At Hainan Chicken House in Sunset Park, this family-run gem serves up tender Hainanese chicken alongside creative Malaysian dishes and tempting weekend specials.
"Hainan Chicken House won an Eater Award in 2023 for the restaurant where we’d most want to be regulars. This family-run spot serves plenty of iterations of its Hainan chicken namesake — it’s particularly known for a Malaysian rendition with rice balls. But the menu excels beyond chicken: Go for the curry laksa and always ask about daily specials." - Robert Sietsema, Erika Adams
"Hainan Chicken House specializes in Malaysian-style Hainan chicken and features an evolving specials menu. The restaurant is known for its comforting dishes and innovative menu items, creating a satisfying dining experience." - Eater Staff
"Hainan Chicken House specializes in perfect Hainanese chicken, served wrapped up in a big square of butcher paper to evoke the feeling of a hawker stall. The whole chickens dangling in the window of this restaurant in Sunset Park, and the decorative wall tiles showcasing different chicken breeds should get you in the mood for their namesake dish. Make sure there's an order of their excellent curry laksa and the schmaltzy Hainanese chicken liver mousse on your table, too. On weekends, they rotate through worthwhile specials like Singapore Chili Crab—so pay attention to the whiteboard behind the counter." - neha talreja, carina finn koeppicus, bryan kim
"When Chris Low opened Hainan Chicken House with his family in Sunset Park earlier this year, the idea was to offer its namesake poached chicken. In the process, the casual Malaysian spot has become known to fans for some of the city’s most exciting specials — from rose chiffon cake with lychee-champagne jam to yellowtail fish curry and mussels in a curry broth with roti. The latest is rojak, a fruit salad that will debut on the menu this weekend, with Low’s twist: Here, it’s studded with pawpaw." - Emma Orlow
"Most places that specialize in Hainanese chicken and rice stick to the basics: flavorful poached chicken and chicken-flavored rice. But at Hainan Chicken House, a modern Malaysian cafe with wall tiles illustrating different chicken breeds, there are three different options—a perfect rendition of the traditional dish, as well as roast or fried chicken versions. The fried option comes with unflavored rice, an egg and a coconut curry that we’d happily drink like soup. Weekend specials, like Singapore Chili Crab, are worth planning your day around. " - Carina Finn Koeppicus, Bryan Kim
