The Hainan Story – 5-in-1 Concept with Wee Nam Kee, Ah Chiang’s Porridge & Newspaper Curry Rice at Hillion Mall

3 December 2020 Gwendolyn

Opened on 1 December 2020, The Hainan Story 海南宝 is a 5-in-1 multi-brand Hainanese restaurant at Hillion Mall, Bukit Panjang. The interior of the outlet is replicated to resemble the look and feel of traditional Hainanese enclave in the past. Similarly, the Hainanese dishes served are local heritage food that both young and old generations would enjoy.

The five concepts that can be found here are The Hainan Story, Newspaper Curry Rice, Uncle Robert Western, Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice and Ah Chiang’s Traditional Porridge.

Begin the day with the classic bulletproof coffee – Kopi C (coffee with milk) (Hot: $2, Cold: $2.60) or Kopi O (black coffee) (Hot: $1.60, Cold: $2.20) – while not forgetting to add in a slice of butter $0.60 for a creamy mouthfeel.

Complete your breakfast or tea break experience with the Home-Made Gula Melaka Kaya & Cold Butter ($1.80 A La Carte), which features fluffy buns sandwiching a thick slab of butter and sweet gula melaka kaya.

The Signature Newspaper Curry Rice is an interesting combination of both British (pork chop) and Peranakan (curry chicken, chap chye and babi pongteh) cuisine into a singular dish – Mama Wee’s Hainanese Curry Chicken Drumstick Set $7.80. Besides the reasonable price point, the portion is generous and ingredients are flavoursome. The curry sauce is spicy and not too coconut-y, and the homemade sambal has the fiery kick too.

You can also choose to have it with the braised pork belly instead of the chicken drumstick by ordering the Mama Wee’s Hainanese ‘Kou Rou’ Set $8.80. Both meats are really tender but the braised pork belly stole the limelight for its amazing texture and delicious gravy.

At Uncle Robert Western, there are the Old English Oxtail Stew $18.80 and 1980’s Hainanese Fried Pork Cutlet Coated with Potato Chips Crumbs $14.80 on the menu for meat lovers. The latter surprises us with a huge piece of fried pork loin cutlet coated in potato chip crumbs and unique Yogurt Rojak and Zesty Alabama White BBQ sauce (choose one sauce). Unfortunately, the meat is too tough and dry to our liking.

While Ah Chiang’s Porridge’s Mixed Pork Porridge $9.50 (including two sides and ‘you tiao’) seems pricy, it is rather worth it for the taste. The porridge is palatable on its own and comes with ingredients like pork balls, sliced meat and pig intestines. The pork balls, especially, are handmade and extremely tender.