Thursday, January 22, 2009

World's Best 海南雞飯 (Hainan Chicken Rice) - Savoy

I've had Hainan Chicken in the US, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Macau. I can tell you honesty, that the Best Hainan Chicken is from this little hole-in-the-wall in Alhambra - Savoy Kitchen. It's funny, i've been to Savoy dozens of times, though I have never ordered anything else. Nothing else matters. I've had friends in Taiwan tell me that Savoy's Hainan Chicken is the best in the world as well. We would order 10 at a time and have a little feast.

Hainan Chicken is a dish that is common in Malay and Singaporing Cuisines. Hainan Chicken is prepared with the chicken boiled in a chicken/pork broth. Another chicken broth is used to prepare the flavorful rice. There is a ginger and spicy sauce accompanied with the meal. Soy sauce is also available.

What makes Savoy a cut above others is the consistency in the rice and the boneless chicken. Most places that I've been to, overseas included, the rice is too oily and the chick might be too tough. Savoy's is just right tender and not too oily. The rice is just right.

I should also note, that the Hainan Chicken in the Hardrock cafe in Hong Kong, Kowloon side is also very good. If I see a Hainan Chicken on a menu. . anywhere. .I might be tempted to order it - just because I know what to expect.

Savoy Kitchen
138 E Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 308-9535
Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.



Savoy Kitchen on Urbanspoon
Posted by The Thirsty Pig at 12:37 PM
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14 comments:

  1. have you tried the Vietnamese version of Haina"M" chicken? say at .. Pho Ga? or Pho Le Loi (temporarily closed but..). They use Vikon chicken and uses nuoc mam for the sauce.. Quite interesting.
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  2. I've never tried it, but I'd love to. i will look it up. Sounds interesting.
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  3. I don't think Savoy's hainan chicken is the best in the world at all. But is the standard for hainan chicken in LA. I would even dare say there are better places for hainan chicken on valley blvd, but remain unknown b/c ppl tend to go to Savoy when they want hainan chicken.

    I also like Savoy's other dishes and their refillable iced tea. Actually, now that I think about it, Savoy's hainan chicken is pretty much average, but i do like their ginger sauce very much. And that pretty much why i order the hainan chicken, so i can eat the ginger sauce. ha ha ha
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  4. the chicken itself at savoy is nothing special. it's chicken boiled in broth and spices. can't really do too much with that. what makes the dish here is not only the ginger & green onion oil (it's not a sauce) but the rice and the orange sauce. i've made hainan chicken myself and can duplicate the chicken and the oil but can't come close to the rice. and i have not idea about the orange sauce. i've had this dish all over the world except at its birthplace and savoy is right up there with the best.
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  5. I disagree with you. Not sure where you went in Hong Kong for Hainan Chicken. But as far as I know, Grand Hyatt and Oriental Mandarine served the best Hainan Chicken in HK.

    As far as I know, from all review that I read, the best Hainan chicken is in Singapore Grand Hyatt.

    Hey, who am I to judge, we all have different taste. Whatever suit you!
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  6. Hmm. .. Next time I am in Hong Kong, I will try the Grand Hyatt's. . .I've had the Mandarin Oriental before - and yes, it is quite good.

    I have yet to visit Singapore - but when I do, I will make a note to try the Hainan at the Grand Hyatt there, as well.

    thanks
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  7. I've always been a big fan of hainan chicken rice! But ever since I moved to US, I've been having trouble looking for good hainan chicken rice. After reading your review for Savoy, I went and tried it...and it was really good! Way way better than all the others I've had in US~
    Wouldn't say it's the best in the world though. If you ever get a chance to go to Penang, Malaysia... make sure you visit this restaurant called 大肥羅海南雞飯... 那才真的是世界第一啊~ Y(^.^)
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  8. Wow...would be great if there was an actual recipe of this here...
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  9. It sounds strange that you are gathering to talk about the "best" hainanese chicken in the world while most of you have never tried it in Singapore or Malaysia - hawker versions. So I have tried souther BBQ in New York and San Francisco but never in Texas, KC or South Carolina, and I can tell you the best BBQ is at a hole in the wall place in upper west side ... pointless.
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  10. 'I've had Hainan Chicken in the US, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Macau'.

    Dude, honestly, you haven't had Hainanese Chicken Rice. This is a dish cooked up by the Hainanese in Singapore/Malaysia.

    It's hilarious because it's like declaring some foreign place the best place to have sushi when you have never eaten it in Japan.

    Or some other place the best place to have American hotdogs when you have never eaten it in the States.

    I have had Hainan chicken rice overseas too, it's hard and bland because they made it the cantonese style of boiled chicken with plain old white rice.

    Jimmy boy, I recommend you a place in Singapore - Boon Tong Kee, google it up!
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  11. I understand everyone has the right to their own opinion but declaring Savoy to be "World's best" is naive at best.

    My personal best experience of Hainan Chicken Rice was back in Singapore. While Savoy's version is decent, the fact is that Savoy serves it Hong Kong style. Compared to the various meals I had in Singapore, Savoy's version is light on sesame oil and mild on chilli spice...

    Savoy is a contender for LA's Best. As for World's best Hainan Chicken Rice, I think not.
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  12. TO ALL CHICKEN RICE LOVERS, PLS TRY CHYE KEE HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE!!!

    VENUE: BLK 226F ANG MO KIO AVE 1 #01-697 S'PORE 566226

    MUST TRY!!!
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  13. Hainan chicken rice in savoy sucks. I live two miles from it. The chicken quality is rough and lacks chicken taste since they are caged american fat chicken. The rice is mediocre and the sauce is mediocre. Even mien ngha in rosemead is better and cheaper.

    However, being a hk native, all the hainan chicken places ive had are better. Better sauce, stronger chicken oil in rice with different levels of flavours, waaaaaay better chicken. Have you only tried ones from fast food? You need to go to restaurants that specialises in hainan chicken rice and you will see that savoy is absolute crap compared to asia. Any singaporean would tell you savoy is incomparable to hainan chicken in singapore.....
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  14. I am going there for dinner tonight!
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