3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice 海南鸡饭

"Nothing says, “Let’s keep this short and sweet,” like, “Hey, want to grab a meal at a basement food court?” Luckily, one bite of the Hainanese chicken rice at this Chinatown food stall is so good, your kind-of-a-friend will think you genuinely wanted to invite them to a good meal. Their signature dish comes with pieces of juicy poached bird, fluffy rice cooked in chicken fat, and a cup of comforting light broth. Make sure to use the accompanying chili, ginger, and soy sauces to add exciting flavor. If this chicken ends up stealing your attention, don’t worry, it’s even overshadowed our first-tier friends." - adrian kane, john ringor

"3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice is a stall in the Richland Center food court, located in the basement of the mall. Unsurprisingly, the reason to come here is for their specialty: Hainan chicken rice. The poached chicken is soft and chewy perfection, served atop rich rice that’s been flavored with chicken fat. It comes with three tasty sauces (chili, soy, and garlic) that should be used liberally, and a light chicken broth. We can’t think of a more comforting (or satisfying) way to spend $12.95." - adrian kane, john ringor

"Hainanese chicken rice isn’t very common in Chicago. But you can find an incredible version of this Chinese poached chicken dish (that’s very popular in Southeast Asia) at 3 Sauces. The slices of meat have hints of ginger and green onion embedded in every bite. The rice is cooked with juices from the chicken, making it flavorful enough to eat on its own, and the accompanying broth is light and fragrant. Everything is served on a neatly organized metal dish with the namesake three sauces (sambal, soy, and ginger), all of which complement the chicken." - john ringor, adrian kane

"If you’re avoiding work, your ex, or a mountain of laundry, the best place to dine solo is somewhere that’s not crowded, perhaps even underground. Enter 3 Sauces, a food stall in Chinatown’s Richland Center basement food court. This place is never too busy, so it’s perfect for eating in peace while enjoying some of the best Hainanese chicken in Chicago. The poached chicken has subtle ginger and scallion flavors and is complemented by a great line-up of soy, garlic, and chili sauces. Throw in the accompanying broth and pillowy rice cooked with chicken fat, and it’s the ideal respite from whatever you’re trying to escape." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru, josh barnett

"There’s not really a more efficient place to get a haircut, buy some pants, and grab a meal than the basement of Chinatown’s Richland Center. Despite its fairly small size, this underground food court/mall combo crams in a surprising number of great food stalls. 3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice is one of these, and their namesake dish is the main reason we descend into this subterranean oasis. Originally from China, Hainanese chicken rice—carefully poached slices of chicken on a bed of rice cooked in fat—has found popularity in many Southeast Asian countries. In Chicago, 3 Sauces is the only restaurant dedicating itself to this famous dish, with a short menu completely revolving around it. And this food stall’s concentrated effort pays off. photo credit: 3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice 3 Sauce’s chicken rice is sublime. The meat is buttery, with soft, chewy skin. Hints of ginger and scallion emanate from every juicy piece, like the palpable excitement of a Disney adult on a flight to Orlando. Three sauces are served on the side for additional flavor—sweet soy, ginger, and bright peppery chili sambal—so you can calibrate everything to taste. And the pillowy rice and comforting soup complement the chicken’s simplicity by adding richness and herbaceous flavor. They also have other variations on the chicken, like a fried, panko-crusted version or a noodle soup with a richer broth, both of which are fine. But the Hainanese chicken rice is the reason we go out of our way to spend time in a food court full of metal chairs, tables, and fans working overtime to add some ventilation. Ambience-wise, well, there is none. But when you’re spending quality time with the best Hainanese chicken rice in the city, it doesn’t matter. Food Rundown Crispy Shrimp Rolls Yes, we know, this isn’t chicken. But juicy pieces of shrimp in a crispy wrapper dipped in a spicy chili sauce are an ideal starter for the incoming chicken feast. photo credit: 3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice Hainam Chicken Rice This is why you’re here. Each pleasantly soft-yet-chewy piece of meat has an essence of ginger, scallion, and other herbs. And that flavor is enhanced when you season the chicken with chili, soy, and ginger sauces that add spice, sweetness, and tang. When eaten with spoonfuls of the light broth, and rich rice cooked with chicken fat, it's a comforting and filling $12 meal. photo credit: 3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice Fried-Nam Chicken Rice This version of chicken rice has a tasty, salty panko breading, but lacks the juiciness of the original dish. It does come with a tangy mayo and sweet chili sauce that we like, but we prefer the poached version. photo credit: 3 Sauces Hainam Chicken Rice Southeast Asian Chicken Noodle Soup The chicken is the same as the original dish, except this time it’s paired with light pho noodles, and a more robust broth with green onions, parsley, and a hint of lime. The added herbs and vegetables give the soup an enhanced flavor, making it a great alternative if you want to mix things up." - John Ringor