Best roast meat rice in Singapore
No matter which hawker centre, kopitiam, or food court you visit in Singapore, there’s almost always a stall chopping up roast meats, such as char siew and shao rou. But with so many options, finding a stellar plate of roast meat rice can be challenging. Good news, we’ve done the legwork and visited 10 different stalls to rank the best roast meat rice in Singapore, so you don’t have to.
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Table of Contents
The criteria
What’s considered the best char siew and roast pork rice can be quite subjective, so to eliminate any biases, we rated each plate under a set of fixed criteria, namely texture, flavour, and value, each with a score out of ten. Thereafter, the scores were totalled and converted to a final percentage score.
For texture, we focused on the crispiness of siew yoke skin and the charred edges of char siew. We also took into account how tender and juicy both meats were. The fat-to-meat ratio was another important factor, where we favoured cuts that weren’t overly fatty or lean. Apart from the meat, we considered the texture of the rice. Soft and fluffy rice was preferred to wet and clumpy rice.
The flavour criterion consists of the saltiness of the roast pork, the sweetness of the char siew, and a balance between caramelised and smoky flavours. Additional points were given for plates served with flavoured rice.
Lastly, for value, we compared the prices to the portion sizes. For stalls that offered varying serving sizes, we ordered the cheapest and smallest option.
Do note that our ratings were not affected by any free add-ons, such as soup and achar. For the sake of consistency, we only visited hawker stalls.Â
10. Hiang Ji Roasted Meat & Noodle House Toa Payoh
Tucked away in a small corner at Toa Payoh Mall is Hiang Ji Roasted Meat & Noodle House, a popular spot known for its noodles, soups, and, of course, roast meats. At the time of writing, they boast a high 4.5-star rating on Google, a leap from the 2.6 stars they had just two years ago, so we had to check them out.
The first thing that stood out to us was the crackling skin of roast pork. The initial crunch, however, quickly gave way to a gelatinous chew, with parts of the skin and fat being too sticky. On the contrary, the end pieces of the char siew had an audible crunch from the charred edges.
The shao rou was quite lean, and a few pieces were tough and dry, particularly on the undersides. In comparison, the rich, fatty layers were more enjoyable, thanks to a meltingly tender bite. As for the char siew, each slice had a good fat-to-meat ratio, but it wasn’t the most succulent or memorable.
The roast pork was too salty for our liking when eaten alone. Here’s a tip: Enjoy it with rice and chilli sauce for balanced flavours. We also noted that the shao rou had a hint of gaminess, though the generous serving of sweet sauce quelled it. On the bright side, the char siew had a delicious bittersweet flavour, without being too cloying.
The rice came plain, and we liked that it didn’t turn soggy despite being doused in sauce.
A plate of Hiang Ji’s Char Siew & Roasted Pork Rice will set you back $7.90. It’s a hearty meal for sure, but there wasn’t much about the nearly $8 dish that stood out to us.
Texture: 4/10
Flavour: 5.5/10
Value: 2/10
Total: 38.33%
Address: 190 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, #01-512, Toa Payoh Mall, Singapore 310190
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 9899 3038
Website
Hiang Ji Roasted Meat & Noodle House is not a halal-certified eatery.
9. Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint
Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint has been around since the 1940s, making them one of the OG names in Singapore’s roast meat scene. Over the years, they’ve gained a following, even making the headlines on a few occasions, most notably in 2014 when their recipe was sold for a whopping $4 million.
Given the long history, we had high expectations for their roast meat rice, but several elements didn’t quite hit the mark. The crisp in the roast pork skin was rather flat, with the overall texture being too gelatinous and chewy, while the char siew lacked the caramelised finish we were hoping for.
The meats weren’t the most tender, either. While not exactly tough, they had a firmer bite compared to the softer cuts we had at other stalls.
The char siew slices were either too fatty or too lean, with no in-between. On the other hand, most of the roast pork was a tad too lean, with several pieces carrying only a thin layer of fat.
Flavour-wise, the roast pork was a tad too porky, though it was nicely seasoned to bring out those salty and savoury flavours. The char siew was covered in a sweet glaze, but it lacked the smokiness we were looking for.
We had no complaints with the plain rice, which was cooked to fluffy perfection!
Priced at $7.80, Kay Lee’s char siew shao rou fan is one of the pricier options on this list. A lot of the other stalls offer similar portion sizes at more affordable prices, so we’d rank them pretty low in terms of value.
Texture: 3.25/10
Flavour: 6/10
Value: 3/10
Total: 40.83%
Address: 125 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534838
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10:30am to 8pm
Tel: 6743 8778
Website
Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. 335 Hong Kong Roasted Meat
For almost two decades, 335 Hong Kong Roasted Meat has been serving up its signature roasts at Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre. The stall is so popular that, according to the staff, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is a fan.
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We arrived as soon as the stall opened, anticipating their siew yoke to be of optimal freshness and crispiness. Unfortunately, the skin turned out tough and chewy, with only the slightest crunch that hardly made up for it. The char siew told a similar tale, as it was lacking any crisp, caramelised edges.
The cuts were leaner than it was fatty, a ratio that benefited the char siew more, as its meat was soft and delicate. The roast pork, on the other hand, was noticeably tougher and drier. We also noticed that parts of the siew yoke skin were burnt, resulting in an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.
The char siew fell below expectations; while sweet enough, the flavour was quite one-dimensional, and it would have been better if the exterior was more candied and lacquered. Flaws aside, the meats were fresh, well-seasoned, and had no gamey aftertaste.
The plain rice was too wet and clumpy for our liking, and wasn’t the best pairing with the meats.
Our plate came with seven slices of char siew and six slices of siew yoke. For $5.50, the portion sizes here were pretty good, but not the best. If not for the thin cuts of meat, we’d rate them higher for value.
Texture: 2.5/10
Flavour: 5.5/10
Value: 6/10
Total: 46.67%
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-181, Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Daily 1:30pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 8691 9963
335 Hong Kong Roasted Meat is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. Foong Kee Traditional Charcoal Roaster
Famed Foong Kee Traditional Charcoal Roaster made headlines when they closed their shutters in 2021. They made a surprise comeback after two years, reopening at their original spot at Commonwealth Crescent Market and Food Centre. Here, over 20 years of their legacy lives on with a streamlined menu, featuring char siew, roast pork, and roast duck rice.
We immediately noticed how the roast pork had a thin layer of skin, which meant little to no crispiness. Unfortunately, the char siew slices didn’t fare better, as the crisp, caramelised crust we were hoping for was lacking.
The char siew was lean and thinly sliced, which made the meat considerably tender. The fatty layers were on the chewier side with a nice bite, too. The siew yoke followed suit, with chunky pieces of tender meat and thin layers of chewy fat.
The overall flavours met the mark for a good roast meat meal, and we liked that the meats here had no gaminess. The siew yoke was well-seasoned with spices without being overly salty, while the char siew was slathered with a sweet-savoury sauce. If the char siew carried more caramelised depth, we would have rated it higher.
Foong Kee paired plain rice with their char siew and roast pork meats. We had no gripe with its light and fluffy texture, which paired well with the rich and savoury meats.
The pile of char siew may seem like a lot at first blush, but given how thin the slices were alongside just five pieces of siew yoke, the portion size felt a little modest for $6.
Texture: 3.25/10
Flavour: 7/10
Value: 4/10
Total: 47.5%
Read our Foong Kee Traditional Charcoal Roaster feature.
Address: 31 Commonwealth Crescent, #02-90, Commonwealth Crescent Market and Food Centre, Singapore 149644
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11am to 2pm
Tel: 6222 8402
Foong Kee Traditional Charcoal Roaster is not a halal-certified eatery.
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6. Char Siew Lang
Nestled in a quiet coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio is Char Siu Lang. The stall is known for thick slices of charcoal-roasted meats, where customers can choose their preferred meat cuts.
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Upon receiving our plate, the glistening sheen and tantalising aroma of the roasted meats whetted our appetites. The roast pork skin was a beautiful golden-brown, promising a satisfying crunch. The first bite delivered on that promise, but soon became quite gelatinous. On the other hand, the char siew boasted a dark, charred exterior, but lacked a crisp, caramelised crust.
We requested the “Half-Fat” option and got a good meat-to-fat ratio. The roast pork was slightly above average in tenderness, while the char siew paled in comparison. While its glistening appearance promised juicy, succulent cuts, the fat turned out rubbery, with parts of the meat being tough and dry, perhaps a result of being overcooked.
The flavours in the roast pork were great, though, which featured a savoury, charred underside seasoned with a piquant five-spice blend.
The char siew was topped with a glossy glaze that struck a nice balance between sweet and savoury. The main drawback, however, was that the glaze didn’t carry through into the meat itself.
Unlike most of the stalls mentioned on this list, the rice here was infused with a fragrant blend of fat and pandan, giving it a tasty, aromatic flavour. It also had a good amount of moisture, but if we had to nitpick, we’d prefer the grains to be a little more plump.
While we weren’t given that many slices of meat, each piece was cut to a generous thickness, making the portion quite filling for a $6 plate.
Texture: 4.5/10
Flavour: 5.75/10
Value: 6/10
Total: 54.12%
Address: 340 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, #01-1697, Maxim Stars Coffee Shop, Singapore 560340
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11am to 6pm
Tel: 9677 5212
Website
Char Siew Lang is not a halal-certified eatery.
5. Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights
Chef-owner Ah Jun spent over ten years perfecting his roasting skills at various stalls before opening Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights in 2023. Since then, his stall has quickly gained recognition for its charcoal-roasted meats, even earning the runner-up title for the Best Chinese Food Hawker at the DBS 2023 Hawker Awards.
We enjoyed the light, airy crispiness of the siew yoke. The skin didn’t have the most audible crunch, but it was one of the few on this list that wasn’t chewy. The char siew didn’t quite hit the spot, though, lacking the crispy, charred finish we hoped for.
The roast pork slices were layered with alternating slabs of glistening fat and meat, making each piece satisfyingly rich, yet not too greasy. The char siew, in comparison, was on the meatier side, with just one or two slices lacking fat. Nevertheless, both roast meats were enjoyable, as they were sufficiently tender and moist throughout.
Our first few bites of the siew yoke were promising and full of savoury flavours, but the saltiness built up towards the end, leaving us parched. Similarly, the glaze on the char siew was on the sweeter side, which did well to mask the porkiness, but made it a bit hard for the caramelised flavours to shine through.
The plain rice was drizzled with a sweet-savoury sauce. We appreciated how each grain was plump and fluffy, even after being left in the sauce for a while.
Topped with eight thick slices of siew yoke and char siew, the $6 plate was considerably filling, making it an affordable yet satisfying meal.
Texture: 7/10
Flavour: 4/10
Value: 6.5/10
Total: 58.33%
Read our Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights review.
Address: 27 Jalan Berseh, Block 27 HDB Jalan Berseh, Singapore 200027
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10:30am to 3pm
Xiao Di Charcoal Roasted Delights is not a halal-certified eatery.
4. Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia
Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia is located within the famous Maxwell Food Centre. The stall is popular with both locals and tourists alike, with long queues forming even after the lunch rush.
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Seeing the snaking queue, we naturally had high hopes. Alas, the siew yoke lacked that satisfying crackling skin. While the first bite of each piece did have a slight crunch, the skin turned out to be chewy instead. In fact, some slices were quite tough to separate with a spoon and fork. The char siew also lacked the crispy char that we were anticipating.
But that’s not to say there wasn’t any good, as we were happy with the balance between fatty and lean meat in the shao rou.
FYI, Fu Shun was the only place where we found soft bones in the shao rou.
The char siew, meanwhile, lacked consistency and was mainly a mix of thick and thin cuts, with about 70% being tender, and 30% being too tough.
One thing done right, though, was the flavours. The smokiness in the sio bak was memorable, adding depth to the overall dish. The char siew was tasty too, but it would have been even better if there were a bit more sweetness and caramelisation.
The plain rice at Fu Shun was rather lacklustre. Some parts of the rice were a little too wet and clumpy, even a little mushy at times.
At just $4.50, Fu Shun’s char siew shao rou fan is the cheapest on the list. It comes with a generous serving of relatively thick slices of meat, making the dish a value-for-money meal.
Texture: 2.75/10
Flavour: 6.25/10
Value: 9.75/10
Total: 62.5%
Address: 1 Kadayanallur Street, #01-71, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 5pm, Sat 11:30am to 8pm
Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia is not a halal-certified eatery.
3. Fook Kin
Located along a row of shophouses at Kiliney Road is Fook Kin, a collaboration by the founders of Fat Boy’s, Roast Paradise, and restaurateurs Justin Ang and Vernon Anthonisz. The eatery rose to fame since their opening in 2018, and has become one of the notable roast meat eateries in Singapore.
Given how loud the crackle from the siu bak skin was, calling it merely crispy wouldn’t do it justice. The addictive crunch worked in unison with the charred undersides, which delivered an even more satisfying bite. To top things off, the char siew boasted a lacquered glaze and was nicely finished with a crisp, caramelised crust.
The meat-to-fat ratio for both the char siew and siew yoke was also just right, where the meat was tender and the fat wasn’t too chewy with a luscious, buttery richness. This was especially the case for the roast pork, which had the most succulent cuts.
Apart from its crispiness, the char from the char siew lent a piquant, bittersweet flavour that reminded us of bak kwa. The roast pork wasn’t as tasty as the char siew, but it was savoury and seasoned well nonetheless.
Fook Kin was the only place where we could choose between Plain Rice and Fragrant Rice, with the latter available at no additional cost. We enjoyed the fragrant rice, which wasn’t overly greasy and coated in a balanced amount of oil, spices, and pandan. We also appreciated the plump and fluffy grains, which didn’t clump up.
A bowl here costs $12.30++, which is steep compared to most roast meat eateries in Singapore. While the slices here are definitely thicker than what you get at most places, the amount of meat you get isn’t much different from other cheaper and flavourful plates. We understand that the higher prices stem from the eatery being a full-fledged restaurant, which means paying for service and air-conditioned indoor seating.
Texture: 9.5/10
Flavour: 9.25/10
Value: 1/10
Total: 65.83%
Read our Fook Kin feature.
Address: 111 Killiney Road, Singapore 239553
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:15pm
Tel: 6737 3488
Website
Fook Kin is not a halal-certified eatery.
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2. 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist
Fans of char siew or siew yoke would have heard of the popular 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist. They have three outlets at the time of writing, and we visited their flagship location on Lavender Street.
We were pleasantly surprised by how the skin of the siu bak turned out: brittle yet crisp with an audible crackle in every bite. Furthermore, we found the crunch extending to the charred undersides of the meat, despite it being doused in sauce. We were also impressed with the char siew, which featured bits of crisp caramelisation on top, though to a lesser extent than Fook Kin’s.
Both roasted meats were incredibly tender and juicy, as you can tell by the silky layers of fat and glistening meat. In fact, the thick slices quickly melted away, barely on the third chew. This may sound a bit too indulgent for some, but the balance between fatty and lean meat made each bite a wonderful flavour explosion.
Despite the dark sauce coating, the char siew wasn’t overly sweet, either. It was caramelised to achieve that bittersweet depth, and had no off-putting burnt flavour. The meats were also imbued with a nice hint of smokiness, thanks to the use of the in-house charcoal oven.
The plain rice was accompanied by a generous scoop of their house-made sweet-savoury dark sauce. It did not turn soggy, even after being left in the gooey sauce for a while.
At $7.50, the prices are a little higher than some on this list. But given the thickness and quality of the meats, we’d say that this is a relatively fair price point.
Texture: 9.25/10
Flavour: 8/10
Value: 5/10
Total: 74.17%
Read our 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist feature.
Address: 308 Lavender Street, Singapore 338814
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Tel: 8225 2495
Website
88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist is not a halal-certified eatery.
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1. Roast Paradise
If you’ve been to Old Airport Road Food Centre, you would have passed by the long-queue Roast Paradise. We heard that the owners spent six months in Malaysia to learn the art of roasting meats prior to opening a stall in Singapore, which explains the snaking queues.
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The siew yoke had a thin layer of skin, which didn’t look the most promising at first glance. However, it turned out to be one of the better ones we had, boasting a hefty crunch with no chewiness. That said, the crispiness of the siu bak still didn’t beat the mighty crackle we enjoyed at 88 Hong Kong and Fook Kin.
What was better here, though, was the crunch of the char siew, starring caramelised edges that crackled with a crisp char so audible that my colleague across the table could hear it.
A letdown, though, was that the char siew was too fatty. We understand that some people may prefer a fattier cut, but to us, a good piece of char siew should have a better fat-to-meat ratio.
Both meats were not too tough or chewy, and in fact, they were the most tender and juicy of all the stalls. The char siew stood out in particular, releasing a burst of rich, savoury juices the moment a fork pierced through.
Roast Paradise’s char siew was easily the most flavourful, with a mix of bittersweet, savoury, and smoky notes. A dip into the extra dark sauce elevated the heavy flavours, with a subtle tartness and kick of spice.
The siew yoke was well–seasoned with salt and spices and not overly greasy. Both meats tasted fresh, with no gamey aftertaste.
The meats came with a fragrant serving of rice, made using butter, pork oil, garlic, and ginger. The rice was flavourful, yet light and not overly greasy, making it a lovely accompaniment to the richer tasting meats. We also enjoyed the texture of the grains, which were plump.
A plate here costs $5.80, and will get you around eight to nine pieces of char siew and siu bak, each. While not the thickest, the slices are decently sized, earning Roast Paradise a pretty good score in value.
Texture: 9.25/10
Flavour: 10/10
Value: 8/10
Total: 90.83%
Address: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-121, Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore 390051
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 7pm
Tel: 9786 7396
Website
Roast Paradise is not a halal-certified eatery.
Where to get the best char siew roast pork rice in Singapore
The locations we’ve mentioned on this list are some of the more popular spots for char siew roast pork rice in Singapore. At the end of the day, the best option really depends on personal preferences. Whether it’s the crackling siew yoke skin, bittersweet char, or melt-in-your-mouth fat you’re after, we hope this guide comes in handy the next time you’re craving good roast meats in Singapore.
Here’s the TL;DR of the best spots for char siew roast pork rice in Singapore, broken down according to four categories.
Best texture: Fook Kin
Best flavour: Roast Paradise
Best value: Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia
Best overall roast meat rice: Roast Paradise
For more tasty local dishes, check out our search for the best laksa in Singapore. Otherwise, read our ranked food guide to the best chicken rice in Singapore.
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Photos taken by Jordan Ong.
This was an independent article by Eatbook.sg.
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