Qi Lin Xuan Kitchen - Chicken Rice Balls @ Blk 442 Jurong West Ave 1

Qi Lin Xuan Kitchen first started out in 2014 as a tze char business. When they began offering chicken rice balls in 2018, it was picked up by social media where it made a flurry of appearances in various media outlets.

Knowing me, I would always wait for the hype to wear off before I make my move but I think I may have waited a little too long (three years!) as there was nary a soul when I arrived just before noon.

Has the chicken rice balls lost its magic already? There were no other customers in the premise and the coffee shop was dim inside. Only the lights from the chicken rice stall at the front of the coffee shop is on but there is no one manning it.

Just as I was about to walk away, someone called out to me from the depths within.

"Shuai ge, chi ji fan ma?" (handsome, chicken rice for you?) 

On account of him calling me shuai ge, I ordered a chicken rice ball set ($3.50). For some reason, after making my order, customers began streaming in one after another and they were all addressed as shuai ge by the very same staff. 🙄

Hainan Chicken Rice Ball @ 3 Dickson Road

Update: Hainan Chicken Rice Ball has relocated. The new address has been updated at the end of this post.

The first time I had chicken rice ball was in Malacca three years ago. Frankly speaking, I was not too impressed by it. I remember the rice ball is mushy and lacked the aroma that I am accustomed to with Singapore-styled chicken rice.

When I found out that there is a stall in Jalan Besar selling chicken rice ball, I decided to see how it compares to the one across the causeway.

Jalan Besar is the part of Rochor area that I have not ventured before but the stall is surprisingly easy to find if you are coming by Rochor MRT Station.

Just take the exit towards Veerasamy Road, exit the station (you should see Lasalle College of the Arts opposite you), turn left and follow the pavement to the coffeeshop which is just round the corner.