If you're a bit older, you might have heard of paper-wrapped chicken.
If you haven't, then you might want to check out Union Chee Pow Kai at Jurong East Street 24.
Facebook user Milton Wee posted about the hawker on July 9 with this rather interesting tidbit: Chee Pow Kai used to operate on a farm in Singapore "with live chickens running around the back of their shop".
Milton Wee/Facebook
According to Miss Tam Chiak, the dish was created in Singapore after the first generation owner was given the idea by a Hong Kong singer.
Union Chee Pow Kai sells its paper-wrapped chicken at the following prices:
- Five pieces: S$10
- 10 pieces: S$20
- 20 pieces: S$38
- 40 pieces: S$75
The chicken meat is marinated with a savoury sauce that contains ginger and garlic for a couple of days. It is then wrapped in paper and deep fried. Because it is deep fried, the outside of the chicken is caramelised while the interior of the chicken remains juicy.
Milton Wee/Facebook
Milton Wee/Facebook
If you're interested in making it yourself, The MeatMen has a recipe that you can follow.
The Straits Times said that Union Chee Pow Kai used to operate as a chicken farm in the 1950s and 60s.
It used to be called Union Farm Eating House. It became a full-fledge restaurant in the 1970s after the farm closed.
For those who want a heavy dose of nostalgia, Remember Singapore has some old photos of the restaurant when it used to be at Clementi.
The restaurant closed in February 2012 after it had to return the land to the Singapore Institute of Management, opening several months later at Clementi.
The Clementi eatery was closed in 2017. Now, it appears that the business has popped up in Jurong East.
Union Chee Pow Kai
Address: Blk 262 Jurong East Street 24, Singapore 600262
Contact: 8282 8806 (call or WhatsApp)
Opening Hours: Thursday - Sunday, 12pm until sold out
Top images via Milton Wee/Facebook