Ex-Marriot chef serves loaded claypot rice from $4.80 at Tiong Bahru

While I used to be on my means to take a look at whether or not the well-known Beo Crescent Curry Rice had reopened (FYI, it’s not), I chanced upon a hidden gem nestled inside Beo Crescent Market in Tiong Bahru. Though Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan’s storefront regarded easy, it garnered a endless queue. And frankly— the scent of charred claypot rice was too tempting to withstand.

It was solely after I struck up a dialog with the girl behind the counter that I came upon that the person behind the range is definitely an ex-chef who used to work at Marriott Hotel!

Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan, a humble claypot rice stall, is positioned inside Beo Crescent Market, a small however well-loved hawker centre in Tiong Bahru. 

Beo Crescent Market is unquestionably one of many smaller hawker centres I’ve been to, with at most 50 stalls that shaped two rows. Despite that, I discovered the stall simply— if not due to the waft of freshly made claypot rice, then due to the long queues in entrance of the stall.

Though Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan’s menu regarded stuffed to the brim (it even had expanded menus plastered on the perimeters of the stall!), it was straightforward to digest. 

6 claypot dishes have been accessible in numerous flavours, the most cost effective of which have been the Claypot Chicken Rice (S$4.80) and Claypot Pork Ribs Rice (S$4.80). If you’re not a fan of claypot or wish to go for smaller parts, you possibly can go for the steamed rice choices, such because the Preserved Veg Braised Pork Steamed Rice (S$3.80).

Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan additionally sells 12 varieties of soup, ranging out of your basic Lotus Root Peanut Chicken Claw Soup (S$3.50) to fascinating concoctions similar to Scallops Bittergourd Oyster Stewed Pork Ribs Soup (S$4). Lastly, additionally they promote aspect dishes which might be nice for sharing, similar to Bean Sauce Garlic Steamed Song Fish Head (S$15).

What I attempted at Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan

After glancing by way of Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan’s menu, I made a decision to go for probably the most loaded claypot on the menu, which appeared to have a bit little bit of every little thing: Claypot Sausages Bacon Chicken Rice (S$5.80).

Though I used to be initially bowled over by the lengthy queue, it moved fairly shortly as clients are given buzzers, so that they gained’t have to attend within the queue. Yet, each time I flip to take a look at the stall, the queue appears to have grown— a certain testomony to its recognition.

Once my buzzer rang, I obtained my meals. And what a loaded bowl it was! Ingredients similar to lap cheong, browned items of rooster, little bits of bacon and loads of contemporary greens have been piled on high of rice, which had been doused in what appeared like darkish soy sauce. I might scent the beautiful charred scent of rice— a superb signal, and my tummy rumbled in protest.

The very first thing I did was to present my Claypot Sausages Bacon Chicken Rice a superb combine. This proved to be a troublesome ordeal, just because there was a lot rice and substances that bits and items stored falling out of the claypot!

While lap cheong is a typical ingredient in most claypot rice dishes, this was the primary time I got here throughout bacon. Both added salty and savoury notes to every spoonful of charred rice, with the lap cheong contributing an virtually candied-like sweetness. 

I cherished how beneficiant Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan was with the substances, and extra importantly, how every component appeared to have been cooked individually, leading to fantastically browned, salty items of bacon and lap cheong.

Though the bacon and lap cheong have been greater than sufficient so as to add flavour to the claypot, the star of the present turned out to be the massive, juicy chunks of rooster. 

Similar to the bacon and lap cheong, the items of rooster appeared to have been grilled previous to being added to the claypot, leading to gorgeously caramelised items of rooster. Some even nonetheless had the pores and skin on, and the fatty, lip-smacking items of rooster pores and skin have been extremely addictive.

Don’t underestimate the small piece of salted fish that’s given within the claypot! This potent nugget of saltiness packed a punch of briny umami flavours. 

I’d recommend breaking this small piece up into tiny flakes and mixing it immediately into the rice, in order to keep away from by chance consuming one whole piece of salted fish by chance. Plus, meaning extra possibilities of digging up these little gold flakes of saltiness all through the course of your meal.

After giving every little thing a radical combine, I discovered myself unable to cease consuming. Even although every component appeared comparatively easy, they got here collectively in such a complementary means. 

This was a incredible bowl of claypot rice. The rice itself was calmly seasoned with darkish soy sauce, in order that the charred smoky notes got here by way of strongly with every chew. The insanely beneficiant quantity of substances meant that every spoonful of rice was effectively matched when it comes to meat and greens. Everything melded collectively to type one thing so hearty, smoky and scrumptious, such that I didn’t even really feel the necessity to add chilli or further soy sauce to the claypot. 

Frankly, this was a lot meals that I’d reckon it’d be adequate for two folks to share. And this prices a mere S$5.80!

As with most claypot rice dishes, in the event you benefit from the charred, burnt items of rice that shaped in conjunction with the claypot, Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan’s claypot rice dishes positively gained’t disappoint. I took my time to scrape the chao ta bits of rice off the aspect of the claypot, having fun with its crunch and burnt flavours.

To accompany my Claypot Sausages Bacon Rice, I made a decision to order one soup— Ginseng Stewed Chicken Soup (S$5).

Though the soup regarded gentle, the flavours have been something however. 

Most ginseng soups I do know are inclined to lean closely in the direction of both the rooster inventory finish or the ginseng finish, however Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan’s Ginseng Stewed Chicken Soup was completely in-between— not too salty, but full-bodied and robust when it comes to the style of rooster, with the invigorating gingery notes from the ginseng.

Final ideas

Oh, what an incredible lunch! I can’t bear in mind the final time I used to be so impressed with one thing so easy. What I completely cherished was how beneficiant Guang Dong Sha Bao Fan was with the substances, and regardless of that, they nonetheless managed to maintain costs amazingly low, with a bowl of claypot rice averaging out to be about S$5.

More importantly, every component of the claypot rice was carried out completely— grilled items of juicy rooster, contemporary chunks of cabbage, salty strips of bacon, and the fantastically charred rice that had been doused in darkish soy sauce. 

You can positively guess that I’ll be again once more.

Expected harm: S$3.80 – S$10 per pax

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