Chicken rice renaissance

The humble chicken rice found itself in the spotlight in 2024, as celebrities and influencers started competing against hawkers selling one of Singapore's most-loved dishes.

- Hedy Khoo

Established restaurant chains also joined the fray.

While chicken rice seems an easy enough dish to pull off, influencer Simon Khung, better known online as Simonboy, found out the hard way that Singaporeans are extremely passionate about the local staple.

When he teamed up with local actor Peter Yu and a foodcourt operator to open their first chicken rice stall - Singabola Chicken Rice, in Yishun - in June, their food drew criticism online.

As none of the partners can cook, they relied on their first head cook to manage the stall.

In the first month of the stall's opening, Mr Khung was frequently scolded on social media as customers held him responsible for their less-than-satisfactory meals there.

Prices of a regular plate of steamed or roasted chicken rice start at $4.50.