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Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice

RESTAURANT SUMMARY

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In the heart of Singapore, Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice embodies the city’s devotion to culinary craft, where simplicity becomes luxury through precision. For generations, “Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice + Singapore” has stood as a benchmark for purity: silky poached chicken, lustrous oil rice perfumed with pandan and chicken fat, and a trio of condiments—fiery chili, umami-dark soy, and an irresistible ground ginger—that define an archetype. This is Singapore’s comfort canon, rendered with quiet mastery and a near-ceremonial attention to detail.

The Story & Heritage
Born on Margaret Drive decades ago, Sin Kee’s legacy traces a steadfast philosophy: do fewer things, do them perfectly, and never lose the soul of the dish. The founders—hawker craftsmen rather than headline-chasing chefs—refined a technique of poaching that retains the bird’s succulence and natural sweetness. As the stall drew devoted queues, its reputation entered the city’s culinary folklore, influencing countless renditions. While not a Michelin star restaurant in the classic sense, its name surfaces in every conversation about the best restaurants in Singapore for authentic chicken rice. This is heritage dining—uncompromising, disciplined, and unmistakably Singaporean.

The Cuisine & Menu
The cuisine is a study in restraint guided by exacting technique. Choose from tender poached chicken, from bone-in cuts to boneless breast and thigh, served with fragrant, glistening rice. Signature accompaniments include the punchy ground ginger sauce, a bright chili-garlic-lime relish, and aged soy. Offal aficionados gravitate to the expertly prepared gizzards—crisp-tender and deeply savory. Expect a concise, à la carte menu anchored by whole-bird cooking and stock-driven rice, with options to add seasonal greens or a cleansing soup. Sourcing focuses on fresh birds and aromatics; the result is confident, fine dining-level execution at hawker scale, with quick service and generous portions.

Experience & Atmosphere
Think hawker-market energy elevated by a cult-following. The setting is casual and convivial, with efficient counter service and a steady cadence of regulars who order with ritualistic specificity. The focus is on craft, not ornament—steam curling from rice, a sheen on the chicken skin, the deft hand that slices each portion. While there’s no sommelier or wine cellar, consider bringing a refined palate: balance, texture, and temperature are the house style. Come early to avoid sell-outs; peak hours see brisk lines and limited seating. Dress code is relaxed; reservations are typically not offered, though arriving off-peak can feel like a private tasting at the chef’s table of Singapore’s hawker heritage.

Closing & Call-to-Action
Dine at Margaret Drive Sin Kee Chicken Rice to taste the gold standard of a national dish—luxury defined by technique, not trappings. Visit early lunch or mid-afternoon for the best selection, and be prepared for quick turnover. For travelers curating the best fine dining in Singapore alongside iconic hawker experiences, this is an essential stop—order the poached chicken with extra ginger and gizzards, and savor a masterclass in restraint.

CHEF

Benson Leong

ACCOLADES

(2025) Michelin Bib Gourmand

(2024) Michelin Bib Gourmand

CONTACT

40 Holland Drive, #01-39 Stall, #5, Singapore 270040

+65 8428 7865

FEATURED GUIDES

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