The Dead Cockroach: Zi Jing Cheng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice @ Alexandra Village Food Centre

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Whenever I visit Alexandra Village Food Centre, I will bypass Zi Jing Cheng Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice for some other stalls.

Come to think of it, I wonder why the thought of trying their chicken rice has never cross my mind?

I guess I did not see the need to as chicken rice stalls are a dime a dozen in Singapore.

However, today is the day that the spell will be broken. I have come to the food centre with no concrete plans to try any food in particular and my feet brought me to the front of this stall.

I like how the pricing is clearly spelled out on the signboard with a whole bird priced at $24 while a serving for one pax is $3.50.

As usual, I did not request for a specific chicken part so I got the breast meat garnished with spring onion and coriander.

The generous portion of chopped chicken chunks were dressed in a sweet and savory mixture of soy sauce and fragrant oil. The chicken texture is tender and soft but because it is the breast, could get a little fibrous which is not unexpected.

Acar is served on the side in place of the usual cucumber slices.

Surprisingly, the vegetable pickle is not too tart. For those who dislike it due to its sharp acidity like I do, you will probably like this. I find it crunchy and refreshing.

After finishing the acar, I am delighted to uncover one slice of fresh cucumber hidden underneath the meat. Not sure if that piece is a stowaway though?

The highlight for me is the rice. It is not greasy yet full-bodied with the aromatics. The portion of the rice is quite substantial compared to the little blue bowl from Heng Ji.

I am not usually a fan of the dark sauce but I have recently taken a liking to adding a little to the rice for some color (for photos' sake).

The garlic chili sauce is spicy and provide some sting to the otherwise bland chicken meat.

The ginger sauce served with chicken rice is normally pureed to a smooth consistency with oil, salt and sugar but the one here is literally just ginger pulp in its rawest form.

It is probably coarsely beaten by hand, mortar-and-pestle style with nothing added.

I could not tell what type of soup is being served here but it is flavorful and good to end the meal with.

On the whole, I find that this stall is a godsent with its generous portion and affordable prices especially during this trying times. If you are hungry and on a tight budget, come here for some chicken rice.

$3.50 will get the job done.