Happy to see more new hawker stalls at different parts of Bukit Merah, such as Mui Siong Minced Meat Noodles, Eightisfy Western, and No. 25 Minced Meat Noodle.
Ah Keat Chicken Rice is also a relatively new name in the hood, located at Bukit Merah Central Food Centre.
In case you have not been to Bukit Merah Central hawker centre before, some of the other stalls you may want to try include Lan Xiang Mee Hoon Kueh, Soon Huat Lor Mee, Kung Fu Noodles, Day Night Fried Kway Teow, Zhong Pin Noodle House, and Hup Heng Economic Mixed Vegetable Rice.
Not to say there is no competition, as there are already Nan Heng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, and Heng Chai Chicken Rice in the same food centre.
The young hawker behind Ah Keat Chicken Rice graduated from the Culinary Institute of America’s Singapore campus in 2020, and worked at Panamericana as a Chef de Partie (Line Cook).
Before opening up his own stall, he apprenticed at the popular Leong Hainanese Chicken Rice at Shunfu Mart Food Centre.
Ah Keat serves up signature items of Chicken Rice ($4), Signature Porridge ($6), Chicken Porridge ($5), Peanut Porridge ($3.50), with top-ups of Vegetable ($2, $3), Chicken Organs ($1) and Ramen Egg ($1).
Half a chicken cost $15, while a whole chicken is at $29.
The one apparent ingredient that differentiates this plate from others is the inclusion of ramen egg – why not?
While I loved the semi-runny yolk, I wondered if it could be packed with more flavours. (Interestingly, I read another review which mentioned it was “too salty”.)
The rice was considerably flavourful, a tad on the greasy side (some may not like, depending on your ‘health’ tolerance’), while I would personally wish the grains to be fluffier.
The chicken meat was succulent, and may be better than some of the famous big names out there.
But I can imagine some customers going, ”Why so healthy-tasting?”
Some may wish for the meat to be more heavily seasoned, which I think it can afford to go a little more.
But there is probably consideration of how the meat balances out well with the rice, and the customer base here which has a high proportion of elderly and lunch-time office crowd.
Loved the chilli sauce as well, spicy with a touch of zest. And oh, there are even beansprouts on the side.
Overall, a not-bad plate for a new stall which is still probably gathering various feedback. A plate of Chicken Rice I won’t mind having again if in the vicinity. Perhaps I will try the Chicken Porridge next.
Ah Keat Chicken Rice
163 Bukit Merah Central, #02-35, Singapore 150163
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 3pm (Mon – Fri, Sun), Closed Sat
Other Related Entries
Delicious Boneless Chicken Rice (Katong)
Tiong Bahru Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice (Tampines)
Ji De Lai Hainanese Chicken Rice (Chong Pang)
Tian Tian Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)
Sin Kee Famous Cantonese Chicken Rice (Holland Drive)
Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice (Yuhua Food Centre)
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