Is the West side truly the best side? Clementi certainly makes this argument stronger with its huge range of delicious yet affordable food. When I was walking around Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre, I was spoiled for choice looking through all the enticing stalls, but Clementi Hong Kee Villa, in particular, caught my attention.
Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice, a stall under Clementi Hong Kee Villa, donned a vibrant storefront with ornate red lanterns and ribbons adorning its overhead sign. The bright display proudly showcased the stall’s offerings, including classic chicken rice dishes, crispy pork belly and char siew.
I was especially intrigued that some of the dishes on the display came with a decorative orchid, making the food look extra fancy.
I was amused by the tubs of chilli and ginger in front of the stall, with the middle tub, containing traditional chicken rice chilli, being humorously labelled with “spicy level— boring”. The tub next to it, however, posed a challenge to diners with its “extra spicy, spicy level 3” descriptor. I knew that I would have to try both!
What I tried at Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice
I first tucked into Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice’s 2 IN 1 Premium Chicken Rice Set Meal (S$6), which came with both steamed and roasted chicken, bok choy, half of a hard-boiled egg and an orchid. I was surprised that the dish looked almost identical to what was shown on the display image, down to the inclusion of the orchid!
The roasted chicken was tender and flavourful. The skin had a lovely roasted flavour with just the right amount of fat, and I especially liked how generous the stall was with the portions.
I rarely eat steamed chicken as I always opt for roasted chicken rice, so I was excited that the 2 IN 1 Premium Chicken Rice Set Meal gave me the chance to enjoy both. The flesh of the steamed chicken was even more tender than its roasted counterpart, while the skin had a soft and gelatinous texture.
The aromatic rice was fragrant and slightly oily, just like most other chicken rice. I especially liked that it also came with the egg and bok choy, making it stand out even more from other stalls.
When I first saw the Sambo Rice Set (S$7.50) on Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice’s menu, I knew that I wanted to try it. The dish, called 三宝饭 in Chinese, directly translates to “3 treasures rice” as it comes topped with 3 different types of meat; roasted chicken, char siew and crispy pork belly.
The crispy pork belly was delightful. The top of the pork was crunchy and satisfying, while the flesh part was meaty with the perfect ratio of meat to fat. It was salty and juicy, and was a fantastic pairing with the blander rice.
I was also impressed with the char siew, which was tender with an aromatic, smokey taste. The char siew sauce was sweet and rich, and blended wonderfully with the meat and the rice.
The roasted chicken was just like the one in the 2 IN 1 Premium Chicken Rice Set Meal, just that I found it to be a tad drier in comparison.
I’ve never seen salted egg being served with Hainanese chicken rice before, so I was surprised to find that it had been included in the bowl. I scooped the salted egg out of the shell and broke it up into pieces to enjoy with the rice. The rich, umami flavours of the salted egg yolk was the perfect addition to the rice, while the salty egg whites enhanced the flavours of the other elements. I absolutely loved this combo!
Next, I decided to try and compare Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice’s Traditional Chicken Rice Chilli, or in the stall’s own words, the “boring” chilli. From its descriptor, I wasn’t expecting the chilli to pack a punch, but it did. It was slightly spicier than the chilli from other chicken rice stalls, so if your spice tolerance is on the lower end, don’t be fooled by its “boring” label.
The Extra Spicy Level 3 chilli was not as spicy as it had been hyped up to be, if I’m being honest. While it visually contained more chilli seeds than its predecessor, it was only slightly hotter. Nevertheless, both were great chillis that I loved to consume.
The two sets came with a side of soup made with black beans and red dates, a departure from the usual clear soup that most chicken rice stalls serve. The soup had an earthier profile but was still light and refreshing enough to act as a palate cleanser. I also liked the mushy black beans within the soup.
I opted to get Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice’s Thai Style Tofu (S$4/S$5/S$6), and chose the smallest S$4 portion. it came with 4 medium-sized blocks of tofu coated in sweet and spicy sauce and crushed peanuts.
The tofu had a crisp exterior while its interior was on the firmer side. While I personally prefer softer tofu, I found the Thai Style Tofu to be satisfying and reasonably priced. The sweet chilli sauce coated the tofu nicely, though I would have liked for there to be crunchy onions to further enhance its flavours.
Now I’ve never eaten flowers before, neither have I ever wanted to. However, I didn’t want the gorgeous orchids that had been served with each dish to go to waste. Hence, I placed the whole flower in my mouth and ate it straight, not knowing what to expect.
The orchid tasted like a firmer version of lettuce, with a fresh and crisp flavour, followed by a mildly bitter aftertaste. Not too bad, especially for those who love raw salad veggies.
Final thoughts
I am very glad that I happened to find Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice by chance in Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre. Each dish that I tried blew me away with their restaurant-quality presentation, and the dishes tasted equally as fantastic too.
The generous portions and the great quality of the ingredients make Hong Xing Li Hainanese Chicken Rice a stall that I would visit again in the future!
Expected damage: S$4 – S$7.50 per pax
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