Sam Leong St Chicken Rice carries forward a legacy dating back to 1992 when Uncle Heng Air Tow opened the original Sam Leong Hainanese Chicken Rice stall on Sam Leong Road. For nearly three decades, Uncle Heng delighted patrons with time-tested recipes learned from his father, building a devoted following for his authentic Hainanese chicken preparations. After the elderly founder passed away and his widow shuttered the original stall, new owners - reported to be connected to the respected Putien restaurant group - revived the brand at 12 Verdun Road in Verdun House, transitioning from humble hawker stall to a modern, air-conditioned restaurant setting.
The establishment recently achieved a significant milestone by obtaining official halal certification, making these celebrated chicken rice recipes accessible to Singapore's Muslim community for the first time. The menu maintains the classic Hainanese chicken rice heritage with both tender poached chicken showcasing the purity of gentle cooking and flavourful roasted chicken offering caramelized skin and robust taste. Each plate arrives with fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, accompanied by traditional condiments of dark soy sauce, ginger paste, and chilli sauce that define proper Hainanese chicken rice.
Reviews on Tripadvisor average 4.6 of 5 stars, with diners praising the halal certification, affordable pricing, fast service, pleasant staff, good ambience, and clean facilities. However, some long-time fans express mixed feelings about the evolution from the original hawker stall's character to the current fast-food style operations under new management. Operating from the Verdun House location, Sam Leong St Chicken Rice represents an interesting case of heritage recipe preservation through commercial transition, now serving both the restaurant's historic fan base and newly accessible Muslim customers.