27-05-2025
Western Boy: All under $8, with giant, juicy chicken portions at Toa Payoh stall
I first came across this stall on Facebook, where someone posted a picture of Boy's glorious Chicken Schnitzel. It felt like fate scrolling down to see that it was located near our office, at Toa Payoh Palm Spring Market.
My dining companion commented that this hawker centre had 'the cleanest tables [she's] seen in [her] life'. I also appreciated the open-air vibe and bountiful plants surrounding it, allowing us to enjoy our meal in a cooling space.
Western food wouldn't be my usual choice of cuisine at any hawker centre. But for the seemingly large portions at inexpensive prices (See: Chicken Cutlet w/ Rice & Coleslaw for S$4?!), how could I turn a blind eye?
The owner shared that his stall only opened recently in Mar 2025, but Western Boy's Signature Chicken Chop (S$6.90) has already become a hot favourite with customers. It does take the biggest spot on their signage, so that must count for something, right?
It also took up a really big spot on my plate, but I'm not complaining.
The moment I sliced into it, a mouthwatering mix of the juices from the chicken threatened to burst out. I noticed that the chicken chop didn't resist the knife while we were cutting it, too. Just one clean slice right down the middle.
It was undoubtedly fresh and bursting with fragrant juices between the meaty chunks in my mouth. Okay, pause. Where are they getting their chicken, and how did it remain so tender even after being grilled?
Based on its taupe shade with a sprinkle of black spots, I concluded that it was black pepper sauce lathered over the chicken chop. It did lean towards the sweet side, which overpowered the peppery taste for me. I would've still preferred if it maintained a smokier profile, which I felt would've paired better with the chicken.
Fries and coleslaw were the assigned sides to this dish, but I'd say they took a step back to let the chicken shine.
The fries were thinly cut and remained crispy after cooling down, so kudos to that! Flavour-wise, it was only lightly seasoned with salt, and I felt they could've done with just a little more to counter the overall sweet-ish profile of the plate.
A pet peeve of mine is room temperature coleslaw, which was unfortunately the situation I was faced with here. Nothing to shout about, just a humble portion of crunchy veg coated in a creamy sauce. Regardless, it was a refreshing palate cleanser every 5-ish bites that complemented the rich flavours well.
Seletar Western Food (實里達西餐): Old-school western food under $12 hidden in Seletar
The other dish I tried here was the one and only Chicken Schnitzel w/Spaghetti & Coleslaw (S$7.90). When the uncle first slid this plate over the counter, the only thought in my head was, 'Wow, this looks exactly like it does on the signage'.
This is what dreams are made of: A humongous slab of fried chicken cutlet generously layered with cheese sauce and mayo. Well, my dreams, at least.
It somehow tasted exactly like how I envisioned, possibly even better. Right off the bat, the chicken was super well-seasoned, lending it a balanced savouriness that seeped into the tender cut of meat. Similarly, this cutlet was very well cooked, tearing apart easily with just one chomp down, contributing to a satisfying mouthfeel.
The cheese sauce and mayo were the same-old, but elevated the chicken cutlet with a creamy, cheesy and salty kick that tasted like childhood. Beware, this is a truly addictive combination that I just couldn't put down.
'This tastes exactly like the spaghetti at my JC's Western stall', lamented my dining companion upon our first bite of the cylindrical pasta. From the colour alone, it's obvious that the ratio of pasta to sauce was off, though when I got to the parts more saturated with minced meat, it packed a punch of tomato-y savouriness that made it more enjoyable.
This dish made me feel like I was devouring a kid's meal for the portion of an adult one.
Get the Chicken Schnitzel.
The sides are mostly average, though are by no means inedible. They do offer a nice variation of textures and flavours to balance out the hearty chicken, but I would stick to the fries over spaghetti next time.
Definitely a value-for-money, easy Western fix!
Expected damage: S$4 – S$7.90 per pax
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