Mr Hainan VivoCity Review: Surprisingly Good Chicken Rice in Singapore

Chicken rice is one of those things in Singapore that everyone is so opinionated about. Heck most of us probably already have our “usual place” be it Tian Tian, Boon Tong Kee, Wee Nam Kee or even that ‘secret’ hawker stall located in some obscure place in the heartlands. So when I first stumbled upon MR. HAINAN at VivoCity I’ll be honest, I didn’t have high expectations.

The place seemed refined and new; it definitely did not have that charm and familiarity that the bigger chicken rice names had. I walked in there with my reservations intact, expecting just another mediocre mall chicken rice place selling their dishes at inflated prices.

Boy was I wrong. I left there satisfied.

Admittedly it isn’t the most affordable chicken rice meal you can get. But the quality blew me away to the point that I would visit again if I’m ever around the VivoCity area looking for Hainanese chicken rice.

First Impressions of Mr Hainan at VivoCity

The first impression I got was from the interior of the restaurant. They have this modern take on a Hainanese rest inspired interior with wood accents, rattan baskets and dimmer lights. Chicken rice shops are EVERYWHERE around Singapore but most of them feel more fast paced to just grab your food and go. This place actually felt like you can comfortably have a sit down meal.

Upon arrival there was already a snaking crowd outside the restaurant. Honestly that was the initial indicator that maybe they’re onto something here.

You can also tell they want to push the angle of it being Hainan-inspired through their branding and setup. They want you to know that it’s legit Hainanese chicken rice but somehow just a tad nicer than your average chill food court stall.

Didn’t feel like it loses the charm of being family-friendly and great for shoppers to grab some eats. But the ambiance is cleaner.

Their Chicken Was Surprisingly Good

I got the chicken (of course), as I’m sure anyone who enters a Hainanese chicken rice restaurant would expect.

The plate that turned my opinion around almost instantly.

The skin on the chicken had the smooth jelly texture that quality Hainanese chicken is known for. It wasn’t oily, but soft and shiny like silk. The meat was juicy and tender as well, particularly around the thighs.

So often at chicken rice places you either get dry meat from being overcooked, or meat that’s been sitting out too long and feels dry. That wasn’t the case at Mr Hainan. Every piece of chicken still felt moist and full of flavor, rather than dried out from reheating.

This may be one of my favorite things about the dish, but it was also pleasing to the eye. Instead of chopped chicken served on basic white dishes, it was elevated. Literally elevated on a woven basket stand. It just felt more upscale, like what you’d get at a sit down restaurant.

The Rice Was One of the Highlights

Honestly the rice may have won me over even more than the chicken itself.

Chicken rice is only as good as the rice it’s served with. Some places take shortcuts with the rice because they focus too much on their chicken. Clearly rice was important here.

The rice was fragrant with garlic and chicken stock but not oily. Every grain of rice stayed separate and fluffy instead of clumped together.

You know they’re using good rice.

I also appreciated that they didn’t make it too salty or oily. Some chicken rice places serve rice that you feel like you can taste sodium lapsing down your esophagus. Mr Hainan’s seemed light but still tasty enough to eat by itself.

Speaking of the rice…I tried ordering just white rice to see how that was and it was good too!

It may sound weird to compliment plain rice but when you have such a simple dish like chicken rice good rice really makes a difference.

If you’re a carb-loaded kinda person you’ll dig this.

The Chili and Garlic Sauce Were Excellent

Chicken rice is something that can go either way depending on the sauces provided.

Luckily the sauces were great.

The chili sauce was fresh tasting with the right amount of kick to help balance out the heaviness of the chicken skin. It also wasn’t too sour which some places in Singapore tend to do.

The garlic sauce was also delicious.

It gave a nice punchy savouriness which went very well with both the chicken and rice. I found myself dipping everything into both sauces at some point because they complimented different aspects of the dish so much.

Best part was that the sauces actually made the meal.

