Discovering the Delight of Salted Chicken at Edmond Chicken Rice

I've never quite understood the hype around salted chicken, and honestly, it always seemed pretty ordinary to me. Friends would ask, "Have you never had really good salted chicken?" To be fair, they might have a point. So, I decided to give Edmond Chicken Rice a try at 48A Tanglin Halt Road, reputed to be one of the best halal and affordable spots for salted chicken in the area.

The restaurant was started by Edmond, a 16-year-old who dropped out of school to work for an uncle selling salted chicken. He then continued his journey in a food court that used to be called Banquet. By the age of 26, Edmond opened his first restaurant around 2009-2010. A heads up: the place doesn't have fixed opening hours, so it's best to check their Facebook page before heading over.

Salted Chicken and Chicken Noodles

If you've ever been to a salted chicken joint, Edmond's menu will feel familiar. You can order salted chicken (S$5) or a salted chicken set (S$7), both featuring either roasted or steamed chicken, although they were out of steamed chicken when I visited. Recently, I ordered the salted chicken along with chicken noodles. My plate of salted chicken came with a bowl of soup and chili sauce.

I noticed that the chicken here had more meat compared to other places I usually visit. It was drizzled with a light soy sauce. My first bite was a bit disappointing. The rice was soft but slightly overcooked, and I didn't detect any standout flavors. There was no hint of ginger or garlic as I had hoped; instead, it had a mild sweetness from the soy sauce.

The quality of the chicken was reasonably tender, but it still lacked that signature flavor. It felt like drinking diet soda – it seemed fine, but you could tell something was missing. Even the crispy, appealing chicken skin didn’t escape this fate. The essence of the chicken and maltose seemed to vanish. However, I still had hope for the soup; maybe it would save the meal.

Was the Soup Delicious or Just Average?

Unfortunately, the soup didn’t meet my expectations either. It tasted like a pretty standard chicken broth, even with the addition of dried shallots and spring onions. I was so eager to find some flavor that I even tried the chili sauce – something I’d never done before. To my surprise, the chili had a lovely tang and a slight kick, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of spice!

I’m a fan of chicken noodles and always opt for this dish at salted chicken places. So, I set aside my disappointment with the chicken and started fresh with new hopes. As expected, the chicken noodles didn’t let me down. The noodles were cooked to just the right texture, and every bite was satisfying.

Final Thoughts

The chili sauce clung to the noodles, and you need to mix it well to absorb all the flavors. Once everything is seasoned, you’ll be captivated by the bold spiciness that’s hard to put into words. While it should probably be called wonton noodles rather than chicken noodles, I think using wontons is a smart choice, especially since the chicken wasn’t that great. The wontons were filled with minced chicken and seasoned just right with white pepper and salt.

If I were to be picky, I would wish for some crispy fried wontons, as the crunchy texture would add an interesting element. Nevertheless, each serving had six pieces and was tastier than the chicken. This culinary journey was truly a tale of two dishes. While the salted chicken was nothing special, the chicken noodles elevated my lunch experience with their addictive chili sauce and delicious wontons.

While many might say the shortcomings of the chicken could just be a fluke, I can only judge based on my experience. If you don’t live near this area, it might be hard to recommend Edmond Chicken Rice, but I’d return if I had the chance, just to enjoy the chicken noodles!

Discovering the Delight of Salted Chicken at Edmond Chicken Rice