LOCATIONA short walk along Johnston Street from Hoddle or Smith Street.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAGet a feel for the charm of old Singapore at The Old Raffles Place, which is dedicated to preserving colonial favourites as well as offering hawker-style street food. The decor is a fair indication of how long this mainstay of the local restaurant scene has been around – faded newspaper clippings with vintage stories and photographs adorn the soft pink walls, and the red formica tables and bright lighting give it a slightly timeworn, canteen feel, but there is a relaxed ambience and it is still the food that draws people here.
Try the popular signature dish, Hainanese chicken – an acquired taste as the chicken is served just cooked through and tepid, but is tender and flavoursome with a wonderful texture. Ask for the chicken rice, which is steamed rice steeped in the chicken’s cooking juices. Otherwise dip your fingers into a traditional fish head curry, or opt for better known favourites such as the chicken curry laksa, hor fun rice noodles with egg sauce or char kwei teow. There is also an extensive assortment of sambals, hotpots and curries. Start off with the spicy ikan bilis to get the appetite going, although service is prompt, with meals arriving barely minutes after you order. There’s a small wine list or take advantage of the BYO policy to enjoy a wine to complement the spicy flavours.
Angela Costanzo