Hawker Stall Sells Yummy Fried Chicken From $1.50, Tastes Like KFC From ‘Good Old Days’

Three friends, one mission

Ken, Jenny Lee, 45, (right in pic) and Hamidah Aidillah, 39, (left in pic) invested “a five-figure sum” to launch Big Dot Chicken. The business aims to help those who have a hard time finding a job. How? Ken claims they are willing to hire even people with no F&B experience, or those who can only work four-hour shifts daily due to family commitments. The bosses plan to open more stalls in future. 

All three of them are entrepreneurs – Ken has a corporate training company and is a scion of a local F&B company (he declined to name the business on record, as the hawker stall is not affiliated to it), Hamidah runs a research analytics firm, and Jenny is a private dining chef who specialises in local and Peranakan cuisine. Jenny, who created the stall’s recipes, paused her business, Nanyang Chef, to focus on running the stall daily. Hamidah, an active volunteer, is in charge of community outreach and finding job seekers while Ken handles “everything else”.

The plan, Ken tells 8days.sg, is to eventually establish a brand that can be easily replicated and run by their staff. “If it works, we can provide not just employment at our stall but also train them to open their own stall, so that they can continue to multiply this impact and effort. We will licence them our brand, teach them our SOPs and supply them with ingredients for free. No franchise fee or royalties will be collected from them.”

A noble idea, if it works out eventually. 

Employees are paid in cash daily

Currently, they have two staff members (pictured in aprons) who are in their 50s. While they prefer not to share their names and background details for this story, the employees were friendly and warm during our visit. Despite being new hires, they seem comfortable managing the deep-fry and waffle stations in the stall.

Big Dot Chicken pays their staff in cash – they earn $50 for every four-hour shift. “A lot of people live from hand to mouth, so we [implemented] paying on the spot,” Ken explains.

Serving up “happy” food

“We want to offer simple, affordable food for everybody. We chose fried chicken, waffles and ice cream because they are happy food. Everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy them,” says Ken. The stall is also applying for halal certification to ensure their food is accessible to all.

The jovial millennial continues: “We named the stall Big Dot Chicken because with Big Value, Big Portion and Big Heart, together you get a Big Dot (impact) and Big Happiness!”

“Cheesy, right?” Hamidah teases, rolling her eyes in jest.

Meanwhile, despite being open for only a month, Jenny is already feeling encouraged. “There’s a cleaner who usually only eats a loaf of bread [for a meal] and she has come to buy chicken at our stall. Several fellow hawkers have also become our regulars,” she shares happily. 

As for the stall’s future, Ken says the team is keeping an open mind: “The hope is that as more people get to know us, we can cater for corporate events and more. With enough support, perhaps we can break even and carry on [our mission].” 

The menu

For fried chicken, you can choose between original and spicy flavours, available a la carte or as a set meal. Prices range from $1.50 for a chicken wing to $5 for a combo with thigh, drumstick and fries. Waffles are made to order, with a plain one costing $1. Classic toppings like blueberry, chocolate and peanut butter are available for an additional 50 cents each. The stall also sells old-school Magnolia wafer ice cream for $1.50 each.

Combo B (1 Drumstick + 1 Wing + Fries), $4 (8 DAYS Pick!)

We tried the Original flavour first. Even though our chook came from the warmer and wasn’t freshly-fried, the pieces had a satisfying, crunchy coat. Jenny is secretive about what goes into the batter, but we found it a warm, fragrant blend of spices that evoke memories of the KFC we used to love when we were kids. 

If, like us, you enjoyed KFC from the ‘good old days’, you’ll likely appreciate the nostalgic flavour captured in Big Dot Chicken’s delish version. Marinated overnight, the meat is tender and well-seasoned. Our only grouse? Some pieces are saltier than others. 

The set comes with crispy medium-cut fries. You can also order the chicken wing and drumstick a la carte at $1.50 and $2 respectively.

Combo C (1 Thigh + 1 Drumstick + Fries), $5 (8 DAYS Pick!)

The Spicy version has a smokier, more peppery punch. Among the different cuts of chook we tried, the thigh was the juiciest – we’d definitely order it again. As a comparison, a piece of chicken costs $4.60 at KFC, while a chicken thigh here is $2.50. The portion is also slightly larger at Big Dot Chicken, plus you get to choose your favourite cuts (of course, it’s important to note that a hawker stall and fast food chain offer different dining experiences).

Waffle with blueberry spread, $1.50

The waffle here is on the thinner, crispier side. It’s smaller than the usual heartland versions, but also more affordable. Sweet and tangy, the blueberry spread pairs well with the waffle’s hint of pandan. Not bad for a cheap tea time snack.

Magnolia wafer ice cream, $1.50

The stall also offers old-school wafer ice cream for $1.50 each. Flavours include classics like raspberry ripple and chocolate, fun to eat and almost like being back in primary school.

Bottom line

Big Dot Chicken’s fried chook is well-marinated, fragrant and tastier than most hawker versions – and more affordable too. We prefer the milder spice blend of the Original flavour, and recommend ordering the larger, juicier thigh meat. 

The details 

Big Dot Chicken is at #02-223 Chinatown Complex Food Centre, 335 Smith St, S050335. Open Mon to Fri, 11am to 9pm (or sold out). More info via Facebook & Instagram.

Photos: Aik Chen

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