You’ve probably had moments where you stuck to the same safe meals, avoiding anything too unfamiliar. Maybe it started in childhood, when pickiness felt easier than adventure. The years pass, and suddenly you realise how much you’ve missed. But at some point, you start asking yourself: "Why avoid something just because it’s different?"
That’s where I’m at now, slowly pushing myself to try more. Perhaps you’ve been there too, skipping a local dish because you’re afraid to try something new (raise your hand if this is painfully familiar). My first experience with chicken rice from a hawker stall didn’t quite win me over. So when I was asked to try Chatterbox, I was hesitant. Still, the idea of trying a polished version of local favourites felt worth a shot. Who knows: maybe this would be the moment I finally “got” it, and maybe it could be the same for you.
To begin with, we started with the iconic Mandarin Chicken Rice, and you can immediately tell it isn’t the same as the hawker version. The chicken was boneless and glistening.... yadda yadda, you get the point. To be fair, everyone talks about the chicken rice yet somehow we never talk abut the other dishes Chatterbox offers.
Such as the Lobster Laksa, a dish with its fiery colour and strong aromas. The broth is rich with the coconut milk, creamy yet not overwhelming, spiced just enough to warm rather than sting. Within it, thick vermicelli noodles soak up every drop of flavour, while chunks of Boston lobster give the dish an indulgent heartiness.
Furthermore, the Seafood Hokkien Mee feels more chaotic, but in a way that makes sense once you taste it. Yellow noodles tangled with thick bee hoon, with prawns and squid nestled between the noodles, while slices of pork belly adds an intensity of tenderness. After that was Crispy Salted Egg Chicken Wings, the curry leaves and chilli padi adds fragrance and heat, cutting through the richness of the dish. For those who adore salted egg dishes, this would no doubt be addictive, but for someone like me, it is a little too excessive. Still, I can appreciate the harmony of textures and flavours that made it such a popular choice.
Of course, no meal is complete without a dessert; a collection of Peranakan kueh rounds off the experience on a nostalgic note. The set comes with eight pieces with two of each flavour included. From the honeycomb-like sarang semut and the soft, pastel-pink sago bandung to the rich pulut bingka and the caramelised kuih bingka. Each piece carries a different consistency and taste that feels both homely and celebratory.
And maybe this is the heart of Chatterbox’s legacy. For nearly five decades, it has managed to keep its doors open by doing more than just perfecting recipes. It has created a space where local food is lionised and reimagined, a bridge between familiarity and refinement. To some, it may be nostalgia on a plate; to others, like me, it can be an introduction, a gentle push into a world of flavours I might never have tried on my own. It reminded me that food is not just about filling hunger, but about opening yourself to experiences, allowing them to surprise you, and maybe even change you in ways you didn’t expect.
Chatterbox is located at 333 Orchard Rd, #05-03 Hilton, Singapore 238867 and 26 Sentosa Gateway, #02-207 Resorts World Sentosa, 098138
