Roost Review: Deep-fried Chicken Rice Balls And Chicken Rice Sushi At Orchard

Asian food was extremely hard to find and when we finally came across a rare Chinese joint, food was much too pricey. Since I’ve been home, I’ve grown to appreciate the flavours of the simple components that make up the dish, from the fragrant rice and chicken doused in sauce, to the ginger and chilli condiments. Food at Roost For starters, we got a platter of Chicken Sushi ($4.90++) .

A slice of their signature soya sauce chicken sat on top of a neatly moulded base of chicken rice and garlic bits, glazed with teriyaki sauce. This tasted just like chicken rice and the garnish of fried ginger, shallots, and spring onions pleasantly lifted the flavour of the dish with their aromas. Another popular sharing plate we were curious to try was their Crispy Chicken Rice Balls ($4.90++) .

The crunchy and light batter was a delightful contrast to the soft insides that weren’t too dry. Compared to the Chicken Sushi, these Crispy Chicken Rice Balls had a deeper taste, which was probably from chicken stock.

Highlighting the tasty morsels was the house-made chilli sauce that added a spicy and sour tinge. If you’re like me, you’ll be glad to know that their Yin Yang Chicken Rice ($8.90++) set has both poached and soya sauce chicken.

The chicken slices looked silky and tender, and glistened enticingly from the sauce. The succulent meat tore apart easily, and was flavoured by two kinds of thick sauce — one for each type of chicken.

Under the poached chicken was light soya sauce that was saltier, while under the soya sauce chicken was a herbal sauce that was darker, sweeter, and thicker. Despite appearing dry, the chicken was quite tender as it was prepared sous vide.

The rice tasted less greasy and heavy with chicken stock as compared to what I’m used to. As a dish, this chicken rice set was less oily and lighter than those at typical hawker stalls.

Ambience at Roost Roost is located in the basement of The Centrepoint, making it convenient for casual meals with friends. The restaurant is large and has tables that cater to various group sizes, making it suitable for families and groups.

The verdict To me, a good plate of chicken rice is straightforward and simple. It needs tender chicken meat, fragrant rice, spicy chilli, and a side of ginger. It’s a place I would bring my foreign friends or even my family to as the healthier mains have lighter flavours that would appeal to the palates of the older generation.