Spinning smoky claypots of rooster rice & torched mentaiko salmon at Yishun kopitiam

I’ve come to grasp that Claypot rice is a well-liked food-of-choice amongst older of us because it’s a really conventional dish. I not too long ago travelled to Kedai Kopi coffeeshop at Yishun the place Sabo Sia is situated. It’s a model new idea by Buey Tahan See-Food, providing completely different variations of claypot rice— 10 to be precise!

Sabo Sia is Muslim-friendly and so they’re within the midst of making use of for Halal-certification— excellent news for our Muslim mates!

What’s cool about this retailer is you could spot particular contraptions which might be constructed above their stovetops, which permit their claypots to spin in circles whereas it cooks. And you may observe this magic going down via the stall’s massive glass home windows.

Everything is cooked from scratch and the excessive warmth resistance of the claypots permits the rice and substances to be cooked completely. This technique retains all of the vitamins and flavours of the meals.

Special concocted sauces are added to the rice and substances to boost the dishes. I had a subject day watching the entire course of— I’ve by no means witnessed something prefer it!

What I attempted at Sabo Sia 

I started with probably the most primary dish of all, the Claypot Chicken Rice (S$6). The piping-hot claypot was full of a mattress of golden-hued pearl rice, colored by their secret gravy. There have been items of rooster, slices of lup cheong, salted fish bits, and inexperienced greens resting on high.

Just like how I’d eat rooster rice, I helped myself with their darkish soya sauce displayed on the stall entrance. I proceeded to slather the jet-black viscous liquid throughout my bowl of Claypot Chicken Rice. Mix, combine, combine and voila— makeover full.

All the substances had magically remodeled right into a va-va-voom wealthy chocolatey tone which made its outlook way more drool-worthy. I couldn’t wait to begin digging in!

Sabo Sia makes use of pearl rice, which has a softer and extra starchy texture. The rice tasted as if it’d been injected with a concentrated smokey serum, bombarding my tastebuds with a satisfying charred tang.

The items of rooster have been tender and the skinny slices of lup cheong gave mini bursts of sweet-savoury surprises. The inexperienced greens weren’t overcooked, retaining some parts of crunchiness.

I additionally beloved the salty fish bits which have been an added bonus to the multi-dimensional expertise I received from this dish.

My solely gripe could be the shortage of sesame oil which might’ve uplifted the entire dish much more— what a pity.

What blew me and my eating accomplice’s thoughts was the home made belacan chilli. It had the proper steadiness of zesty and savoury flavours, adopted by a refined umami kiss of the fermented belacan coming via on the finish.

Dip your meat or pour it throughout your rice— it goes properly with something!

The barely burnt rice which caught on the backside of the claypot had fashioned a tasty crispy crust. I fortunately wolfed it down like a aspect snack… om nom nom nom!

I then moved on to the Double Up Claypot Rice (S$9.90) and opted for an add-on of Mentaiko Mayo & Hanjuku Egg (+S$3). You get a alternative of two meats and I chosen salmon and beef.

Resting atop the pearl rice base have been items of beef, a complete salmon fillet, a lava egg reduce in half, inexperienced veggies, slices of lup cheong and bits of salted fish. A luscious mentaiko mayo was artfully drizzled on high, and torched to perfection.

This is unquestionably an unorthodox dish, and traditionalists would most likely ring the police upon seeing this creation.

The beef slices have been gentle and contained bits of velvety fats which dissolved in my mouth seamlessly.

After mixing up all the things, the mentaiko mayo managed to coat every grain of rice. This resulted in an additional wealthy and creamy style, and the lava egg with its runny yolk simply made all the things extra shiok.

The salmon fillet was cooked excellent and tasted contemporary. Although all the things tasted good, the shortage of charred smokiness (in contrast to the earlier dish) within the rice barely dampened the entire expertise— it might’ve been excellent in any other case.

Final Thoughts

I had a satisfying meal at Sabo Sia, and was on the verge of getting a meals coma after ending each sorts of claypot rice.

While I’m blissful to see new progressive spins on old-school dishes, I admire the truth that Sabo Sia presents conventional dishes too.

If you’re in Yishun purchasing the day away at Northpoint City, why not head right down to Kedai Kopi coffeeshop, and take a look at Sabo Sia for your self?

Will you follow the normal or uncover one thing new and fashionable? I’ll depart it to you to resolve if you’re there. Either manner, you may’t go improper.

Expected harm: S$6 – S$12.90 per pax

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