Holistic Experience at Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant

Post by Chiefeater Luke Soon

People might go Upper Thomson for cafe food, but chicken rice at Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant isn’t that bad too! The roasted chicken (SGD15 for half chicken) and steamed chicken (SGD15 for half chicken) were tender and flavourful. This old-school establishment has withstood the test of time and fickle tastebuds to deliver solid zichar fare and chicken rice.

Nam Kee serves old-school chicken rice restaurant; steamed chicken is the harder type (not those dunked in ice water after cooking to get the collagen, tender effect) but very flavorful. They have been operating at Upper thomson for more than 40 years – there’s a Hainanese settlement a few kilometres up the road (Thomson Nature Reserve).

Suffice to say chicken rice and this red dot country has had a flavourful sojourn for hundreds of years.

The chicken isn’t as tender as Boon Tong Kee’s but exudes old world charm & flavours. Let’s give it 6.5/10

The chilli sauce is above average at 7/10

The rice is above average at 6.5/10

Overall Nam Kee delivers on a predictable chicken rice experience for over 50 years. There was some fanfare with the 2nd gen taking over but flavours have been largely retained. Their zichar or taichow dishes like sweet and sour pork aren’t half bad as well – 6/10

For sidesc- with chicken rice my go-to/test/assessment has always been the humble bean sprouts.

Nam Kee does an above average version, fried with salted fish at 6.5/10

The other thing – maybe just me – for chicken rice I’d always ‘test’ steamed version first before attempting the roasted offering. I’d say Nam Kee’s white version is better than their roasted. And that’s a good sign.

This place is NOT to be confused with the more popular Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice, this chicken rice restaurant along Upper Thomson Road has been around since 1968. Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant retains its nostalgic look, with its latest change perhaps the air-conditioned which was installed in the late 90s. Be greeted by retro-looking white and blue wall tiles, brown-coloured booth seating by the side and a cashier that only still accept cash.

Nam Kee might not even weigh in amongst the best chicken rice offerings, but this place provides a nostalgic restaurant for diners to return to, especially for days where you are seeking for an unpretentious comforting zi-char stall for a family meal. Maybe analogous to the Coliseum of Chicken Rice?

And yes, I’d prefer Wee Nam Kee and Boon Tong Kee if I’m after chicken rice alone – but the holistic experience at Nam Kee will always have a place in our hearts.

Business Hours
Opens Daily
10:45 pm to 08:30 am