The Pork Ribs Were Better Than Expected

In addition to the chicken, I also sampled the pork ribs.

Deep caramelization with a nice glaze covered the outside of the ribs. The meat had a nice balance of sweet and savory without sacrificing tenderness. Far from being an afterthought side dish. The chicken is what draws you there, but the ribs were a nice departure and proof that the kitchen knows how to cook other things right as well.

Portion Sizes Are a Little Small

The thing I didn’t like about it was the serving size. Don’t get me wrong the food itself was good. It was just that the servings were a little on the small side compared to the prices that they are charging. If you are eating with bigger appetites/families you will likely need to order more dishes to fill everyone up. The quality of the chicken itself was good but not a large portion at all. Their rice bowls were pretty small too. Still this seems to be pretty typical these days at mall restaurants in Singapore/VivoCity.

Pricing: Not Cheap, But Understandable for VivoCity

Total damage was about SGD $68. For the half chicken, rice, and pork ribs.

Cheap? No way.

But factoring in VivoCity location/restaurant ambiance and food quality, prices were quite reasonable. This is NOT trying to be hawkers centre chicken rice. It falls somewhere into the nice/casual restaurant or high end local food. You’re paying for convenience/seating/atmosphere/plating/neater execution.

Service and Dining Experience

Service wise, the flow during my visit was seamless.

Staff were quick and efficient and food also arrived rather quickly considering how busy the place was.

Ambiance wise, the restaurant was also clean and organised. Tables were spaced out nicely so you don’t feel too cramped when eating. (Which helps a lot during peak lunch/dinner time!) As many restaurants in VivoCity can get pretty rowdy since it’s such a large congregation of locals, tourists and families. Mr Hainan thankfully still allowed for a relatively chill dining experience.

Is Mr Hainan Better Than Famous Chicken Rice Brands?

OK, this is probably THE question.

I would never say Mr Hainan beats out legendary chicken rice establishments in Singapore. Hawker institutions tend to have a lot of character and are usually cheaper too.

But I do honestly believe Mr Hainan is WAY better than most people would anticipate from an eaterie housed in a shopping mall.

The chicken was actually quite good.

So was the rice.

The sauces were memorable.

And everything about it just felt…refined.

In some ways, it felt like modern Singapore trying to preserve some of our classics by packaging it into something more sleek for the younger generation and tourists.

Who Should Try Mr Hainan?

I believe this place will particularly appeal to:

Families doing their shopping at VivoCity

Seats are comfortable and clean. Wouldn’t mind spending some time here eating comfortably with family.

Tourists looking for a safer and comfortable alternative for local food

Many tourists are not too keen on walking around crowded hawker centres right off the bat. Mr Hainan will probably give you a much friendlier experience while trying Hainanese chicken rice for the first time.

Individuals who craving for chicken rice near HarbourFront

If you are hanging around HarbourFront/Sentosa/VivoCity area and are craving some good ol’ chicken rice. Trust me, this is a good choice.

What I Would Order Next Time

Funny thing is I didn’t expect much going there but after eating I’d like to go back and try more dishes.

If I had to guess, next time I’ll get:

• Soups
• Fish
• More sides
• Other Hainanese dishes

It was good enough that now I’m interested in trying other items on the menu.

That says something right there.

Getting to Mr Hainan

Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-116 VivoCity, Singapore 098585

Final Verdict

Mr Hainan at VivoCity turned out to be one of those satisfying surprises.

Walked in with low expectations because not many people have heard of the place, but they serve really good food. The chicken was soft, skin silky smooth like jelly, the rice smelled good and appeared to be made with fragrance rice, sauces complemented the dish perfectly.

Yes the servings are a tad small and prices are slightly steep. However if you are looking for a good comfortable dining experience at VivoCity, I believe they offer decent value for your dollar.

Will I go back?

Yes I would.

Hmm..particularly if I’m at the VivoCity vicinity, craving for chicken rice. Next time I’m definitely ordering their soup and fish dishes as well.