SAR PO FAN (CLAYPOT RICE) 煲仔饭
The sight of street vendors with rows of clay pots cooking on charcoal fire is now a distant memory but the aroma and taste of steaming clay pot rice is unforgettable. Just as memorable is the thin rice crust at the bottom of the clay pot which is a trademark of clay pot rice. It is crispy and crunchy and gives the rice a nice aroma.
10 Must-Try Claypot Rice In Singapore
From Lian He Ben Ji, New Lucky, To Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice
Claypot Rice 砂锅饭 is a time-consuming dish requiring cooking to be done over a charcoal stove, give the rice distinctive flavour. Typically added with chicken, Chinese sausage, vegetables, dried salted fish and served with thick, sweetened dark sauce. In our modern Singapore society where everything is about being fast, fast, fast… having a meal of Claypot Rice can certainly test the patience of many.
I am talking about the traditional Claypot Rice cooked over charcoal from scratch, which is fast disappearing. At the popular stalls, be prepared to wait anything from 45 minutes to more than an hour. So what is it about Claypot Rice, since most of the ingredients such as chicken, lup cheong, salted fish and sometimes Chinese mushrooms are about the same? It is the skill in cooking and managing the fire, and of course the type of dark soya sauce, oil and chilli given to enhance the flavours. Not forgetting about the ”guo ba”, when the charcoal cooking leaves a nice charred layer of rice sticking to the bowl waiting to be scraped off once the bulk of the rice is gone. Yums.
Here are 10 Claypot Rice recommendations:
- New Lucky Claypot Rice - Opened since 1979, the stall used to be located in Bukit Merah and Clementi, but has since moved to its current location in Holland Drive.
- Lian He Ben Ji Claypot - Mdm Lim runs Lian He Bin Ji with her sisters (and also a cousin), hence it earned the moniker “Sisters Claypot” or “Three Sisters’ Claypot Rice”.
- Geylang Claypot Rice 芽笼瓦煲饭 - Do not be confused, Geylang Claypot Rice is located at 361 Beach Road (opposite The Concourse) and not Geylang Lor 33 anymore. After a wait of several months, the popular Geylang Claypot Rice has moved from a humble coffeeshop, and reopened to a modern swanky shop with 3 shop spaces.
- Yew Chuan Claypot Rice - Close to 40 years in the claypot rice business, this couple team is still going strong at its original stall at Golden Mile.
- Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice - Sembawang folks will know about this Claypot Rice shop, which also serves up other zi char style items such as Salted Egg Pork Ribs, Claypot Curry Chicken, JB-style San Lou Bee Hoon, Claypot Seafood Da Lu Mian and KL Hokkien Mee. (If you are from somewhere else and drive, parking can be tricky during weekends.)
- He Ping Claypot Rice - With over 40 years of history, He Ping Claypot Rice located at Geylang (near Lor 19) serves up Claypot Rice from $8 onwards. The Claypot Rice is prepared the traditional way with charcoal, so be prepared to wait 30 minutes or more if you did not reserve before hand.
- Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice - Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice sells authentic claypot rice at $10 for a 2 person portion. The rice comes with tender meat (depending on which one you order) that is marinated in a special spice mix over 5 hours, and other generous amount of toppings including Chinese sausages and salted fish.
- Tai Liok Claypot Chicken Rice - The stall used to be located at Level 2 of Margaret Drive Food Centre, and has moved to Alexandra Village Food Centre. A lot of regulars have continued supporting this stall.
- Fu He Delights 福和 - Fu He Delights at Berseh Food Centre may be more known for its Turtle Soups (one of the two stalls left selling this at the hawker centre), but many customers were also ordering their Claypot Rice ($7, $15, $20).
- Jade Palace Restaurant - While the above 9 Claypot Rice are mainly found in food centres or stand-alone eateries, I thought I should include Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant since they are famous for their traditional Claypot Rice.
10 Places That Serve The Best Claypot Rice In Singapore
Cooking rice is an essential skill that runs in the blood and culture of any Asian. Claypot rice, however, takes that skill and elevates it as rice is cooked in a clay vessel usually atop a charcoal-fired flame while being topped with umami-rich ingredients such as marinated meat, Chinese sausage, salted fish and dark soy sauce. Oh, and did we mention the crispy charred rice at the base?
