Foodies have flocked to Singapore food courts for the fantastic cuisine, mouth-watering smells, and reasonable prices for many, many years.
Now they can flock to Flushing.
Richard Chan, who became famous in the dining world via his Yummy Tummy Asian Bistro in Murray Hill, opened Sin Kee in Queens Crossing Mall on Jan. 22.
The restaurant features modern spins on classic “hawker” fare with such menu items at Hainanese Chicken, Oyster Omelet, and Teochew Braised Duck, which is slow-cooked in an aromatic combination of dark soy sauce, Shaoxing and Huatio cooking wines, cardamom, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and star anise.
Those craving something unique can order SKJZ, deep-fried jiao-zi dumplings filled with spicy Malaysian curry chicken or sweet-and-savory Taiwanese braised pork belly, or SK Bacon Bites, deep-fried chunks of bacon topped with SK Umami Powder (a blend of curry, galangal, seaweed, and secret spices), and served with Chan’s famous chili crab sauce.
The menu includes Chai Tow Kueh, a radish cake stir-fried with eggs and pork lard, and Kaya Toast, a breakfast staple slathered with butter and sweet coconut jam. There are also tributes to the hawker fare of Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Chan immigrated from Singapore to the United States in the early 1980s and worked as a travel agent for several decades. He never lost his passion for food, though, and opened Yummy Tummy in 2018. It had a serious following, but closed during the Covid pandemic.
Sin Kee is on the first floor at Queens Crossing, whose entrance is at 136-20 38th Ave. The venue features a merlion, a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish that’s the national mascot of Singapore. The replica entertains customers amid wood tones and colorful wall treatments with text like “Durian Permitted” and “No Chewing Gum” that playfully reference Singapore’s strict quality-of-life laws.
Regular hours are 11:30 am to 9 pm, but Chan plans to start opening at 8 am for breakfast sometime this month. Check the website for the exact date.
Images: Queens Tourism Council Official Foodie Joe DiStefano