) is a ubiquitous dish found on the streets in Thailand. Within crowded areas in BKK, I reckon you can find a stall selling it quite easily by walking for a few minutes in either direction.

The version served here at Boon Tong Kiat hails from Singapore. It looks similar to the Thai version but it has that little bit of difference in its DNA.

Chicken rice is the national dish in Singapore and is taken very seriously in a serious country where food is already a serious issue. I supposed this would put it on the high side on the serious scale. Where to find the best chicken rice place is a hot topic of contention for Singaporeans and numerous forum threads can be found online dedicated to this obsession.

First impressions upon entering are oily floors and well thought out wall decor comprising of randomly plastered pictures of their menu offerings. Atmosphere is not why you would come here. Price would be a better reason.

I ordered half a chicken to share with a couple of friends along with plates of rice for each person. Some notable differences in this version the Thai one is the offering of sweet soy and chilli-garlic-ginger condiments that are found only in Singapore. Also, sesame oil was used when serving the chicken. The rice had the right texture, however it wasn't fragrant enough and lacked flavour. I found the chicken a tad too overcooked and a little on the tough side. I think they missed out the magic step in cooking this dish where the chicken is dunked into ice water after boiling to make it smooth and tender. I know this might sound absolutely ridiculous to some but every chicken rice seller worth his salt in Singapore does this ;) Overall its still not a bad attempt at the dish and better than all the other "Singapore" chicken rice versions I've had around BKK. Other items on the menu were a hit and miss selection of semi-authentic Singaporean dishes. I tried the carrot cake and claypot beancurd and was sorely disappointed with the lack of authenticity.

The only reason why this restaurant deserves a 3/5 rating (seriously) is because it is the best among the dismal choices of Singaporean restaurants here in BKK. In Singapore it would be a zero or go into a negative score. But if you're craving for Singaporean food, a meal at Boon Tong Kiat might just hit the spot, although on target only 50% of the time.

(Reviewer is Singaporean and takes chicken rice extremely seriously. Approach with caution on the subject)

» Was the review: Useful(0) | Funny(0) | Lame(0)