Büfé
"Hai Kee, "Voyages of the Sea", is a humble chicken rice eatery that puts a saucy twist on the classic chicken rice since the 1950s.
**BEDOK NORTH ST 3 OUTLET : 9.30AM-7.30PM OR TILL SOLD OUT (CLOSE EVERY TUESDAY)
**324T CHANGI ROAD OUTLET : 9:30AM - 6:30PM OR TILL SOLD OUT (CLOSE EVERY FRIDAY)
It was the year 1940. Caught in the waves of Chinese emigration, Mr. Wong Si Han carried with him a head full of dreams as he set sail on a shabby, antiquated junk boat from Hainan Island to Singapore. Whilst many wounded up as hawkers for the British military camps, Mr. Wong started selling chicken rice in a humble bullock cart at then Upper Cross Street. With a humble attitude and a steadfast, unwavering heart, he sought to preserve a sense of "Hainan" through pandan-perfumed jasmine rice, soy sauce chicken and a side of zesty, tastebuds-provoking chili sauce. Rain or shine before the creak of every dawn, Mr Wong would be hauling chickens out of a 50-litre stockpot. In his tiny workspace, sounds of the smacking of garlic cloves and bubbling of the stockpot is one not unfamiliar amongst the locals.
With steady hands and a steady heart, Mr. Wong never once faltered and always stood firm by his fort. To him, chicken rice is more than just food. He believed in providing for the soul. Multiple faces from various trades patronized his stall. Whether it be coolies, junk boat captains, or business merchants - he served them all the same plate of soy sauce chicken rice. No less, no more. For the new patrons, he served with a sincere smile. For the loyal ones, he always took note to remember their orders by heart.
In 2000, Hai Kee was relocated from Upper Cross Street to Katong, with Mr. Wong Kia Jeck managing the stall. Amidst branching out, Hai Kee stayed true to its roots and remained as a comfort zone for many of its loyal customers. Whilst "油鸡" may be the golden boy reeking of nostalgia, "Char Siew" and "Shao Rou" are the dark horses that beckon revisiting. 40 years later today, nothing about the recipe has changed one bit – from the homemade chopped ginger to its unique one-of-a-kind soy sauce.
