Xander C.
Yelp
A wandering sage once said, "I'm crazy for chicken rice!"
since those wise words were spoken, I've lived my life striving for the ideals represented by that quote. and it is in that spirit that now I must deliver this heavy message: Boon Tong Kee is only ok.
since emotions are sure to fly high at this declaration of mediocrity against this populist favorite, let me break this down as objectively and deliberately as possible:
chicken (dark meat) - the dark meat was delicious, but then again it's dark meat, which is always delicious. one thing that sets Boon Tong Kee apart is that the meat has been deboned, excepting the leg. that's a huge plus for this lazy ABC.
chicken (white meat) - drier than expected, this was a bit of a let down as it looks perfect, but is clearly not as tender as my front runner for chicken rice and baseline for comparisons, Tian Tian
chicken (skin) - not gelatinous enough, this was also a disappointment. whereas the skin on tian tian is good enough to eat on it's own and gets even better when eaten with the meat, the skin here definitely adds to the meat flavor and texture but can not stand on its own.
chicken rice - very aromatic and flarvorful without being oily, and they even serve it in a pyramid. I was quite happy with the quality of the rice here, but i would have to give a slight edge to Tian Tian, who's rice is slightly more fragrant and has better texture as well.
other factors - no chicken innards is a "no good" from me. the place is air conditioned which is a huge plus relative to typical hawker center fare.