How Chatterbox Cafe Gets Its Chicken Rice Just Right

One of my favorite classic Singaporean dishes is the Hainanese Chicken Rice. Of course, nasi lemak, chili crab, satay, and bak ku teh are also on the list, but somehow a meal in Singapore never feels complete without the chicken rice.  There's something about the simple combination of tender chicken, fragrant rice, and dipping sauces that keeps me coming back to it.  

In the Lion City, the 55-year-old Chatterbox is known for its Mandarin Chicken Rice, named as such because as per my research, the dish takes its name from the hotel where the restaurant was founded in 1971, the Mandarin Singapore, now known as the Hilton Singapore Orchard.   

Thanks to the year-old Chatterbox Cafe at SM Aura, diners in Manila don’t need to book a flight to Singapore when a craving for authentic chicken rice and other Singaporean fare strikes. The founders of Chatterbox Singapore, I was told, wanted to bring the flavors of authentic Singaporean hawker comfort food to a more comfortable dining setting. The Manila branch carries the same vision. 

“Food is central to our identity, so we strictly follow the franchise’s recipes and standard procedures,” says the Chatterbox Cafe Manila’s general manager, who requested anonymity. He admits it’s sometimes a challenge to source certain ingredients locally, which meant removing some items from the menu.  

“What we’ve adapted is the Filipino hospitality around the dining experience, from how we celebrate birthdays to how we show respect for elders and make gatherings more meaningful,” he adds.  

We know that chicken rice has two main components: chicken and rice. In an interview with Executive Class’ David Celdran, Chatterbox Singapore Executive Chef Liew Tian Heong says he can distinguish Chatterbox’s chicken rice from that of other restaurants by the rice alone. “The fragrance of the rice always comes first. [Here at Chatterbox], you can eat without chicken, only the rice,” he says, adding that their version of chicken rice is neither wet nor oily. 

If you think the chicken is boiled, think again. Liew explains that the chicken is steamed at a low temperature over an extended period, resulting in tender, juicy meat. 

Preparing the chicken rice also takes more than simply throwing all the ingredients into a pot and letting them cook. Each ingredient is added at a specific time to build the dish’s flavor. 

“We start with the first ingredient, then maybe after 10 to 20 minutes, we’ll add the second one. And then we add the third ingredient after five to 10 minutes. There is a proper sequence,” says Liew. 

Meanwhile, the Singaporean chef of Chatterbox Cafe in Manila stresses the importance of getting the temperature and timing right to prevent the chicken from overcooking. They also put a premium on using fresh ingredients. “We don’t use frozen chicken. We only use fresh,” he tells this writer. This means sourcing chicken only from farms that can meet the restaurant’s requirements. As for the essential mixes, sauces, and formulations, the Manila branch strictly follows the franchise’s standards and sources these from Singapore. Suffice it to say, Chatterbox’s Mandarin Chicken Rice hit the spot.  

If chicken rice isn’t quite your thing, that’s okay too, because there’s plenty more to enjoy at Chatterbox Cafe. During our visit, we tried the Lemon Butter Tiger Prawns, which we couldn’t get enough of. The prawns were plump, juicy, and flavorful. The White Pepper Bak Ku Teh was another highlight, with pork ribs so tender the meat falls right off the bone. The general manager explains that they don’t serve the herbal version of Bak Ku Teh, which is popular in Singapore, and honestly, I don’t mind. The garlicky, peppery soup I had this cafe is the best I’ve tasted in recent months. We also had the Seafood Hor Fun and its new offering, the Beef Rendang. 

For dessert, we had the Coconut Ice Cream, which I’d consider a must-have, especially if you’ve had your fill of rendang. Its cool, refreshing flavor makes for a welcome finish to a hearty meal. 

Chatterbox Cafe is located on the second level of SM Aura Premier.

ALSO READ

This Private Dining Spot in Silang, Cavite Makes a Strong Case for Chicharonillo

Carmen’s Best Founder on What Makes a Great Ice Cream

The Seafood Restaurant Jorge Araneta Wanted for Araneta City