Jin Wee Restaurant

Wow, i like the soup and the chicken. Yummy

Among the fancy shophouses in the same row, Jin Wee seems to be the only one that is quaintly frozen in time. The nostalgic signboard, wall and floor tiles of the 1960s, and the old-school retractable metal gates are all characteristic of its long heritage in Siglap. Not so quietly, this old Hainanese "restaurant" has been around for almost 60 years now, and its business is still very much thriving. If you ask me, there are two items everyone should not miss on the menu — the Jiao Hua Ji (a.k.a. Beggar's Chicken) and the fish head steamboat. There are good reasons why I pay this non-aircon restaurant a visit every week for the Beggar's Chicken. It is probably not an addiction but definitely a tickling craving that kicks in every weekend. Jin Wee's Beggar's Chicken is actually different from the original version where the chicken will be wrapped in lotus leaves and covered with a layer of clay, before it's sent into a hot oven to bake on low heat over charcoal fire for hours. Their rendition of this classic dish is contained in a dark-coloured ceramic pot covered with aluminium foil, and baked in a huge ceramic vat over charcoal fire. The result: Silky smooth chicken that smells so good, with intense umami flavours that are enhanced by Chinese medicinal herbs. And the chicken is so tender that it will easily flower into shreds, when you poke your fork into it. You would typically find two large shitake mushrooms and some deep-fried fish maw in this dish too. But recently, they have replaced the deep-fried fish maw with deep-fried pig's skin due to supply issues. This dish is good on its own to me, but some may prefer to eat it with steamed white rice. The fish head steamboat is also a protagonist there. The soup's so flavourfully umami from the crushed deep-fried dried sole fish (tee poh), and has a hint of Chinese medicinal herbs. And it's sweetened by the Chinese cabbage and soft yam pieces added to it. Fish is fresh and tender, which is one reason why the soup is so good. Other great dishes include the dry-panfried prawns in sweet dark soy sauce and french beans stir-fried with chilli padi and pounded dried shrimps. Their fabled Hainanese pork chops are good too, but I usually won't crave for that. Although I won't say that all the dishes there are epic, this is definitely one of my go-to places for delicious and reasonably priced zi-char comfort food. But just a note: if you are heading down for the Beggar's Chicken for dinner, remember to call and place your order in the early afternoon, if not earlier. And fyi, the dish is only available from 2.30pm onwards, except for Wednesdays, on which they are closed.

Dishes for 2. Pork chops was delicious, potatoes were good. Beef was average though. Overall was excellent though we were disappointed to able to get the soups. Soups are pre ordered a day before your visit, remember !

Authentic hainanese coffeeshop with decent priced zichar along Siglap. Worth the trip to eat side. Fish charcoaled steamboat with sizable fish meat and light refreshing broth. Bitter gourd fried egg very homely. Hainanese pork chop is great with just nice tomato sauce....homemade lime juice is superb too. will definitely return for more.

Nice place for a good plate of hor fan and reasonable price. Be prepare to wait if you visit during lunch/dinner time. Take away incurred additional 20¢, unless you bring your own container.