Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice – Old-School Flavour Still Rules After 35 Years

Tucked in the basement corner of Katong Shopping Centre lies Katong Mei Wei Chicken Rice, a 35-year-old institution that’s been keeping Easties fed and happy for decades.

There are actually two Kopitiam in the building. This one sits in a corner basement and has old-school vibes. It’ a little run down and showing its age. The food court is relatively empty with only a few stalls. The headliner would undoubtedly be Katong Mei Wei Chicken

The good news? Plenty of seats. The bad news? 

You might still need to wait on weekends because, yes, it’s that popular.

What we ate

We ordered two plates of Hainanese Roasted Chicken Rice (drumstick portions). It’s not cheap, but the generous servings make up for it. The chicken is tender, the sesame sauce rich and aromatic. The mix vegetables and garlic adds to the unmai taste.

The rice — oh, the rice — savoury and full of flavour. Mix in some dark soy sauce and it’s simply heavenly.

Be warned though: it’s oily, greasy, and possibly a health hazard only if you eat it every day for a month. But for an occasional indulgence? Totally worth it.

We also tried the bean sprouts, drizzled with the same sesame sauce that turned a plain dish into something pretty addictive.

One of their signatures is the complimentary achar and Lotus Peanut soup, small gestures that add big charm.

The soup, made with chicken bones, peanuts, and lotus roots, was hearty and comforting — the kind of herby broth that warms your soul.

Verdict

A must-try when you’re in the East. The presentation and flavour are hard to beat — proof that old-school hawker gems still hold their own against the new wave of fancy chicken rice spots.