A queue tells you something before the food does.
I’ve joined lines for ramen in Fukuoka and pho in Hanoi. Some were worth it. Some were just habit. So when I kept hearing about a small shop on Level 2 of Sim Lim Square with people waiting outside, I wanted to know which kind this was.
3 Meals A Day at Sim Lim Square
3 Meals A Day 一日三餐, often called Three Meals a Day, sits at #02-01, 1 Rochor Canal Road. The Sim Lim flagship is open daily from 9am to 7:45pm. It’s the most famous of five Singapore outlets, alongside branches in Tampines, Hougang and Horne Road.
The brand’s story centres on one plate. Over a decade ago, a head chef turned salted egg yolk into a rich sauce poured over fried chicken and rice. That dish is still its number-one seller.
The menu names four signatures: Salted Egg Chicken, Butter Pork, Buttermilk Chicken and Cereal Chicken, each with rice. The owner, Aunty Mandy, is the shop’s face, both at the counter and on its Instagram.
A Mall Eatery, Nothing More, Nothing Less
The Sim Lim shop is bright, compact and plain. Simple tables, stools, visible branding. Around me, shoppers clutched phone accessory bags and office workers balanced lunch against the clock.
Tables sit close. You’ll hear your neighbour’s conversation whether you want to or not. It isn’t a place to linger. It’s a place to eat well and move on.
The Three Meals a Day Menu Beyond One Plate
Salted egg chicken rice draws the crowd, but the menu runs wider than I expected. There’s Cheesy Butter Chicken, Marmite Chicken, Butter Pork Ribs, Cereal Fish and Salted Egg Prawn.
There are noodles too, including Hokkien Mee, Hor Fun with Egg, Crispy Noodles and fried hor fun. Fried rice comes as Yang Zhou, Sambal or Salted Fish. For a full zi char spread, the heartland outlets in Tampines and Hougang are better suited. Sim Lim is about the single plate.
The Salted Egg Chicken Itself
The First Bite
The plate arrives looking simple: rice, chicken, crackers and a generous pour of golden sauce. You can add a sunny-side-up egg.
The first bite is creamy before it’s anything else. The sauce coats the tongue, sweet and savoury at once, with a faint warmth that arrives later. It’s comforting in the way rich food often is, a little like being tucked in.
The Sweetness Question
This is where people part ways. The sauce leans sweet and smooth, not grainy or sharply salty. If you grew up on drier, yolk-heavy versions, you may find the salted egg flavour quieter than you hoped.
Personally, I understood both sides. The richness is the point. But by the second half of the plate, I wanted something sharp to cut through it.
Chicken, Sauce and Balance
This salted egg chicken is saucy, not dry-coated. The batter starts crispy, and the sauce slowly softens it. Some batches come out tender inside; I’ve seen others described as dry or overfried. I’d call it decent to good rather than flawless.
The rice matters here. It does the quiet work of soaking up what the chicken can’t hold.
If You Want Something Lighter
Butter Pork with Rice is one of the four signatures, and some regulars prefer it as the less heavy option. Cereal Chicken or Cereal Fish gives you a drier, crunchier contrast to all that cream.
Service at Sim Lim
The queue looks long, but the kitchen moves briskly. Food is wok-fired, not microwaved, and it comes out fast.
Aunty Mandy is a big part of why people return. She’s known for her warmth and for remembering faces even after months away. That kind of familiarity can’t be put on a menu.
Practical Notes for Three Meals a Day
Hours: Daily, 9am to 7:45pm
Budget: Roughly S$7 to S$10 for a rice plate in-store; check the current walk-in menu, since delivery apps charge more (about S$9.80 for Salted Egg Chicken with Rice on Foodpanda)
Getting there: Right beside Rochor MRT, Exit A, or a short walk from Bugis
Payment: Bring cash or a local QR option; confirm card acceptance at the counter
Reservations: None. You queue to order, then wait for a seat
Timing: Peak lunch and dinner get packed, so go outside those hours if you can
Three Meals a Day isn’t halal-certified. If you need halal options, read Healthy Food Guide’s list of the best halal restaurants in Singapore.
Final Verdict on Three Meals a Day
The popular salted egg chicken rice here isn’t the most intense version I’ve tried. It’s the most generous one. The portions are hearty, the price is gentle, and the sauce has stayed the same for years.
Whether it’s consistently good depends on your taste for sweetness. I’d come back on a grey afternoon when I wanted comfort more than surprise. I’d skip the peak-hour queue.
FAQ
Where is Three Meals a Day in Singapore?
The flagship is at Sim Lim Square, #02-01, 1 Rochor Canal Road. Other outlets are in Tampines, Hougang and Horne Road.
What should I order at 3 Meals A Day?
Start with the Salted Egg Chicken with Rice. For a lighter plate, try Butter Pork or Cereal Chicken.
Is Three Meals a Day halal?
No. It isn’t halal-certified, and the menu includes pork.
Can I book a table at Sim Lim Square?
No. Seating is first come, first served.
Are the portions generous?
Yes. A single rice plate is a full meal for most people.
