Updated on 18 March: The Chicken King has stopped operations due to manpower issues.
Tucked away in a quiet street of food stalls at Toa Payoh, The Chicken King is by the same people behind Orchid Live Seafood, helmed by none other than the man himself, Chef Steven Chua.
It is an unassuming-looking outlet that got our attention with their chicken-only menu. No service and ambience to speak of, so don’t expect anything at all. They are really just a small eatery that would do for a fast, hassle-free meal.
The Chicken King is a very different concept from its sister restaurant, offering hearty and affordable food in the heartlands of Toa Payoh.
Chicken is the primary ingredient on the menu here, with dishes such as Steven Chicken (4pcs for S$5), Salted Egg Popcorn Chicken (S$5.40) and even Buttermilk Chicken Waffles with Salted Egg Sauce (S$13).
When the Salted Egg Popcorn Chicken was served to us, the fries were piping hot but the chicken tasted like it was left out there for quite awhile before being served to us. And it tasted ordinary. But the sauce is worth a mention, and we soon overlooked it all for the salted egg yolk sauce was addictive and divine.
What you should try at The Chicken King is the Chicken and Waffles. The chicken thigh comes topped with caramelised onions and torched mozzarella cheese. Sadly, the caramelised onions did nothing for us, and together with the badly torched cheese, it looked and tasted nothing more than a burnt mess.
But what took us by surprise was actually the waffle itself! The fragrance and taste of the buttermilk sure upped the ante for the waffle, and the accompanying salted egg sauce is what they would say, “the bomb dot com.”
Thick and boasting bits of salted egg and chilli padi, the sauce was every bit flavourful and slightly spicy; it sure elevated the overall taste of the dish.
For an additional S$2.50, you get a soft drink and a side of your choice – pick from Shoe String Fries, Egg Fried Rice and Coleslaw. Unfortunately, the fries tasted so bad. It was basically just frozen fries badly fried. The Coleslaw was slightly better; we thought it was mayo overload, though.
Well, just skip the sides altogether.
And oh, the waiting time can be extremely long. You have been warned.
The Chicken King
Blk 190, Toa Payoh Central #01-530
Singapore 310190
Tel: +65 9191 8268
Daily: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Toa Payoh
For more recommendations, read our guide to cafes in Toa Payoh neighbourhood.