Thorbaekk Grillz Review: Sambal-Drenched Grilled Chicken And Stingray With Chicken Rice From $4.50

Thorbaekk Grillz at Redhill Food Centre

COVID-19 has not only changed our way of life, but it has also changed the way we eat. Feasting out in a large group seems to be a thing of the past. For those who miss sharing a sizzling plate of sambal BBQ stingray, Thorbaekk Grillz has got your back and are serving individual, packable portions of grilled meats and seafood along with aromatic fragrant rice. 

Food at Thorbaekk Grillz

It’s not all glamour and fame, but grill and flames at this Muslim-owned stall which opened early this year. Their Sambal Stingray Rice Set ($9) comes with hefty slabs of stingray, a sunny side up egg, and fragrant chicken rice! The plump stingray is served beautifully charred thanks to a smokey kiss on the hot griddle.

The stingray is barbecued plain and not marinated upon order, but don’t fret, as the juicy meat is drenched in a sweet and satisfyingly spicy house-made sambal chilli sauce. When paired with the caramelised char, every mouthful becomes even tastier. This dish is great for lazy eaters, as the meat is fall-off-the-bone and firm to bite.

What’s even better is the unique combination of chicken rice with grilled seafood. Plain white rice would be sufficient, but the savoury and fluffy rice is an unnecessary yet clever addition to the plate. 

The entire dish was well executed and delicious to its last grain, making me forget about the merry mood I missed about sharing BBQ stingray with friends for supper.

Another must-try is their affordable Grilled Chicken Chop Rice Set ($5.50). For those on a tighter budget, there’s also a slightly cheaper Grilled Chicken Wing Rice Set at $4.50. Unlike the stingray, the chicken is marinated beforehand with a medley of spices such as chilli powder, white pepper, and black pepper, along with oyster sauce and sesame oil for maximum flavour.

The chicken thigh is parboiled, skin on, with ginger and lemongrass, before heading to the flaming-hot grill for a quick sear. Once again, it is embellished with the same house-made sambal sauce, atop a bed of chicken rice.

The result is a moist and tender orange-hued chicken thigh with charred bits for good measure. As compared to the stingray, this dish is friendlier on the wallet and is surprisingly much more flavourful. Needless to say, this protein paired better with the sunny-side-up and chicken rice too.

There are a total of 12 rice sets to choose from, with combinations including Stingray & Prawns Rice Set ($10.50) and the most expensive Stingray & Squid Rice Set ($12.50). Everything here is served in single portions, making it easy to have a quick meal or have it takeaway. 

Another seafood that also satisfied my sizzling hotplate cravings was their squid. Priced at $6.50 for the Sambal Squid Rice Set, it came with a whole squid that was nicely cooked to a chewy, not tough, consistency.

One thing to note is that every dish here is heavily doused in Thorbaekk Grillz’s signature chilli sauce, so the difference you get is mainly based on your choice of protein! Those who prefer to walk on the spicier side of life can also ask for their chilli padi kecap manis sauce that’s sweet, umami, and spicy all at the same time.

Ambience at Thorbaekk Grillz

Redhill Food Centre is home to many good eats and it is just a short five-minute walk from Redhill MRT Station. While many seats are cordoned off to meet the two-pax dining restrictions, tables are plenty in this airy hawker centre.

The verdict

The prices at Thorbaekk Grillz were fair and fully justified by the good quality, generous portions, and great flavours of the dishes we tried. I am also happy to add the stall to my list of recommended things to try at the centre, along with Hua Kee Chicken Rice and Jia Xiang mee siam.

While we were lucky to snag the last piece of stingray when we went down on a weekday after lunchtime, I wouldn’t suggest taking the risk. Do give the owners a call to check for the availability of any dish you would love to try before heading down!

Address: 85 Redhill Lane, #01-32, Singapore 150085
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 9pm
Tel: 8761 2812
Website
Thorbaekk Grillz is a Muslim-owned eatery.

Photos taken by John Lery Villanueva.
This is an independent review by Eatbook.sg.