Stall in Market Street Hawker Centre sells crispy rooster briyani with 40-year-old recipe

I’ve tried visiting Golden Nur earlier than as I’ve heard nice issues about their legendary crispy nasi briyani, however they at all times appear to be offered out. Determined to have a style of their genuine briyani, I made a decision to strive my luck and braved the lunch crowd on the newly opened Market Street Hawker Centre but once more.

Golden Nur is a family-run enterprise that started off on the now-defunct Golden Shoe Hawker Centre. Over the previous 40 years, the stall has faithfully adopted the hawker centre because it relocated to Market Street Interim Hawker Centre and at last, to its newest (and hopefully final) vacation spot: Market Street Hawker Centre.

Market Street Hawker Centre is positioned on the second and third ground of CapitaSpring and homes a complete of 56 hawker stalls. You’ll discover the escalator main as much as the hawker centre on the intersection of Chulia Street and Market Street, proper reverse UOB Plaza.

To get to Golden Nur, take one other escalator as much as the second ground of the hawker centre and also you’ll spot the common-or-garden stall proper on the mouth of the escalator. 

When I dropped by at midday on a weekday, I anticipated to discover a prolonged queue in entrance of me. Instead, regardless of it being the height of lunch hour, I used to be pleasantly shocked to find solely a handful of individuals within the queue.

In a matter of 5 minutes, I had positioned and obtained my orders, and I used to be able to dig in.

What I attempted

I kicked off my meal with the basic Crispy Chicken Briyani (S$6.50), which got here with a big piece of deep-fried rooster leg on a mattress of long-grain briyani rice. It was served with a small serving of pickled greens.

Based on first impressions alone, I couldn’t determine if I used to be impressed or upset. The beneficiant serving of deep-fried crumbs and the darkish golden color of the rooster leg regarded extremely inviting, however your complete dish barely lined two thirds of the plate and there have been massive pockets of empty area across the briyani.

Was it a case of Golden Nur utilizing plates too massive for its dishes, or have been their serving sizes underwhelming? Time to search out out.

The long-grain basmati rice was fluffy and lightweight in texture, and I appreciated how the rice grains weren’t clumped collectively or oily in any respect regardless of being doused in curry. There was a great depth of flavour— I might style a delicate trace of spice, a tinge of saltiness, and underlying savoury notes from the assortment of spices equivalent to turmeric, lemongrass and star anise. 

The general outcome: Each spoonful of rice was fragrant (with out being overly perfumed) and the feel was good— decently dry and lightweight. This was the kind of rice I might end in a single sitting, and not using a want for any water or iced teh to clean it down or to assist offset any sturdy salty flavours. Perfectly completed.

My solely gripe can be that there wasn’t sufficient rice. I ended up sharpening off the rice first earlier than the rooster, which was a slight disappointment.

Despite being deep-fried, the rooster leg was tender and the flesh tore aside simply with out a lot effort. The rooster pores and skin was a delight— crispy with a skinny layer of oily fats— and went effectively with the juicy meat.

Arguably, the spotlight of the dish was the massive heap of crispy batter bits that was scattered on high of the fried rooster leg. 

These have been addictively salty, with a satisfying crunch and an intense savoury kick that jogged my memory of the crumbs on the backside of a bag of potato chips. 

Admittedly, these crispy bits have been a tad too salty when eaten by itself, so make sure to pair it with the rice to steadiness out the wealthy saltiness. Alternatively, go mild on the crumbs and don’t be kiasu like me by asking for an additional serving.

Next on my listing was Golden Nur’s Curry Chicken Rice (S$6.50), which got here with a chunk of curry rooster, white rice, pickled greens, girl’s finger, and a spoonful of crispy batter bits.

While I had anticipated it to be plain white rice, I used to be proved improper the minute I took a chunk. 

With a powerful style of pandan and lemongrass, this jogged my memory of nasi lemak rice and went fantastically effectively with the mildly candy and spiced curry.

Unfortunately, I used to be upset by the curry rooster. Due to its lower, the rooster breast was sadly dry and difficult, and I struggled to complete your complete piece.

Perhaps subsequent time I’ll ask for a greater lower of rooster.

I loved Golden Nur’s girl’s fingers as they have been comfortable and naturally candy. Thanks to the addition of sliced shallots that had cooked until it was translucent, the girl’s fingers have been a pleasant and comforting addition to the plate of curry rooster, albeit a easy one.

I ended off the meal with the priciest briyani on Golden Nur’s menu: the Mutton Briyani (S$7).

The minute it was served, I used to be puzzled by the seemingly lack of mutton. The pleasant employees responded with fun: “It’s hidden underneath the rice!”

True sufficient, after digging via the long-grain basmati rice, I discovered a hefty chunk of mutton. 

The mutton was fork-tender and tore aside with nice ease. It was mildly candy and had a smoky aftertaste, and was harking back to oxtail in each texture and flavour. I might’ve favored it if we had been served extra mutton as we had solely been given one piece (albeit a giant one).

Final ideas

When requested to select their favorite dish out of the meal, one in every of my eating companions instantly singled out the Mutton Briyani for its tender meat, whereas one other loved the basic Crispy Chicken Briyani for its comforting and well-balanced flavours.

As for me, I totally loved the aromatic white rice and the crispy rooster, and would order that mixture the following time I’m again. Perhaps on the similar time, I’ll ask for extra rice and fewer crispy batter bits.

If you’re aspiring to drop by for a go to, do be aware that Golden Nur’s nasi briyani tends to promote out by the tip of lunch, so don’t be late!

Expected injury: S$6.50 – S$7 per pax

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