Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice at Chinatown (联合本记砂煲饭)

I have been having bouts of claypot rice craving ever since Galen's mummy fed us some one Sunday evening. It was a long and hard day at work, and I had a very strong craving for claypot rice out of a sudden as I was leaving office. I decided to walk to Chinatown Complex at Smith Street in search of a good one.

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot occupies 2 stalls on the second storey of the Chinatown Complex market and hawker centre. Prices starts at $5 for claypot rice, and $2.50 for a bowl of double boiled soup. The typical waiting time for the claypot rice is 20 to 30 minutes, and up to 45 minutes during peak hours as everything is cooked from scratch in the claypot on a charcoal stove. It is a good thing that the store is located at a breezy corner of the hawker centre, so it was still a bearable wait though my tummy was grumbling and the craving was getting stronger by the second. You could call and order in advance, but surely the wait is also part of the experience right?

I ordered at around 7.35pm and my food arrived at around 8pm. Such happy, tantalising sight!

I looooooove soup, especially lotus root soup, so I ordered one as a reward for myself after a draining day at work. Nothing beats soup in comforting an old and weary soul. Okay, not that old and not that weary but I love soup. Oh okay, I’ve said that already. The lotus root soup was packed with lotus root slices and tender pork ribs that slipped right off the bones. The soup was homely, and did not taste like it was laden with MSG.

Many claypot rice stalls have taken shortcuts but Lian He Ben Ji Claypot promises that everything is cooked from scratch on the charcoal stove. The rice has a tinge of yellow and not as fluffy or white like what you get when you cook rice in a rice cooker. The chicken meat was well marinated and was tender and juicy. There was also a generous portion of lap cheong (Chinese sausage) and lap yok (Chinese preserved meat), and of course, salted fish which enhanced the flavour of the whole pot. Everything worked together so well like a wonderful spell.

I’m usually not a rice person, I would prefer noodles or pasta over rice any time, but I finished the entire pot of claypot rice on my own. It was so tasty, I considered ordering a second portion (I know right, I’m horrible.). I managed to stop myself only after (much) persuasion that I would definitely come back very soon, with my mother perhaps. I know she would definitely love this.

Singapore Food Blog Review by Kumory

☁☁☁☁☁/☁☁☁☁☁

Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice (联合本记砂煲饭)

#02-198/199,Blk 335 Smith Street Chinatown Complex Market Singapore 

5pm-10pm (Closed on Thursday)

62272470 (For orders in advance)

P/S: If you happen to crave for claypot rice during lunch time, you could pay a visit to Yuan Fa Claypot Rice located at Chinatown Complex market too. But I'll highly advise you to hold the craving til dinner time and wait for the claypot goodness at Lian He Ben Ji.