Sin Tong Kee - the first "Bagus Makan Place" in Japan

While I was living in Singapore in the mid 1990s, I became addictive of the Singaporean hawker foods. Whenever I had time, I went to hawker centers, food courts and small eateries to try their diverse delicacies. That was the time when first internet providers started their hosting services. I started my first internet site "Gourmet Paradise Singapore" and dedicated it to delicious Singaporean foods.

Within a year I uploaded reports on more than 100 small eateries and stalls and got to know Singaporean friends through the site. One of them Thian also started his food site "Makan time in Singapore" and we had intensive exchange of information on the topic of food. When I came back to Japan, I decided to close down my Singapore food site, so as to switch to a new theme Japan, Thian regret it and took up the articles on eateries for chicken rice and banana leaf curry on his site. So, a part of my first internet site still exists there together with the articles written by Tian Khean, also a good friend of mine and my good teacher for the Singaporean food world. (My short introduction to the essence of Japanese food also exists there.)

Recently, I checked the possibility of eating Singaporean food in Japan in "Makan Time in Singapore" and found an entry by Boon San Chia in October 2005;

For people who miss Singapore Food when in Japan, check out the newly opened Singapore Restaurant serving Hainanese Chicken Rice, Laksa and Bak Kut Teh and many more. This restaurant was opened by a Singaporean who has worked in Tokyo for 16 years and now with her passion for Singapore cuisine, she had decided to quit her job and open a Singapore Cuisine Restaurant. Try the food there and it is as original as what you found here in Singapore.

The delicious chicken rice of Sin Tong Kee - looks yummy!

Ota ota

Laksa

Snow pea sprouts

When I came back from Singapore in 1996, there was no Singaporean restaurant or eatery in Tokyo and I was forced to cook Hainanese chicken rice myself, whenever I wanted to eat it. Then, if I am not mistaken, the first chicken rice restaurant opened in the year 2000 and there exist now four groups of restaurants - Singapore Seafood Republic, Hainanchifan, Hainan Jeefan Shokudo and Mu-Hung - which serve Hainanese chicken rice. I tried chicken rice in all of them, but I was not much convinced: I can cook chicken rice better than any of them!

Sin Tong Kee, however, appeared to be reliable in securing authenticity and quality, because it was opened by a determined Singaporean lady. In addition, it was acknowledged by the Singaporean Tourism Board as the first "Bagus Makan Place" the most authentic Singaporean food in Japan.

Sin Tong Kee fully came up to my and my family's expectations.

Sin Tong Kee is located only a few minutes' walk from the Ebisu JR station and its entrance faces the platform of Ebisu. However, its location is far from the bustle of the station and intimately quiet.

The interior of Sin Tong Kee - some 30 people can dine here.

We were very much impressed by the diversity of menu in addition to its beautiful printing - the Tourism Board must support he restaurant. We could find there not only chicken rice, but also bak kut tee, fish head curry, herbal chicken, Hokkien mee and many others. Everything was on the menu. Maybe, except for ice kachang! Ice kachang might be on the menu in summer time.

We ordered carrot cake, ota ota, Hainanese chicken rice, laksa and sautéed snow pea sprouts. All dishes were characteristically seasoned and tasted excellent. Chicken rice was marvellous. It is surely the best in Japan and I believe it belongs to a few best chicken rice dishes available in Singapore. Chicken was cooked soft enough, but kept at the same time delicious meat juice as well as delicate and smooth texture of chicken meat. Rice fully absorbed chicken broth and was soft and light. Of course, three kinds of sauce - home made chili and garlic-ginger sauce and dark soy sauce - were served. Simply speaking, we were enchanted and charmed by the chicken rice of Sin Tong Kee.

Other dishes were also excellent. I would recommend everybody who has lived in Singapore to visit Sin Tong Kee. They can rediscover there the pleasure of eating in the best Singaporean restaurants, which they were privileged to experience during their stay in the clean and tidy tropical island.

Electric display at the stairs leading to the entrance of Sin Tong Kee.

2010.3.9

Sing Tong Kee

Sin Tong Kee - the first "Bagus Makan Place" in Japan