I have always said in my previous posts that when it comes to Chicken Briyani, the version that ABC Indian-Muslim restaurant makes is my preferred recipe for the dish. That is until I discovered this new food gem that serves a delectable Chicken Briyani that hits the right taste and flavor that my palate prefers.
Earlier today, I planned to go to Serangoon Garden to have my lunch however the whole place was temporarily shut down because of an ongoing improvement to the place. I wasn't aware that there was this scheduled halt in the operation of the stalls. It was disappointing but I had to move on and find another place to eat. The nearby food court was also temporarily closed for the same reason as the Serangoon Garden.
As I moved further across the next street which is Kensington Park Road I found the R.K. Eating House. The ground level was occupied by the South Indian Muslim Food stall. I was intrigued by the South Indian cuisine part of it that's why I decided to dine here.
According to a quick search that I did on the internet, it's said that South Indian cuisine is heavily influenced by rice and coconut. It's also expected that the dishes will be "more" moist than the North Indian version of it. That alone made me feel excited about what I'm gonna get from this place.
And so I ordered the Deep Fried Chicken Briyani with Iced Lemon Tea!
I was impressed with the presentation of the dish because it was neat. It may not be the best way to of presentation but it certainly did a better job compared to the rest of the Briyani stalls that I've dined in.
For this lunch, I chose the deep-fried version because the curry sauce is put in a separate bowl and it will be up to my preference on the amount of curry that I mix with my food. Also, I'm a big fan of deep-fried chicken, the crispy skin that is dipped in a curry that is glistening with fat and tastes like a dish that is a "match made in heaven".
I think this is a "Westernized" version of a Chicken Briyani which I think is good, I liked it.
To start the meal, I set aside the bowl and then placed the fried chicken on the plate and scooped some Basmati rice on the plate. For me, this is a much better experience than eating a Briyani. In some places, they lump everything in a big plate or tray which makes me feel overwhelmed by the look of it.
The first item that I tasted was the Basmati rice and almost instantly, I tasted the difference between the ones that I tried before. This version of Briyani is moist and buttery. It's more flavorful and the coconut flavor is a defining factor of it. The rice alone is a dish by itself. There are moments that I find myself just eating the rice without the need for the curry and the protein, it is amazing!
Other side dishes came along with this set which were the Apalam, the potato curry, the curry sauce, and then the deep-fried chicken. I tried to mix and match them in a spoonful of bites to try the flavor combinations, it's all good!
It was a fully loaded meal and I was surprised that finished almost all of it. I wonder how am I able to fit all of these in my stomach even though this serving can be good for 2 persons, lol.
In total, it costs me S$11 which is not bad considering the quality of the presentation of the taste is a much better version of what I used to know as the standard of a Briyani dish.
I will come back to this place to try the other dishes that they offer. Before I left the place, I was looking at the Chicken Tikka Masala because it was enticing on the display.
They also have snacks and sweet treats that I wish to try on my next visit.
The place may look like a typical food center vibe but the food that they offer goes beyond it. I don't think that it's a franchise or a chain of branches because it feels like it's run by a family. The waiters are very welcoming as well and they take time to explain to the customers regarding the food. They even entertain the requests of the customers which is a good service that you may not experience in the other places.
The R.K. Eating House is located at the corner of Farleigh Avenue and Kensington Park Road, it's also near the Serangoon Garden Circus.
My journey to the world of food.
