Move over salted egg yolk. The next poultry craze could well be chicken skin.
Once a discarded part of the chicken, it is now easy to order a bowl of fried chicken skin almost anywhere you go. Even local fast food chicken joint 4Fingers recently teamed up with chef Bjorn Shen for the Skinnies ($4), crunchy chicken skin marinated overnight with a mix of spices, served with the Dip ($2).
Yes, it is bad for you and moderation is key, but how do you resist such crisp deliciousness?
And here's a plus point if you're hooked on this trend.
It is - for now - still inexpensive. Get it while it is cheap!
Alter Ego
Address: #01-13D, Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue, 039802
Telephone: 6327-9301
Opening hours: Mondays to Thursdays, noon to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm; Fridays, noon to 3pm, 5pm to 1am; Saturdays, 11am to 1am; Sundays, 11am to 11pm
If you like a touch of heat with your chicken skin ($8), the Alter Ego version will satisfy. It is spicy and aromatic, and so crispy that it crackles with each bite.
Uma Uma Millenia Walk
Address: #02-06, Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, 039596
Telephone: 6837-0827
Opening hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 11.30am to 10.30pm; Fridays and Saturdays, 11.30am to midnight; Sundays 11.30am to 10pm
Trust a yakotori place to do chicken skin well. The chicken skin ($3) at Uma Uma may look loaded with sauce, but it maintains its crispiness.
Mat Noh & Rose Chicken Rice
Address: 91 Whampoa Drive #01-27 Whampoa Makan Place, 320091
Telephone: 8400-2206
Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 8am to 3pm
Mat Noh & Rose Chicken Rice is a crowd puller at Whampoa Makan Place. They open at 8am but by the time lunch swings around, they are usually already out of chicken skin ($1 a portion, $2 for takeaway). The skin is marinated in hand-pounded ginger and garlic, then deep fried. And for extra oomph, ask for extra ginger and garlic as a topping.
Ponggol Nasi Lemak
Address: 371 Jalan Besar, #01-01, 208998
Telephone: 6293-0020
Opening hours: Fridays to Wednesdays, noon to 11pm
One of the most popular side dishes at Ponggol Nasi Lemak Jalan Besar branch is the chicken skin ($1.50 a portion, $4.70 a tub). only limited portions are sold because it takes forever to prepare this: Fat is removed from under the skin before it is triple-fried, then tossed with a mix of kicap manis, black pepper, curry leaves and local spices. The result is a dish that makes you happy to ditch your diet.
Tomo Izakaya
Address: 3A River Valley Road, 01-14, 179020
Telephone: 6333-0100
Opening Hours: Sundays to Thursdays, noon to 1am; Friday and Saturday, noon to 3am
Tomo Izakaya offers a whole range of alcohol, so it's not a surprise that they've recently introduced Crispy Chicken Skin with Ponzu Sauce ($5) to its menu. The zest from the yuzu should cut away any sort of grease from the skin, a crunchy treat which should enhance your drinking experience.
Book a meal at Alter Ego with Chope.
