Union Farm Eating House

Making the best of a bad situation, Chia Sek Hoong closed up his unprofitable chicken farm on Clementi Road and, with a secret recipe acquired from a famous Chinese opera singer, launched a restaurant in its place in 1962. Nearly 50 years on, the Chias are still pulling in punters wanting to savour their renowned zi bao ji – a chicken dish that was once served wrapped in newspaper. These small parcels of steamed chicken, rice wine, ginger and undisclosed secret herbs and sauces have intoxicated many a food reviewer over the years (their articles line the eatery’s walls), and continue to do so now. The tender morsels – wrapped in old newspaper – come in batches of six, to a towering 60. Other local temptations include the crispy home-made cuttlefish balls and ginsenginfused chicken soup.