The best claypot rice you can get in Singapore below:
- Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice - Chinatown has a smorgasbord of good food, with Chinatown Complex housing two claypot rice stalls. The first of them is Lian He Ben Ji, a family-run stall that has been in the business for over four decades with a Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade. Prices start at $5.
- Zhao Ji Claypot Rice - Zhao Ji is another stall in Chinatown Complex. Unlike the former, however, Zhao Ji doesn’t use charcoal but employs gas and a metal claypot instead. Nevertheless, Zhao Ji is still popular among claypot rice devotees. Prices start at $10.
- 132 Claypot Rice - Old Airport Road Food Centre is another destination location for foodies. As such, get together with a group of friends and order multiple dishes while you wait for 132 Claypot Rice to cook your portion upon order. Prices start at $6.
- Geylang Claypot Rice - Formerly located along Geylang Lorong 33, Geylang Claypot Rice is now located along Beach Road. The brand has been serving claypot rice for over 30 years now and has options for chicken, beef cubes, unagi and eight-head abalone claypot rice. Prices start at $16.80.
- Nan Xing Claypot Rice - Located in Circuit Road Hawker Centre which is adjacent to Mattar MRT, Nan Xing has been serving up claypot rice for over a decade. Besides the classic chicken option, Nan Xing also has options such as Luncheon Meat & Egg, Smoked Duck and Garlic Roasted Pork. Prices start at $7.
- Cantonese Claypot Rice (Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan) - As the name implies, claypot rice is the star dish at Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan. The stall is helmed by Chef Wu, who formerly worked as a chef at Marriott Hotel. Service is pretty fast here and there are steamed rice and double-boiled soups as well. Prices start at $4.30.
- Xiang Jiang Claypot Rice - Here’s a claypot rice for you Westies. Xiang Jian is located within walking distance from Lakeside MRT. They have options between Ginger & Onion Chicken, Black Pepper Chicken, Chicken Sausage and Mixed flavour options. Prices start at $7.
- New Lucky Claypot Rice - New Lucky Claypot Rice is another stall that has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for its food. Located near Holland Village, New Lucky uses charcoal to cook its claypot rice, so do expect a longer wait. Prices start at $15 for 2 pax.
- Fei Kee Claypot Chicken Rice - Fei Kee is another claypot rice option located along Beach Road. The stall has a rather unassuming shop front, so you might miss it if you don’t look closely. Prices start at $6.
10 Claypot Rice Stalls In Singapore
In my humble opinion, claypot rice might be one of the most underrated hawker dishes in Singapore. While we don’t think to have this dish often at the hawker centre, it is immensely satisfying to eat, both in terms of flavour and texture. You get the savouriness of dark soy sauce, umami of salted fish, and crispness of burnt rice, all in one bite.
With that, here’s our list of 10 claypot rice stalls in Singapore you have to try if you’re a fan of the dish, including halal and Michelin-approved options:
- Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice - Situated within Chinatown Complex is Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice, where every pot of rice is painstakingly prepared from scratch. While the queues can stretch up to an hour-long, the claypot rice here is definitely worth the wait.
- New Lucky Claypot Rice - Another well-known claypot rice stall in Singapore is New Lucky Claypot Rice, with a Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade to their name. Waiting times can stretch up to 45 minutes if you walk in, so we recommend calling them to place your order beforehand.
- Zhao Ji Claypot Rice - While most people go to Chinatown Complex for Lian He Ben Ji, there’s also Zhao Ji Claypot Rice, an underrated stall that’s arguably as delicious. While the rice here is not cooked over charcoal, as it’s done traditionally, this stall is best known for the chicken within their claypot rice, which is said to be tender and flavourful. Prices range from $10 to $28, and if you’re a meat-lover, be sure to try the Various selection, which comes with additional pork on top of the usual ingredients.
- Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice - Here’s a claypot rice I’ve eaten all my life—Yuan Yuan Claypot Rice, located in ABC Brickworks Market, alongside the likes of Project Penyek and Hosay Mee Pok. What makes their Famous Claypot Rice (from $10) extra flavourful is their use of hua diao wine. A smoky aroma is infused throughout this dish, and I especially love scraping the charred rice bits off the pot.
