For decades, plenty of fried chicken centric fast-food franchises have graced our shores, some of which are locally founded. Naturally, much has been discussed & debated as to which is the best in town. Some argue on taste, others on texture, some grow infatuated with the batter, others preach about the sides that came with it.
As for me, I consider everything that’s on the platter, and my mind has yet to be changed in all these years – Arnold’s (“Nothing Tastes Better”).
They’re a locally founded small time player in the big arena of fast food, and I strongly believe that most who have tasted their offering, would concur that they’re punching above their weight, in the right areas, and for the right reasons.
The setup is unpretentious and pragmatic, somewhat different from most fast-food joints. Placing order & making payment at the entrance maximizes their seating capacity inside, while the kitchen space is uncompromised allowing for maximum productivity to churn out the orders.
Customers find themselves a seat and collect their orders once the queue number is flashed on the display at the collection counter. As for take out orders, the patrons & food delivery persons need not enter the premise, wait for their collection along a separate isle. Thereby minimizing the congestion within the floor space.
Their menu caters not only for family dining but also for individuals, prices are very competitive. Choice of beverage is leaning towards local favorites, such as iced milo or bandung, as well as Coca-Cola floats (a worthy contender to A&W’s root beer float).
The chicken & fries are fried a la minute, to ensure consistency of the crispy skin and juicy tenderness of the meats for every order. In my opinion, best consumed dining in.
The potato fries are somewhat thicker cut than what’s on the market, but certainly not as thick as those offered at Mos Burger. Before we go comparing against McDonald’s, thick cut fries are not supposed to the crispy & crunchy to the core.
What I like about the fries here is simply because they’re not overly salted, so if your palates are discerning enough, you get the real taste of potato as you chug along.
The coleslaw is a class of its own. The texture of the chopped ingredients is consistent, compact & crunchy, most certainly not a wet slosh. The taste is sweet and not drowned by the salad dressing.
Unlike some franchise on the market, the portion of the chicken is decent, and by no means tiny like pigeons/ quails. Batter it light & thin so diners can truly appreciate the goodness of the chicken without disguised flavors.
A precut incision along the joints makes for a better dining experience, without need to wrestle with the bird in the plate. I must confess, dislodging the whole thigh neatly and effortlessly is rather gratifying.
The doneness of the meat is thorough, allowing the meats to fall off the bones nice & clean. And there’ll be minimal food wastage, since every piece can be picked clean.
If given a choice, I truly wish they’d offer their mashed potatoes as a standard side for the a la carte meals instead of fries.
Over the years, Arnold’s has grown from strength to strength, and more outlets are popping up increasing their accessibility.
In lieu of their growing popularity, I’d recommend visiting during the off-peak hours, to avoid the long queues. Take out is reasonable option, but I strongly suggest digging in within minutes upon collection, because fast food is never half as delicious after prolong commute.
For all our Muslim friends out there, Arnold’s is Halal Certified.
Main Branch
810 Geylang Rd, City Plaza #02-99
Singapore 409286
Tel: 6746 2372
Hougang Outlet
21 Hougang Street 51, Hougang Green Shopping Mall #01-49
Singapore 538719
Tel: 6386 9015
Yishun 10 Outlet
Yishun 10 Cinema Cineplex #01-04
Singapore 768794
Tel: 6757 7732
Bedok Outlet
215 Bedok North Street 1 #01-83
Singapore 460215
Tel: 6481 9945
Jurong Outlet
60 Jurong West Central 3, The Frontier Community Club #01-05
Singapore 648346
Tel: 6251 1158
Tampines Outlet
5 Tampines Ave 3, Tampines West Community Club #02-07
Singapore 529705
Tel: 6592 8627
W: https://arnoldsfriedchicken.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ArnoldsFriedChicken/
IG: @ArnoldsFriedChicken
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Pictures taken using Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus
IG: @o_oican
Epicurious Caniggia 