Ex-MBS Chef Opens Fried Chicken Stall At Alexandra Village—Here’s What We Thought

Dip Fried Chicken has fried chicken rice in Bukit Merah

Fried chicken, to me, usually fares decently enough—unless we’re talking about outliers with overly bland or salty meat, or greasy, soggy chicken skin. That said, it’s not every day I come across a memorable eatery that truly stands out for its fried chicken. Recently, though, the newly opened Dip Fried Chicken at Alexandra Village Food Centre left me impressed with their fried chicken rice and house-made dipping sauces. It’s also a plus that the hawker stall accepts CDC Vouchers!

For context, Dip Fried Chicken is run by two partners—one of whom shared that he has over a decade of culinary experience at a restaurant in Marina Bay Sands. 

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Food at Dip Fried Chicken

The menu is clear and simple, divided into sets, combos, and sides. Since the combos are meant for bigger groups, I decided on a set and a side.

I got a 2 Pc Meal ($7.80), which comes with two pieces of fried chicken, coleslaw, rice or fries, and a dipping sauce of your choice. To substantiate, I added Rice ($1.20) on the side, and also ordered the Karaage ($4.80) for a boneless option. 

As for the sauces, there are three to choose from: Sour Cream & Onion, Hainanese Chilli, and Salted Egg Yolk. For the curious, I chose the former for my set meal, and the Hainanese Chilli to pair with the karaage. FYI, every order of chicken comes with a dipping sauce, but if you’d like to try more than one, you can add extras at $1.20 each. 

It took about 10 to 15 minutes for my meal to be ready, but it was worth the wait—everything, from the chicken to the fries, was served piping hot. Two wedges of lime came on the side, which I drizzled all over my fried chicken for a tangy kick.

This fried chicken was one of the better, if not the best, I’ve had in a while. The meat was tender and juicy, while the skin was crispy and fried to a perfect golden brown. I couldn’t really tell what went into the marinade, but the overall flavour was savoury with a slightly peppery kick, without being too salty or leaving any greasy aftertaste.

If you can’t decide between the fries and rice, I highly recommend getting the latter. The rice portion was a tad small for me, but the chef really nailed the texture: it was moist, plump, and almost pillowy, so each scoop felt satisfying without needing too many bites. 

I was told that the rice is cooked with chicken oil, giving it that distinct, aromatic fragrance that makes a good plate of chicken rice truly memorable.

The fried chicken rice was tasty on its own, but I must say Dip Fried Chicken’s biggest strength lies in their house-made sauces. I really enjoyed pairing the fried chicken with the tart and creamy Sour Cream & Onion, elevated by the green onion bits that cut through any potential cloyingness. 

For those with a low spice tolerance, I recommend this one of the three dipping sauces.

The coleslaw, priced at $1.80 a la carte, was fresh and equally delicious. The shredded purple cabbage was crisp and crunchy, and the amount of mayo was just right for me. That said, I can see how some might find it a tad bland, as it’s not smothered in the creamy condiment that many are used to at Western food stalls.

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Finally, I tried the Karaage with Hainanese Chilli sauce. This is also available as a set meal with rice or fries, if you prefer boneless chicken.

The Karaage here was slightly different from the ones I’ve had so far; the batter was a lot thinner, and I missed the usual crackling, deep-fried texture on the skin. The meat, however, was the highlight, and not so much the skin: incredibly soft and juicy.

It paired exceptionally well with the Hainanese Chilli sauce, offering a good balance of tangy and punchy flavours. The spice was mild, and the lime juice mellowed it a little.

I appreciate any attention to detail, such as offering disposable gloves for a hassle-free eating experience. It’s not every day you see this gesture at a hawker stall, which makes it all the more memorable.

Ambience at Dip Fried Chicken

Dip Fried Chicken is located at Alexandra Village Food Centre, which is a little out of the way; you need to take a bus from Redhill MRT Station to save yourself 20 minutes of walking. The lunch crowd thickened at about 12pm, but my colleague and I easily found seats right in front of the fried chicken stall.

Here’s a tip from someone who loves the Bukit Merah neighbourhood: enjoy a cup of coffee from Rookie’s Coffee Shop, drop by Casual Poet Library right next door, get lunch at Dip Fried Chicken, and end your day browsing IKEA—just a five-minute walk from the food centre!

Dip Fried Chicken – Eatbook review

Despite being fairly new to the scene, Dip Fried Chicken has been getting a lot of customers and delivery orders—and I can see why. The offerings are not the cheapest you can get at a hawker centre, but given how fresh and tasty every component of my meal was, I’d revisit the stall if I were in the area. 

If you can’t get enough fried chicken, read our Big Fried Chicken review, where we tried $4.50 fried chicken rice in MacPherson. We also have a guide to the best Korean fried chicken in Singapore.

Address: 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-01, Alexandra Village Food Centre, Singapore 150120
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 8pm
Website
Dip Fried Chicken is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Paula Formantes.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg