NeNe Chicken is a halal-certified Korean fried chicken restaurant that has established itself as the "sauce-coated chicken specialist" since expanding into Singapore in 2012. Founded in Korea in 1999 and with over 1,000 outlets in South Korea alone, this international chain brings authentic Korean fried chicken expertise to Singapore with 6 outlets, 8 of which are halal-certified.
The restaurant offers a delectable selection of crispy fried chicken coated with secret recipe sauces, each with its own distinct character. Using only fresh chicken cooked to order, NeNe Chicken ensures premium quality with every serving. Their latest outlet in Upper Paya Lebar introduces Korean-inspired pizzas baked in their own pizza oven, with 9-inch personal pans starting from just 2.90.
With locations at Bedok North Street, Bukit Panjang Plaza (halal-certified), NEX Mall, Our Tampines Hub, and The Star Vista, NeNe Chicken adapts their dishes to match local tastes while maintaining authentic Korean flavors. The name "NeNe" meaning "Yes! Yes!" in Korean reflects their enthusiastic approach to serving quality halal Korean fried chicken, burgers, and fast Korean fare to Singapore''s diverse community.
Food is decent, I enjoyed the skewer in the picture. However the eatery is small and not ventilated.
The food is decent, and I enjoyed the skewer pictured. However, the eatery is small and not well-ventilated. The staff were laughing hysterically loud, and some weren't wearing their masks in the kitchen.
But the tipping point was the integrity of the workers. I asked them, 'In the Fried Tteokbokki & Chicken Sausage Skewer ($3.2), how many sticks are there?'
The male cashier replied, '5.'
To clarify, I asked, 'Are there 5 toppings (Tteokbokki & Sausages) on 1 stick, or 5 skewers?' He firmly said, '5 sticks.'
Look at the picture. That's 1 skewer. The 5 'sticks' he was referring to are those 5 toppings. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding? So I ordered again with a different cashier and asked the same questions about how many skewers/sticks there were.
The female cashier replied similarly, 'There are 5 sticks.'
Did the management instruct the staff to lie when customers ask questions? Are you suggesting these F&B workers cannot differentiate between a stick (skewer) and the sausage toppings, and therefore confidently misled me? Please work on your service at least, since you cannot repair your air conditioning for over a year.
Sean (Curious Explorer)
Not the worst but needed to ensure others are aware of the situation here.
There is very little to
Not the worst, but I wanted to ensure others are aware of the situation here.
There was very little to no air conditioning felt here; it felt more like trapped air inside. With limited choices for my family, we dined in since the kids wanted Korean. Let's dive in.
Atmosphere:
We arrived at 6:30 PM, wandered around, and finally found the place. I was surprised by its very small setting. Although small places often have a special feel, this one was just okay; I should have lowered my expectations.
The air conditioning felt like it was switched on at an outside temperature. The air smelled like trapped, dank water. The place looked run down after we took our seats. The kitchen was visible through a big window, and we saw how the chicken was prepared.
Service:
The lady serving us could have been the site supervisor or manager. She was seated in a corner with a laptop and only came to us when we wanted to order. She didn't leave a lasting impression as her customer service skills were very monotone. We felt like we weren't needed and that she didn't want us there. Again, this could be due to illness, working too long, or something else. She definitely didn't embody someone who welcomed customers.
The kitchen staff prepared food openly, taking the sauce tray to the kitchen window. The food was prepared half-heartedly and sent out very slowly. It was also observed that gloves were not worn while handling the burger I had ordered. Sigh... Food hygiene certifications have guidelines to follow.
Food:
The egg ramen looked too soupy and unimpressive. It tasted blander than what we remembered from other outlets. The rest of the food was average and only lukewarm, even though there weren't many orders. Another sigh.
Nonetheless, our review today isn't meant to bring the place down, but more to ensure either the staff or the outlet improves.
Cheers
Ami
Shocked at the amount of Japchae for $6.90. And there’s no air con in this sweltering hot weather!
Shocked at the amount of Japchae for $6.90. And there's no air conditioning in this sweltering hot weather!
Siew Poh
The so-called "chef's recommended" sundubu jiggae was terribly bland (and they give you plastic spoo
The so-called "chef's recommended" sundubu jjigae was terribly bland (and they gave us plastic spoons for hot food). I've had cheaper and better versions at food courts. To make matters worse, this place didn't even have air conditioning. I was sweating profusely, and the whole ambiance was just off – I'm not sure if it was just this branch, but it was cramped and the tables weren't clean. Definitely my worst dine-in experience ever.
Mohamed Azman
Back here after so long, and it was a far cry than it was before. Service was OK, but food was slow
Back here after so long, and it was a far cry from what it was before. Service was okay, but the food was slow to arrive. The place was very stuffy, with only one wall fan (not even a ceiling fan) working. If it's in a mall, would it be too much to expect it to be fully air-conditioned?
Ordered the spiciest chicken sauce and the mala one. We didn't even break a sweat! The sauces were far too sweet. The mala had the slightest hint of peppercorn (what's the point?). The sides were totally forgettable.
This was not the Nene Chicken I recalled, having previously had to walk around the mall with swollen lips. Wouldn't return.
Positive Reviews
Lynne Loh
My first try and I had Egg and Cheese Ramyeon Combo A. The soup is tasty with the cheese and love th
My first try and I had the Egg and Cheese Ramyeon Combo A. The soup is tasty with the cheese, and I love the QQ noodles. Yummy! It comes with one piece of chicken, corn salad, and a Coke Zero.
Mariana Izah
First time trying the food. Ordered the Egg & Cheese Ramyeon with a drink. Food wise, not so bad for
First time trying the food. Ordered the Egg & Cheese Ramyeon with a drink. The Ramyeon was not so bad, just a little more salty, which I assumed was from the cheese. Service was so-so. The atmosphere felt a little warm, but that's understandable as the place is small and the kitchen is just behind the service counter. Nothing to complain about for my experience.
Aisha Azman
The place is very limited and the aircond not functioning well. The nene double freaking hot is supe
The place is very limited and the air conditioning is not functioning well. However, the Nene double freaking hot is superrr good! My favorite since 2020.
S. Suriani
The first time I tried nene was years ago and I totally forgotten about it. Recently, I bought a few
The first time I tried Nene was years ago, and I had totally forgotten about it. Recently, I bought a few items after watching too many videos of Tzuyang Mukbang and Blackpink's vlogs.
My favourites are the soy tteokbokki (the spicy one is not for me, even though it's considered nice). I used to not like tteokbokki, but this one changed my taste buds. Spam fries, crispy chicken skin, and chicken tenders (no sauce – I love them without sauce). These are my go-to for Korean fast food. They can last for 2 days, and heating them up in the microwave is so good.
Catherine Tan
Five stars for service. The Malay guy cashier was so nice and patient as I went through the menu. Th
Five stars for service. The Malay cashier was so nice and patient as I went through the menu. They could only take cash as all online payments were down, but he said he could prepare my order while I went to withdraw cash from the ATM. Wow.
Foodwise, the Soy flavour is best. The Swicy was too sweet, not spicy, and too goopy. Luckily, I got a tub of Bling spicy sauce to dip in. It is also goopy but at least has a spicy kick. Curly fries were excellent. I also loved the pickled radish and corn salad.
The place has never been renovated since it began. It's a little stuffy now and needs better ventilation.
