Mr Hainan brings authentic Hainanese chicken rice to VivoCity

It’s hard not to love Singapore’s beloved Hainanese chicken rice. But have you ever had it the way it is served in Hainan, China? The difference is striking — and just might change the way you think about this familiar dish.

Mr Hainan, a new Chinese restaurant located at VivoCity, has brought a true taste of Hainan to Singapore.

Here, the focus is on keeping dishes true to how they are enjoyed in Hainan — simple, fresh, and made with farm-grown ingredients. The result is food that feels lighter, cleaner, and refreshingly honest.

Hainan is home to four iconic dishes: Wenchang chicken, Jiaji duck, Hele crab, and Dongshan lamb — all showcasing the island’s best produce and culinary heritage.

At Mr Hainan, you get to sample some of these regional stars, lovingly prepared the traditional way.

Wenchang chicken and rice, the stars of the show

We all know and love our local chicken rice —featuring fragrant rice, dark soy sauce and a must with every plate: Chicken rice chilli sauce.

But Mr Hainan’s poached Hainan Wenchang chicken (from S$28.80) is an entirely different experience — and the care starts long before it reaches your plate.

The chickens are free-range for 120 days, which allows them to develop firm meat and natural flavour. For the final 60 days, they are fed a natural, antibiotic-free diet in a carefully managed environment, which helps to intensify their flavour.

What you get is meat that is juicy, yet lean, with just the right amount of delicate fattiness — a key part of what makes this dish special.

The dish is served with restraint: No soy sauce, cucumber, and yes, no chilli sauce. 

Instead, you are meant to savour the chicken as it is — clean and tender, with a natural sweetness.

Even the dipping sauce is kept light, with a gentle mix of minced ginger, garlic, and spring onion oil to give the meat a lift, without overpowering it.

The Wenchang chicken rice ($1.60) completes it. Made with old-crop rice — harvested in the previous season — the slightly drier grains absorb chicken broth fully, with every grain infused with flavour.

It is delicately fragrant, with each grain fluffy but firm, offering a texture reminiscent of well-prepared brown rice, but softer. 

It is light enough to pair effortlessly with other dishes, and flavourful enough to be enjoyed entirely on its own.

More Hainanese specialties

Another of the island’s four iconic dishes offered here is the Hainan Jiaji duck ($25.80) — and it’s a great dish for sharing.

The duck meat is tender with a satisfying chew, and it is paired with juicy pineapple cubes that bring a burst of sweetness and a hint of acidity.

Pair it with the Wenchang chicken rice for a well-rounded, comforting meal.

Another must-try is the threadfin with assam sauce and yellow lantern chilli ($29.90). The fish is steamed until just tender — its flesh soft and falls apart at the touch of your chopsticks.

One half is topped with Hainan’s fragrant yellow lantern chilli that brings a slightly spicy kick. The other half is bathed in a tangy assam sauce, with a sour and almost fruity note that cuts through the richness of the fish.

Personally, I couldn’t stop going back to the assam side. The combination of the tangy sauce with the delicate, silky flesh of the fish was quite addictive.

And here’s another fun try: you can also get assam juice (S$5.80) alongside your meal. It is light, tart, and refreshing — almost like a palate cleanser between bites.

The bold taste of the beverage surprised me at first, but it grew on me so quickly.

Mr Hainan’s food is comforting, and its casual setting alongside large, sharing portions makes it perfect for family meals or group gatherings.

If you’re a die-hard chicken rice fan, this is your chance to try it in its purest, most authentic form.

Grand opening deals

To celebrate its grand opening at VivoCity, here are some promotions to look out for:

• 50% off half Wenchang chicken (September 10 to 30, Mondays to Fridays)
• Unlimited refills of Wenchang chicken rice with every purchase of a rice bowl (daily, from now until September 30)

This was a hosted tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat, read on the harvest-to-table spread at Mandai’s Forage and filipino chain Shawarma Shack’s first outlet in Singapore.