Hamzah AlsagoffI seldom gush when it comes to food but after what we just shared as a family that we tapao'ed or packed for dinner I feel compel to. Ok a little backstory first. The familiar name of Rex stopped us in our walk and search for food along Changi Road. When the food stalls behind Joo Chait Complex were mostly closed we decided to take a walk to look for other options. Now for us who grew up from a time when halal food options not native to us were scarce and rare, Rex is one of the early Hainanese origin food institutions that we not only are familiar with but it is synonymous with a much anticipated special treat our moms used to either buy back for home or the family will make a special trip — mind you it was via bus and walk and not the more convenient grab and book means of today — as a celebratory destination. Ask any Malay or Muslim kid and they know this. Of course their chicken rice so authentic — the Hainanese style was so sedap and unfamiliar but never failed to hit the soulfood spot in all of us back then — was Rex's signature that everyone loved, along with its unforgettable Ngoh Hiang and dishes. But today, with the buzz of fans with all sorts of claims and info, no one could really pin point exactly where the OG went to from its original location. I believe this at Changi — with its wall littered with archived photos of old original Rex — is it. Still, the real litmus test is in the... food. And here's where I gush. We just had chicken rice the day before so to my wife and I, who remember Rex's famous chicken rice too well, it is a given that it should be authentically Hainanese true and true. The other unforgettable offering is the Ngoh Hiang. I took one bite of its memorable sedap soft meaty fillings that I remember well but have been craving and I'm transported back to being a kid being treated by my umi. Thank you, Rex. While waiting for our food to be prepared at the restaurant we smelled the beautifully mouthwatering burned aroma of the wok hey wafting from the kitchen and when we tucked into the Beef Hor Fun during dinner frankly I didn't want to share it with the family. It is so damn good. So is the fried rice. And the plate of kangkong belacan so well balanced with chopped garlics lingering in it. The whole family unanimously asked if they do delivery as we wanted it in our goto must have list. We can't want to try the rest of the still affordably-priced menu 🫶🏻
GK TWe have regularly patronised their Mackenzie Rex outlet at Changi over some 3 years already until the owner told us that they hv opened a new outlet which was some blocks down the road. So we decided to try the new outlet. You get to see their Brand Story on the wall. This is the 3rd-generation running the 2 outlets. We ordered half Roasted Chicken. Must be some kampung chicken with good firm meat. The skin — thinly crisped and you can taste its marinating spices. The dark brown sauce was served separately and this sauce gives me the taste of the chicken rice I grew up with. This is not the sesame-oiled version if chicken rice. We also order crispy baby squids —- the crunch is deafeningly delicious. The veggies —fresh and stir-fried with wok-hei-ness. The sliced beef stir-fried with lots of onions is so tender yet retaining its spicy marinated sauce. Overall we were so satisfied with our dinner. UPDATE: more dishes to try tonight: hot plate beancurd, tauge with salted fish and muifan! Just cooked right which is not so oily, not so salty and ingredients are fresh!
Bryan Chihanopened a few months ago by the people behind MacKenzie Rex Restaurant, the food is as every bit insanely fine. Overall not too oily and taste is amazing. Roasted Chicken was juicy and succulent, with crispy skin. The rice was chicken rice style, definitely cooked together with the broth. Only thing is, rice was just a teensy bit drier than expected, but it was still good. The fried sotong (squid) was really crunchy and nice, and the baby kailan with a nice bite and right amount of sauces. The treat was the Sambal Beef, with the flavor so amazing. And the sambal isn't the typical sambal with shrimp, but really nice to drown the rice in, or eat with the beef. Overall, staff were attentive and the food was amazing. reason for editing: girlfriend caught my spelling errors.
