Bangkok’s Michelin Bib Gourmand Chicken Rice Shop Go-Ang Pratunam Opening At Nex, Will Cost Three Times More Than In Thailand

It is opening in Singapore

It recently announced that it has partnered the folks behind ThaiExpress and Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe to launch a Singapore outlet. It has left out the ‘Kaomunkai’ in its Thai name and is simply called Go-Ang Pratunam here. The eatery is slated to open next Saturday (October 20) at Serangoon’s Nex mall, in the space formerly occupied by a ThaiExpress outlet.

Prices will be more expensive than in Bangkok

Part of Go-Ang’s appeal in Bangkok is that it's really cheap — a plate of chicken rice at the original shop costs a wallet-friendly THB40 ($1.70), while soups go for around THB50 ($2.10) a bowl.

But its PR rep in Singapore tells us that prices for the chicken rice will start from $4.50 here, the signature braised pork from $8, and double-boiled soups like Bittergourd & Pork Rib, Duck & Mushroom and Chicken Feet from $6.50. The chickens used are fresh birds imported from Malaysia.

Here's what the braised pork looks like

You can also swap your Hainanese-style chicken fat-infused rice here for brown rice, but that would be blasphemy. For those who like innards, the chicken liver and gizzards served as sides at Go-Ang in Bangkok will also be offered here, along with a range of veggies, tofu and fish side dishes. There are desserts too, though the menu is still in the midst of being finalised.

The chef for Go-Ang Pratunam Singapore will be a local hire who is personally trained by Go-Ang’s original founder, Sombat Pruekpaiboon (who has presided over his shop since it started out as a humble food stall in 1960 at Pratunam, Bangkok). The founder will also be based at the Singapore outlet for a period to oversee operations.

Nicknamed Go-Ang himself, Sombat inherited his chicken rice recipe from his father, a Hainanese immigrant from China who settled down in Bangkok.

Fancy some bittergourd pork ribs soup?

We kinda get why the prices at Go-Ang Pratunam Singapore are higher (steeper rent, higher labour wages and all that). Also, that's the price you pay for not having to fly all the way to Bangkok for your Thai chicken rice fix.

But can the Bangkok version beat our Singaporean Hainanese one? Watch this space for our review.

#B1-05/06 Nex, 23 Serangoon Central, S556083. Open daily 11am-10pm. www.facebook.com/goangsg.