Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice - Charcoal-Fired, Michelin-Approved

There are hawker stalls that feed you, and then there are hawker stalls that stay with you. Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice at Chinatown Complex is firmly in the second category — a Michelin Bib Gourmand legend that has been firing up claypots since 1979, building a fanbase so loyal they’ll happily wait 45 minutes for a single pot of rice. If that doesn’t tell you everything about how good this place is, nothing will.

Mixed Claypot Rice — $8 small / $10 medium / $15 large / $20 XL

The star of the show, and the reason queues stretch past table after table every single evening, is the Mixed Claypot Rice. This is not your average one-dish meal. Each pot is built from scratch — rice is first steamed over a gas flame for five minutes before being transferred onto a blazing charcoal fire for a minimum of 25 minutes, where the real magic happens. That charcoal heat draws out a smoky depth that no rice cooker on earth can replicate, resulting in grains that are fluffy at the centre but kissed with a gloriously crispy, slightly charred crust at the bottom of the pot — what seasoned claypot lovers live for.

Loaded with generous chunks of tender chicken, sweet lap cheong (Chinese sausage), silvers of salted fish, and a scattering of greens, the pot arrives at the table scorching hot and absolutely fragrant. The ritual of drizzling on the house dark soya sauce and shallot oil — watching it sizzle against the hot clay — is part of the experience. Mix it all through and every spoonful delivers a punch of smoky, savoury, slightly sweet goodness that is deeply comforting. Portion sizes scale from $8 for an individual serve all the way to $20 for a group, making it easy to share or go solo depending on the craving.

Sausage Claypot Rice — From $8

For those who want to zero in on the full sweetness of lap cheong without distraction, the Sausage Claypot Rice is a solid choice. The Chinese sausages here are soft and juicy with a gently caramelised quality from the charcoal heat, their natural sweetness seeping into the rice underneath. It’s a simpler but equally satisfying order that lets the quality of the cooking method shine through without the complexity of the mixed version.

Chicken Claypot Rice — From $8

The Chicken Claypot Rice puts the spotlight on the meat, and Lian He Ben Ji’s chicken is worth the attention. Marinated and slow-cooked inside the clay vessel, the pieces emerge tender, juicy, and lightly seasoned — never dry, never bland. The charcoal-infused rice beneath soaks up the chicken’s natural juices during cooking, making even the grains at the bottom of the pot something to fight over.

Double-Boiled Soups — From $2.50

An underrated side to the claypot rice experience, Lian He Ben Ji also serves a rotating selection of double-boiled soups that pair beautifully with the richness of the rice. Options include Watercress Pork Rib Soup, Lotus Root Pork Rib Soup, Chicken Leg Peanut Soup, Old Cucumber Pork Rib Soup, and Black Chicken Herbal Soup. The Lotus Root Pork Rib Soup in particular is a standout — light, clean, and subtly herbal, with fork-tender pork ribs and thick slices of lotus root. At just $2.50, it is extraordinary value and the perfect companion to cut through the heartiness of the rice.

What makes Lian He Ben Ji more than just a great meal is the story behind the stall. Founded in 1979, the business was passed down from its founder to his daughter-in-law, Mdm Lim Siew Lee, who first started tending these very charcoal flames at just 16 years old. Today, she runs the stall alongside her sisters and cousins — an all-women operation that regulars affectionately call “Three Sisters’ Claypot Rice.” The fact that this team juggles 18 charcoal stoves simultaneously, managing a full house of waiting customers night after night, is a feat that deserves as much admiration as the food itself. Their refusal to take shortcuts — no pre-cooking, no gas-only methods, no compromises — is exactly why the Michelin Guide keeps coming back.

If there is one claypot rice experience in Singapore that deserves a spot on every food bucket list, this is it. Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice is a rare combination of heritage, technique, and sheer flavour that is increasingly hard to find in a modernising hawker landscape. Call ahead to place your order, arrive hungry, and settle in — because a pot of rice this good is worth every minute of the wait.

Address: Blk 335 Smith Street, #02-198/199, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Contact: +65 6227 2470
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday, Friday to Sunday — 4:30pm to 10:30pm | Closed on Thursdays