I used to go to Hawker Chan at Tai Seng quite often. Not because it was especially good, but because I was around that area a lot, and after a while it just became a habit. Whenever I was hungry, I’d go there. Whenever I couldn’t decide what to eat, I’d go there too. Sometimes I would just pass by the MRT station, see the red signboard, and naturally walk in. I usually ordered the soy sauce chicken rice, sometimes with char siu. The place always looked more or less the same: roasted meats hanging behind the glass, the air filled with that slightly sweet soy sauce smell, the air-conditioning a little too cold. After eating there so many times, I never really thought it was amazing. It was just one of those places that made you think, “Yeah, it’s alright.” But for some reason, I kept going back. Then one day, I passed through Tai Seng and realized it had closed down. The signboard was gone, and another restaurant had taken its place. I stood outside for a moment, looking in, and suddenly felt something strange. It wasn’t an important place. It wasn’t even my favorite restaurant. But when it disappeared, it felt like a small part of my old life had disappeared with it. Later on, I went to Chinatown and ate at Hawker Chan again. The place was still crowded, and the Michelin articles were still pasted on the walls. I ordered the same familiar dishes, and honestly, they tasted more or less the same. But halfway through the meal, I suddenly realized that maybe what I missed was never really the soy sauce chicken rice. What I missed was the person I used to be the version of me who would often go to Tai Seng. For more food reviews disguised as life reflections, follow my IG : @Johnnykuochung

The soy sauce chicken lives up to the Michelin reputation, juicy, succulent and flavourful. Recommended to have the noodles which is cooked nicely al dente and status up the sauce instead of the rice. The char Siew and roast meat is soft and melt in your mouth too. Only small negative is the cramped back to back seating. Overall recommended!

Good roasted chicken rice, but it wasn't amazing. While the chicken was tender, the rice itself wasn't very fragrant, and the noodles didn't have great depth of flavor. Service was fast. Prices were very reasonable. Good to try as the original hawker stall to receive Michelin recognition, but won't come back.

Nice plate of soy sauce chicken noodles at affordable price of $4. Chicken is very tender and flavorful. Surprised that they are selling soy sauce chicken rice at $3.50 as you can rarely find a meal at this price these days. Long queue but clear quite fast. Overall good experience.

Honestly super disappointed, especially for a place with a Michelin/Bib whatever award. I ordered 油鸡腿饭 ($6), but after paying I realised the price became $7.80. That was my mistake for not checking properly before paying, so I won’t fully blame them for that. But when I checked what they were preparing, I realised they gave me noodles instead of rice. Since they already started cooking, they said cannot refund. Fine. Then I asked if I could at least change the yellow noodles to hor fun because I don’t eat yellow noodles and hor fun was literally one of the selectable options. The staff still said cannot and just continued serving the yellow noodles anyway. Already “suck thumb” at that point and hoped at least the chicken would be good. But the chicken was another disappointment. 80% bones, 10% meat 10% skin. Barely anything to eat. For almost $8, this honestly felt like a joke. Wrong order, inflexible service, and poor food quality. Really don’t understand the hype.