by Hoàng Linh

Located among the numerous restaurants on crowded Lò Đúc Street, Kampong Chicken House specialises in chicken dishes, including Singapore-style Hải Nam chicken rice. This restaurant is a lunchtime and weekend favourite of young people and blue-collar workers.

I first heard about the restaurant when I read an interview with owner Đào Thị Thanh Thùy. She used to be a banker, but her passion for cooking led her to change careers. While reading the interview, I was impressed with the care she brings to cooking clean food and ensuring the people around her are happy. So, when I first set foot in the restaurant, I was not surprised to find a cozy and relaxing atmosphere.

Star of the show: Hải Nam chicken rice is the most popular dish. VNS Photo Trần Thành Công

Thanks to her banking background, the owner was able to open a farm to raise chickens for the restaurant in a traditional way. The animals run freely and eat clean food. This “farm-to-table” model assures the restaurant always serves quality fresh meat.

The menu is quite diverse. In addition to the highlighted chicken dishes, there are seafood, beef and vegetable offerings. However, Hải Nam chicken rice is still the star.

I tasted the dish carefully and immediately loved it.

A quiet place: The restaurant features simple and clean decorations. VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

The white rice was tender and aromatic. It was cooked with chicken broth, ginger, green onion and garlic. The rice had a buttery taste and texture thanks to the fatty chicken broth. The chicken was cooked perfectly.

According to the waiter, the dish is complicated to prepare. First, the chefs remove the chicken bones and slice the meat into moderate portions. Then it is steamed or boiled carefully before being soaked in cold water to keep the meat moist and the skin firm.

The dish comes with three essential sauces – ginger and garlic, sweet sauce and chili sauce.

They may seem standard, but one taste reveals the sophistication and care that goes into the sauces.

Hot stuff: Chicken and mushroom hotpot is a good winter choice. VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

After the chicken rice, I tried two salads that were just as impressive. The chicken leg salad featured boneless legs, purple onion, peanuts and a sweet and sour sauce. The next salad also had chicken legs, this time paired with fried morning glory.

The fried legs and wings with fish sauce were also delicious, but the portion was quite small.

I also enjoyed the chicken and mushroom hotpot, which came with a portion of tender chicken generous enough to feed four people.

If you are looking for Singaporean food, Kampong Chicken House should not be missed. The two locations are at 107 Lò Đúc Street and 31i Láng Hạ. VNS

Adress: 107 Lò Đúc St and 31i Láng Hạ St.

Hours: 10am-10pm

Price: around VNĐ 300,000/pax

Comment: fresh ingredients, diverse menu, nice decoration, reasonable price