Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice: This Hawker Stall in Tiong Bahru Market May Have the Best in Hainanese Curry Rice in All of Singapore (But I Have a Realization)

You may known about Hainanese Chicken Rice, the unofficial national dish of Singapore. But have you heard about Hainananese Curry Rice?

To the uninitiated, Hainanese curry rice is composed of steamed white rice and your choice of proteins (braised, curried, or fried), vegetables, and side dishes. Then it’s flooded with curries and sauces. It’s the Singaporean counterpart of Batam, Indonesia’s Nasi Kari and Penang, Malaysia’s Nasi Kandar.

Many people say the best Hainanese curry rice is found in Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice.

Founded in 1946 by Mr. Loo Niap Tan, Loo’s started as a nameless stall in Tanjong Pagar, feeding port workers. It moved to Telok Blangah in 1978 and finally in Tiong Bahru in 1998. It is housed in a kopitiam (local coffee shop) until it moved to Tiong Bahru Market in 2022 (read my food guide here).

We weren’t able to try it on my visit to Tiong Bahru Market last year. So we made it our first stop this year!

You have the option to have just one plate of rice and all the dishes and sides will be placed on it. But we asked to have each dish on separate plates.

[Our Hainanese Curry Rice Meal]

Loo’s offers fried Pork Chop, which is a staple dish in Hainanese curry rice stalls. It’s not crunchy and doused in a thin, sweet and sour sauce. It also has onions that add crunch and sweetness.

Another staple dish is Braised Pork. Loo’s version is savory and has a nice Chinese five spice flavor.

Their Sambal Sotong (squid in sambal sauce) has a soft squid with a nice chew, covered in a thin and spicy curry.

The Cabbage is a letdown because it’s not crisp.

The steamed rice is served with curries. It’s spicy, creamy, and flavorful, with prominent lemongrass.

Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice makes a good version of its namesake dish. Individually, some of the dishes lack a wow factor. But when you combine them all together, along with its curries and braising sauces, it brings a delightful experience.

So I have a realization: I think it’s better to ask for one plate of rice where you put all the dishes and sides together, then have them in individual plates. That’s what I’ll do next time.

Anyway, I highly recommend Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice to you!

Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice