This MacPherson Stall Went Viral For Their $4.50 Fried Chicken Rice—Is It Worth A Visit?

Big Fried Chicken has cheap fried chicken rice in MacPherson

If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m a bona fide fan of fried chicken. I don’t mean those marinated, sauce-drenched ones—I’m referring to the classic, crispy fried chicken that’s golden-brown on the outside with tender, juicy meat within. So when I was assigned to review Big Fried Chicken, a one-man coffeeshop stall in MacPherson, I was excited to see how its fried chicken fared—especially after the brand recently went viral on Instagram. 

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Food at Big Fried Chicken

The 2 Wings 1 Rice ($4.50) set is the most popular option on the menu, and it is as straightforward as it sounds. My plate came with a generous serving of rice and two deep-fried chicken wings, accompanied by a few slices of cucumber. 

FYI: Their chicken wings go for $1.80 each if you’re getting them a la carte.

I grabbed a chicken wing first and was instantly impressed with its generous size. The golden-brown crust was a telltale sign of how crispy the skin was—a non-negotiable in my book for a tasty fried chicken wing.

After taking a bite, this fried chicken wing turned out to be a mixed bag. While I appreciated that it remained crisp without being too oily or greasy, the overall flavour fell flat, and I couldn’t taste much seasoning. I would have liked it better if there were more pronounced salty or peppery notes, instead of just a generic savoury flavour.

The chicken wings here weren’t exactly the kind that got me reaching for the next one before finishing the first, but they still held their own—especially for the price—and I finished them in no time.

The dark horse, though, was the rice. It’s a little difficult to tell from the photo above, but there’s a tinge of yellow that probably comes from a layer of chicken fat. I also enjoyed how fluffy and plump the rice was, making it the perfect pairing with the crispy and slightly rough edges of the chicken wing.

My overall verdict? I’d happily tuck into this hearty plate of fried chicken rice for just $4.50 if I were in the area running errands.

Call it nostalgia or whatever you want, but I couldn’t pass on the 2 Wings 1 Spaghetti ($6). Growing up, this was one of my favourite dishes to have because it combined sweet, salty, and savoury flavours all in a single dish. 

If you’re torn between rice and spaghetti, I’d urge you to get the former. The pasta was bland —all I could really taste was the floury dough, while the sweet, tomatoey sauce took a backseat.

Mains aside, I was thrilled to see Chicken Skin ($2/100g) and Chicken Gizzard ($2/100g) offered as sides on the menu. For $4, I got a decent portion size of crispy chicken skin and chewy chicken gizzard, perfect for sharing in a group of three or four. 

The chicken skin was oh-so delicious. I loved how uneven each piece of skin was, wonderfully balanced between craggy and paper-thin textures that ultimately delivered a lovely crunch. 

It was crisp enough that it lifted slightly from the meat, but not so thick that it felt heavy or greasy. To me, a distinctive element that makes delicious fried chicken skin is that dry crispness, unspoiled by excess oil or grease. It was also nicely seasoned and paired well with my rice.

I was surprised to see chicken gizzards here since they’re a bit of an acquired taste. Thankfully, the chewy gizzards were a collective favourite at the table. If you haven’t tried them before, think of fried calamari without the briny flavour—similar in texture, maybe even chewier, and tasting just like fried chicken.

Ambience at Big Fried Chicken

The stall is located at Meetup@MacPherson, a coffeeshop that gets packed even before the clock strikes 12pm. The lunch crowd started to thicken at about 11:30am, so I encourage you to arrive earlier to secure a seat. It’s not an air-conditioned space, but there are more than enough ceiling fans to keep you cool in this sweltering heat.

It’s a quick nine-minute walk from Tai Seng MRT Station, making it a convenient and affordable spot for the Easties.

Big Fried Chicken – Eatbook review

I love my chicken rice in every form: steamed, roasted, and now, fried. While the chicken wings weren’t mind-blowingly delicious, they were definitely worth the price, and the tasty rice made up for whatever was lacking in the chicken wings.

For more eats in the area, check out 3 Meals Bowl by Bowl for mini bowls from $1.90. There’s also Tea Story, a modern Chinese teahouse and dessert cafe. 

Address: 560 MacPherson Road, Meetup@MacPherson, Singapore 368233
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8:30pm
Website
Big Fried Chicken is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Nabila Malek.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg