O Level: An eating outlet you frequent

Singapore is undisputedly the chicken rice capital of the world. There are many good chicken rice stalls but Boon Teng Chicken Rice Eating House is, in my view, the best. It has served patrons across three generations and is a popular eating outlet that has been frequented by my family for many years. It was established in the late 1970s. It has perfected the dish and is definitely the ultimate specialist of Hainanese chicken rice. With the support of regular, loyal customers and its competent food, it has now branched out to have quite a number of branches all over Singapore.

As an ardent supporter of Boon Teng chicken rice, the outlet that I like to frequent is the Beach Road Branch. It used to be a run-down coffeeshop with tables and chairs and a stall that served the food. With an enterprising boss and the making of perpetual profits, it has been enlarged and its interior has been refurbished to become a cosy eating house. Laminated newspapers articles adorn its walls with pictures of famous pop stars and singers photographs with the boss of the eating outlet and a bar counter at the side displays a collection of liquor and beverages. The tables are all covered with a clean table cloth and the red-velvet chairs are comfortable to sit on. A staircase at the side of the restaurant bring customers to the second storey where there are more seating spaces.

At the entrance, there will be a captain waiting to serve the customers and to bring them to the cleared tables. During peak hours, it is not uncommon to see snake-like queues of patrons waiting patiently outside the restaurant. Food is served quickly but the undeterred customers sometimes have to wait for up to an hour before they get to enjoy the scrumptious food as the restaurant usually runs at full capacity. The waiters hardly take a breather. They who usually work there for many years give their personal touch by going about their duties, communicating through smiles, nods and hand signals. Frequent customers are easily recognised by the waiters who receive the added privilege of being addressed by name and having their favourite dishes served without placing an order. Most customers normally leave after tucking in to make room for the those waiting outside.

The aromatic scents from the store always make one hungry. What have attracted these people to come is the delectable cuisine. Boon Teng never compromises on freshness and quality. No one can resist the rich smell of the fragrant chicken rice served with fat, juicy white steamed chicken. The ginger sauce and chilli sauce add to the zing of the experience. The flavour and texture of the chicken is fabulous. This is their signature dish that customers swear by. Besides this irresistable, must-have dish, the restaurant also serves a number of tze-char dishes that add oomph to the whole dining experience. My favourite is the deep-fried tofu which is a dish our family always orders. It is crispy on the outside and melts in your mouth on the inside. I also love the three-colored spinach as well. Cooked with salted egg, the pungent century egg and chicken broth, this dish is surprisingly delightful in taste.

To me, Boon Teng always gives me the satisfying experience and feels like home. Diners munch their food amidst sounds of chattering voices, chuckling laughter and the clanking cultery. Whenever we are there, we behave like we would at home – joking and taunting one another. Every mouth is a burst of umami goodness and all of us love to have the juicy drumsticks and have to draw lots to see who is the lucky one of the day. We always celebrate our birthdays here and after a hearty meal, we leave, looking forward to the next meal.

At Boon Teng, the restaurant never sleeps. Even deep into the night, diners with a craving can drive there for a great supper where the restaurant becomes more quiet and conducive for some good catch-up. The shutters are never down and when peak hours come, the frenzy of activities begins again.