Jalan Yew is always bustling with traffic, thanks to the market located a short distance down the road from the roundabout. I’ve never seen a day when there isn’t a traffic jam, and the traffic is at its peak on weekends when housewives and working adults jostle each other to get the best deals at the market. Along the road, owners of shops selling tidbits, hardware, pets, prayer items and other interesting wares carry on their daily lives with a slowness that doesn’t reveal their true grit to survive in a fast-paced city.

In the past, I’ve blogged about two giants: Mei King with its lam mee and Hup Yick with its ginger wine chicken. Today, the focus will be on Heun Kee which is located in a corner nearest to the roundabout. You can’t miss it as you will be greeted with several charcoal stoves propping claypot receptacles as a couple of young girls man the pots.

Our anticipation was clear as the claypot was placed in front of us. Having heard so much about the claypot chicken rice here, we expected nothing less than perfection. In the past, high expectations have led to disappointment. But it doesn’t stop me from getting that tingling sensation – after all, how can one control one’s feelings? Tell myself to shut up and not think about it? I only end up thinking about it even more.

Claypot chicken rice
As I stirred the rice with all its condiments and meats, I knew that I was in for a treat. The rice was fluffy, each grain whole and separate, and there was a generous portion of chicken, lup cheong (chinese sausage) and salted fish. A faint aroma of sesame wafted. Topped with chopped spring onions, it was probably one of the best claypot chicken rice dishes I had ever eaten.

Pig's stomach and white pepper soup
We couldn’t resist ordering a bowl of pig’s stomach in white pepper soup which we thought was rather good. The pig’s stomach was not overcooked, nor did it have a rubbery texture. Being a person who enjoys her soup, I had no trouble finishing it up.

Business Hours: 11.00am – 9.30pm.
Closed every 1st and 3rd Thursday.
Open on public holidays.