Singaporean Flavors at Boon Tong Kee

Real Singaporean flavors and probably the best Crispy Cereal Prawns in the metro...now you don't need to travel far for authentic Singaporean dishes. You can find it all at Boon Tong Kee.

Boon Tong Key's story begins way back in 1979, starting as a small chicken rice stall in Singapore's Chinatown. Inspired by the stall's success, owner Thian Boon Hua then opened his first full service restaurant at Balestier Road in 1983. Since then, Boon Tong Kee has expanded to seven branches in Singapore, with a growing presence in Thailand and Indonesia. And Boon Tong Kee's Singaporean flavors have now reached Manila.

With three branches in the metro and a fourth opening soon, there's bound to be one near you. Behind the tireless efforts of entrepreneurs Joy and Michael Rodriguez, Boon Tong Kee opened its first international branch at the SM Mall of Asia in 2012, and quickly followed this with two more locations. Diners are assured of authentic flavors and quality similar to the dishes served in the Singapore chain, a result of months of training by Joy and her staff in Singapore. Here's a peek at some of Boon Tong Kee's signature Singaporean dishes...

Crispy Beancurd with Green Tea Mayo, fried tofu with a crispy outer layer and soft center, served with a unique green tea mayo dip. The green tea mayo adds a unique and creamy layer of flavor, definitely different. Light with subtle flavors, and a great starter.

Prawn Toast, another tasty starter with flavorful prawn on a crisp piece of toast. Delicate bite-sized treats yet big on flavor, great with tea or a cold beer. And like all good things, it's a race to grab the last piece...

Braised Pork Belly served with steamed buns, tender slices of pork braised for hours with a thick and sweet sauce. The pork belly is deliciously tender, and the sauce rounds out the flavors. Grab some of Boon Tong Kee's buns and a piece of pork belly, add some of the shredded vegetables and that thick sauce and take a big bite...and repeat the process.

Poached Chinese Spinach with Assorted Eggs, including century eggs and duck eggs. The rich dish is a blend of three different eggs combined with spinach and topped with crispy dilis, a flavorful medley of textures.

Fried Sambal Kangkong with Squid, another flavorful combo of seafood and vegetables with a rich and mildly spicy sambal sauce.

This. Boon Tong Kee's Signature Boiled Chicken, the dish that started in a small stall in Singapore's Chinatown almost 34 years ago, and the Boon Tong Kee name would forever be associated with the classic Singaporean Chicken Rice dish. Tender with subtle yet rich flavors, this is definitely a must try at Boon Tong Kee.

Pair it with Boon Tong Kee's Chicken Rice, and you have an authentic Singaporean meal.

Fried Spare Ribs with Zhen Jiang Sauce, tender pork with a sweet glaze. The flavor of the zhen jiang sauce covers each bite, blending well with the tender pork.

And no meal at Boon Tong Kee would be complete without their signature Crispy Cereal Prawns, and like I said earlier, probably the best in the metro.

Deliciously crispy in each and every bite, the crisp layer of floss-like cereal does not overwhelm the subtle flavor of the prawns. A perfect balance of flavor and texture, and another must try at Boon Tong Kee.

If you're looking for a different kind of fried rice, try the Sambal Fried Rice, topped with shrimps, peanuts and vegetables with the distinct and mildly spicy sambal flavor.

Cream Cheese Prawns, served with fried buns, and one of Boon Tong Kee's newest dishes. Like an east-west fusion of flavors, the richness of the cream cheese complements the mild sweetness of the prawns for another interesting flavor combo. Tasty, and definitely different.

Crispy Roast Chicken, another familiar dish with comforting flavors, tender chicken with a crisp layer of skin in a sweet soy glaze. Great as is, even better with steamed rice.

Stir-Fried Lotus Plant with Vegetables, a unique vegetable dish topped with scallions and peanuts. It was my first time to try lotus plant, which has a surprisingly pleasant crunch, almost like a fresh cucumber with a mildly sweet flavor.

Birthday Noodles, a rich dish of seafood and vegetables over noodles. The sauce, almost like a soup, provide the flavor base of the dish, and very different from the usual noodle dishes.

Coffee Pork Ribs, slow roasted pork ribs coated with a coffee marinade. An interesting blend of flavors, with the distinct sharpness of coffee blending well with the mild flavor of the pork.

For dessert, Boon Tong Kee offers a refreshing Sago Gula Melaka (L) and Mango Taho (R), both winners and a great way to cap a meal at Boon Tong Kee. Boon Tong Kee's rich flavors, ranging from comfortingly familiar to refreshing new flavors, all capture the uniqueness and authenticity of Singaporean cuisine for one memorable ding experience.

Real Singaporean flavors, great food and service, Boon Tong Kee has it all. Special thanks to (L-R) Miguel Aranas, Marketing Manager; and owners Joy and Michael Rodriguez for an awesome Singaporean dinner.

Boon Tong Kee is located at 310 Tomas Morato Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City (beside Burgoo and near ABS-CBN) or call 332-5692 for inquiries and reservations.

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