Food, Lifestyle, Travel & Photography: Chen Fu Ji Fried Rice 陈福记

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Chen Fu Ji Fried Rice 陈福记

Chen Fu Ji had its genesis in Chinatown in the 1950s, when a small shop run by a woman and her two daughters made famous the Gold Plated Fried Rice. The recipe is said to have been passed down from ancient China. The daughters were hired by a Japanese to work at his restaurant on Erskine Road in 1992 but the brand was soon sold to Mr Koh.

Chen Fu Ji Fried Rice 陈福记

The wooden long bench and table with white walls made the interior simple and clean, giving a cozy environment. For larger groups of diners, they have round tables to accommodate them.

Dining Interior

The business used to be run by 2 sisters who helmed the wok for over 40 years and had decided to retire and let go of their business due to health. They started selling fried rice from $3 to $25 a plate with continuous customer flow but also paid their youth and health for it. Due to long-standing hours, the elder sister was hunched back and her waist was crooked while the younger sister had her hands soaked for long hours thus her nails were damaged and she often felt pain.

History of Chen Fu Ji

The Lemon Grass Home Made Drink tasted different with the use of Rock Bee Candy. Rock Bee Candy is the only alkaline sugar among all sugars. It can neutralize the acidity of food, optimize the taste and adjust the acid-base balance of the human body without destroying human immunity.

Lemon Grass Home Made with Rock Bee Candy 自制香茅石峰糖 - $3.80 / Glass

There was a promotion on the premium Japanese Breaded Oysters. Love the Breaded exterior of the oysters and this seafood tasted yummy with some lime juice over them as well as dabbing them into the given chilli.

Premium Japanese Breaded Oyster - $14.80+ (8 Pieces)

While many said that Chen Fu Ji Fried Rice was passe and taken over by KOFR, I would say that their fried rice is still reputable and live up to its name. Their Ultimate Fried rice was said to be a recipe from 1400 years ago.

It was served on an elegant plate with Thai rice decked up in the shape of a bowl. Indeed, the fried rice did not disappoint. It was topped with freshly peeled crab meat adorned with a stalk of coriander and orchid. Ingredients like Char Siew, Spring Onion, Soy Sauce, Sea Prawn and Fresh Egg were distinctly tasted and seen. Best of all, it is flavourful and not greasy.

It's not exaggerating but it is considered one of the best fried rice I have ever tasted apart from the popular DTF Egg Fried Rice. At one glance at the menu, the price might turn one off but considering the ingredients used, it would be said to be on the reasonable side.

CFJ Ultimate Fried Rice 陈福记终极炒饭 - $25

It's not my usual bowl of Sliced Fish Soup. The snakehead fish is very potent for healing from surgeries and injuries. The soup is sweet and tasty.

Sliced Fish Soup 生鱼片汤

We often had Pan Fried Baby Kai Lan with minced garlic but their kind of execution makes use of ginger stripes which I find rather refreshing on top of the crunchy bites from the vegetables.

Panfried Baby Kai Lan 清炒小芥蓝

We had the egg roll as an appetizer. These Bouncy fish cakes are wrapped with egg and sliced into pieces with Japanese cucumber inserted in between

Egg Roll 蛋卷 - $4

Hints of buttery creamy broth with the Male Crab weighing about 400g immersed in the claypot soaked with White Bee Hoon. The Whiff of aroma had lured our appetite. The soup had a taste of Chinese cabbage, evaporated milk, garlic and butter.

Crab Bee Hoon Broth - Male 400g - $25+

The taste of crustacean was simply fresh with no foul smell. The only pet peeve was that we could have plump and juicer meat if bigger crabs were used but it was unavailable at the time of the visit.

Crab

Claw from the Crustacean

The eyes pleasing presentation stole my attention from the other dishes on the table. These Pan-Fried homemade skinless and boneless diced chicken was delectable with their homemade Gongbao Sauce fried with onions, spring onions, and cashew nuts.