- Geylang Claypot Rice - Hailing from Geylang Lorong 33 with over 30 years of heritage is Geylang Claypot Rice, now rehomed in an air-conditioned space along Beach Road. Zhng-up your usual chicken claypot rice with their Black Pepper Beef Cubes (from $28++) and Unagi (from $30++) selections. This restaurant also has zi char dishes available, such as Tofu With Prawn ($14.80++) and Pork Rib King ($14.80++), to go along with your claypot rice.
- Selera Cuppage - For halal claypot rice in Singapore, head down to Selera Cuppage, located conveniently near Somerset. Priced from $5.50, their claypot rice comes generously peppered with salted fish for extra umami. If you would like to try something new, there’s even a beef selection.
- Yew Chuan Claypot Rice - Golden Mile Food Centre has recently reopened after a three-month-long renovation, and here, you can find Yew Chuan Claypot Rice. They only serve Claypot Chicken Rice (from $6), and this comes already drizzled with black soya sauce, though you’re free to add more as you eat. Cooked the authentic way over charcoal, their claypot rice is said to have an old-school taste, sure to ignite nostalgia with every bite.
- Nan Xing Claypot Rice - Nan Xing Claypot Rice has been around for more than ten years, dishing up scrumptious claypot rice to those living around Circuit Road. Their Claypot Chicken Rice starts from $6, topped with a salted egg for extra flavour. If you’d like to try something different, they have a Luncheon Meat & Egg Claypot Rice ($6) available. Meanwhile, meat-lovers will surely enjoy their Pig Trotter Vinegar ($6), packed with melt-in-the-mouth pork leg meat.
- Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice - Northies may be familiar with Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice, where even the rice is cooked from scratch in the claypot. Depending on the portion size, their Traditional Claypot Rice starts from $9.10, and goes up to $20.30. This restaurant is also known for their San Lao Bee Hoon (from $5.80), a popular charred bee hoon dish hailing from Malaysia. Otherwise, for some munchies to go along with your carbs, consider the Sambal Sotong ($12.80) and Salted Egg Pork Ribs ($12.80).
- Cantonese Claypot Rice - For cheap and good claypot rice in Singapore, check out Cantonese Claypot Rice, located in the Beo Crescent Market. Apart from the usual Claypot Chicken Rice ($4.30), they also have other selections, including the Claypot Sausages Bacon Pork Rib Rice ($5.30). To wash everything down, get the Papaya White Fungus Stewed Pork Ribs Soup ($3.80), naturally sweetened with papaya.
Claypot Chicken Rice (煲仔饭)
Claypot chicken rice (煲仔饭), also known as bao zai fan, is a one-pot meal that's consists of fluffy long grain rice topped with flavorful and tender marinated chicken, shiitake mushrooms, Chinese sausage, and the most iconic and beloved part of the dish - the scorched rice!
Claypot rice is a very popular Chinese rice dish that's also popular in many Southeastern countries like Singapore and Maylasia. There are restaurants and food stalls that specialize in claypot rice and there's all sorts of toppings you can choose from.
Our version, the claypot chicken rice, is a classic choice and one of the most popular. While the claypot rice is cooking, the fragrance from the jasmine rice, marinated chicken, mushrooms, and scorched rice will tell you exactly how amazing it will taste! If you want some veggies to go with the claypot rice, we highly recommend some simple sautéed garlic bok choy or garlic green beans. Some simple steamed or sautéed gai lan (Chinese broccoli) is amazing too!
Claypot rice
Claypot rice (Chinese: 煲仔飯; Jyutping: bou1 zai2 faan6), sometimes translated as "rice casserole", is a Chinese traditional dinner eaten widely in Guangdong in Southern China as well as the Chinese communities of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
The rice is presoaked, or in some cases par-cooked, and finished in the claypot with other ingredients which then flavor the rice. The bottom develops a scorched rice crust similar to that in Korean dolsot bibimbap or Iranian “tahdig” and Spanish paella. It is commonly served with chicken, Chinese sausage and vegetables in some regions, but most restaurants offer a customizable dish with many protein options.
Traditionally, the cooking is done over a charcoal stove, giving the dish a distinctive flavour. Some places serve it with thick, sweetened soy sauce and sometimes dried salted fish. Due to the time-consuming method of preparation and slow-cooking in a claypot, customers may have to wait a period of time (typically 15–30 minutes) before the dish is ready.
