How To Eat at the World’s Cheapest Michelin-Starred Restaurant

Want to eat at the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore? All you need is a bit of information and about ten bucks.

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Image from Trip Advisor under Creative Commons licensing

How much does it cost to eat at a Michelin-star restaurant? $100? $1000? Both are distinct possibilities at Michelin-rated properties around the world. But there’s one under-the-radar spot where phenomenal cuisine can be enjoyed for pocket change. For the price of riding the bus, you can eat at the world's cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Singapore’s Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (yes, that is the full name!) It has the distinction of being not only the cheapest Michelin star-rated restaurant in the world, but also the first hawker centre or street food vendor so honoured. And best of all - you don’t need a reservation!

​Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Food Worth Travelling For

Image from Trip Advisor under Creative Commons licensing

Chef Chan Hon Meng is the passion and skill behind the award-winning Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle. Chef Chan grew up in Malaysia on his family’s farm and moved to Singapore for work when he was just 15 years old. He apprenticed with a chef from Hong Kong and started developing the recipe for soya sauce chicken. In 2009, he opened his stall, and by 2016, Michelin came calling.

Every day, with Chef Chan and his wife Irene still at the helm of operations, Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle serves up their namesake soya sauce chicken with rice or noodles. Rumour has it that some ingredients in Chef Chan’s succulent soya sauce-based braising liquid include Chinese angelica root, cloves, coriander seed, and star anise. But no one can say for sure! 
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Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle also makes roasted pork rice, leafy greens cooked in oyster sauce, Thai-style tofu, and many other savoury mains and sides. Chances are your meal will cost less than $10 US.

How To Eat At Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle

As the address indicates (335 Smith St,  #02-126 Chinatown Complex Market and Food Center, Singapore 050335), Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle is a stall within a food hall known as a hawker centre. 

While hawker centres can be a bit of a labyrinth, you’ll be able to find Liao Fan even if you don’t have the full address. Just look for the line! The stall opens at 10:30 am, and the line starts well before that. By mid-day, it can take 2 hours or more just to reach the front! And once the beloved soya sauce chicken is gone – it’s gone. 
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I highly recommend visiting no later than 10:00 am to join the line early in the day and have an early-ish lunch around 11:00. It’s the most memorable meal you’ll have in Singapore and the perfect way to spend your time during a layover. Note that the stall is closed on Wednesdays.

A Nearby Alternative

If the timing doesn’t work out or if they’re sold out at the hawker stall, don’t despair. Chef Chan also operates a small sit-down restaurant by the same name (but better known as “Hawker Chan’s”) at 78 Smith St. It’s not *the* Liao Fan, but it’s relatively close to the taste of the original. This location has extended hours, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm (closed on Wednesday). 
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Singapore’s hawker centres are famous for their great food and frugal prices. If, for any reason, you can’t make it to Liao Fan and eat at a different centre instead, don’t beat yourself up too much. Singapore’s hawker cuisine is amazing no matter where you are. 

What To Do In The Area

St Gregory the Illuminator church. Image from Wikipedia under Creative Commons licensing

Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle is well worth the time and effort, and if you did nothing else in the area, eating here would be enough. But there are many underrated attractions, all within a 5-12 minute walk. To see a different side of Singapore, consider exploring these sites.

The Singapore City Gallery is near the food stalls and has interesting temporary exhibits. It’s run by the Urban Redevelopment Authority and tells the story of Singapore’s development over the past 50 years. It opens at 9:00 am, and it’s perfect if you’re arriving in Singapore after an overnight flight and heading towards Liao Fan bright and early in the morning. (45 Maxwell Road, The URA Centre, Singapore 069118)

The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum is home to a giant stupa weighing 7,700 lbs and made from over 700 lbs of gold, most of which was donated by devotees. To view the relic, you’ll have to enter the public viewing area, as the relic chamber itself is reserved for monks. Also included are the Buddhist Culture Museum, Eminent Sangha Museum, Sacred Light Hall, and a theatre for cultural performances. (288 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058840) 

A short 20-minute walk away are two of Singapore’s most interesting churches. St Gregory the Illuminator (also known as the Armenian Church) is Singapore’s oldest and smallest church. It also has the distinction of being the first building in Singapore to gain electricity. Singapore’s once sizable Armenian community included notable figures such as the Sarkies brothers, who built the Raffles Hotel. While there is no Armenian congregation to speak of anymore, a small Coptic Orthodox community still has occasional services. There’s also a special connection to Ireland here. Irish architect George D. Coleman designed the church, which is considered his masterpiece. You can visit each day starting at 10:00 am (60 Hill Street, Singapore 179366)

Nearby, St Andrew’s Cathedral is the city’s largest church. A church has been on the site since 1836. Today, St Andrew’s is just as much about modernity as history, as the church has a cafe on-site with WiFi and affordable food (just in case you need to eat more!) 45 minute free tours are offered on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Fridays at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm. (Layover travellers, make note: The church is next to City Hall metro station. If you’re taking the metro to Liao Fan’s nearest stop, Outram Park, exploring the neighbourhood on foot, and then going to another metro to catch a ride back to the airport, St Andrew’s is a good stopping point.) (11 St Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178959).

While there’s nothing wrong with sticking to the beaten path when exploring Singapore, the city has so much more to offer than just layover-friendly bus tours. A visit to Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle will make you fall in love with everything Singapore offers!

If you're planning a trip to Singapore, these posts will help!

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