Yew Chuan Claypot Rice – Piping Hot Bowls That Are Worth The Wait!

One look at Yew Chuan Claypot Rice’s storefront, and I knew they were the real deal. Once you step into Golden Mile Food Centre, look for a tall stack of claypots raring to go on Yew Chuan’s wood-fire stoves. Run by a husband-and-wife duo, the stall has been open for over 10 years now. Apparently, the chef-owner (husband) learnt the craft of cooking claypot rice from his bosses at Lor 33 Geylang before venturing out on his own!

Their main dish is the Claypot Chicken Rice ($12/$18/$24/$30) which comes in various sizes tailored for sharing. However, if you’re eating alone, you can ask for an individual portion ($5.50). I arrived at around 5pm, an awkward time between lunch and dinner, and there was a surprising number of people patronising the stall. Don’t expect to get your food immediately — each portion of claypot rice is cooked upon order.

After waiting for about 15 minutes, I began to grow impatient. “There are so many dining options in Golden Mile Food Centre,” I thought. “Is this really worth the wait?” All my doubts quickly disappeared after my claypot chicken rice appeared before me. It was so incredibly fragrant! My mouth began to water after catching a whiff of its robust smoky aroma. The dish was topped with glistening chunks of chicken, salted fish cubes, Chinese sausage and vegetables.

Yew Chuan Claypot Rice provides dark soy sauce, flavoured oil, and chilli sauce as condiments to their Claypot Chicken Rice. I drizzled a generous amount of oil and soy sauce over my rice, before tucking into this piping hot dish. The rice was perfectly cooked — it still had an al dente bite. It was imbued with an intense, smoky fragrance that was complemented brilliantly by the sweetness of the dark soy sauce. The addition of oil helped to add a delectable touch of richness to the dish.

Any good bowl of claypot rice has the signature burnt bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Scraping it off the bottom of the pot does take some work, but you’ll be fighting over it if you’re sharing with friends and family. The Claypot Chicken Rice at Yew Chuan Claypot Rice was no exception. There was a visible layer of that tantalising crust at the bottom. The textural contrast between the softer rice grains and these crunchier burnt bits was oh-so addictive! Also, the bitterness of the burnt bits really gave an added depth of flavour.

The chicken chunks were also on point. I know most of us are pretty jaded with words like ‘juicy’ and ‘tender’, but this chicken was seriously succulent and delicious. The slices of Chinese sausage also added a lovely tinge of sweetness and umami to the dish.

A word of caution for those who can’t take spicy food very well. The chilli sauce at Yew Chuan Claypot Rice packs quite a punch. I added a little too much to my spoonful and found myself perspiring profusely. Just add a moderate amount to your claypot rice to enjoy a touch of heat, and to get a taste of its subtle acidic tang.

If you haven’t had your daily fill of vegetables, consider ordering Yew Chuan’s only other dish — Oyster Sauce Veg ($5/$7). There’s nothing much to be said here. It’s a decent plate of vegetables, but it’s slightly pricey if you ask me!

Yew Chuan Claypot Rice is a must-visit if you’re in Golden Mile Food Centre. One taste and I knew that I would be returning for more!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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