KLANG, June 26 — Not keen to drive to Malacca when you crave chicken rice balls? How about trying out these places that offer chicken rice shaped into balls? If you don’t fancy your rice in balls, they also serve conventional plates of chicken rice.

The origin of the chicken rice ball is kinda hazy but the story goes that it arose out of necessity and convenience. Since farmers and workers need to pack their lunch, the rice was shaped into balls to make it easier to cart them to work. Another story claims that when you shape the chicken rice into balls, it can be kept warm in wooden containers until it’s ready to be served.

What you will find is only the Hainanese serve their chicken rice this way. As hands are used to shape the rice into balls, the grains tend to be compressed a little, making the texture entirely different.

Ban Huat Heng Kopitiam, CG-5, Happy Mansion, Jalan 17/13, Section 17, PJ. Open: 7am to 9pm.

Located at Happy Mansion, opposite the school, this corner coffee shop pulls in the crowds with their chicken rice served for lunch and dinner. There’s a choice of poached chicken or roast chicken. You can pair it with normal chicken rice or chicken rice shaped into balls. The chicken rice balls are a bit dry but the rice has a nice fragrance.

What makes the whole meal here utterly delicious is the thick blended ginger that is almost like a paste mixed with chopped spring onions. Ask for lots of the ginger to give your meal a zing!

Most patrons also add a side order of their char siew that has a caramelised skin and tender meat. They tend to drizzle a sweet sauce over it, so ask for the sauce to be served on the side if you prefer a less sweet version. They also have roast pork. As the owner hails from Pangkor Island, they also serve deep fried chilli fish, which is ikan cencaru stuffed with sambal belacan. The fish is also one of must-eats here.

Throughout the day, you can order kaya toast with half boiled eggs. For dinner, they cook another batch of chicken and roasted meats by 6pm so everything is fresh.

Top1 Chicken Rice, food court along Jalan Gelugor, Klang. Open: 6am to 1pm.

Previously a roadside stall at the corner of Jalan Gelugor and Jalan Meru, they have moved into the food court along Jalan Gelugor. It’s known as one of the best chicken rice stalls in Klang and has gained it a faithful following. One can see why as their poached chicken has firm flesh that makes it delicious especially with a spoonful of their ginger sauce. The sauce is said to be a blend of Bentong ginger that adds a more potent oomph and the normal ginger.

Dip your chicken into their special soy sauce that has hints of Chinese wine. Or if you prefer your food to be sweeter, drizzle thick dark soy sauce over it.  Even their chilli sauce is good and not overly spicy with a hint of lime juice to make it enjoyable. The rice is also aromatic and you can ask for the rice to be made into balls that are huge!

Unlike other places, they ask you how many chicken rice balls you want rather than just serve you the standard portion. The stall is run by third generation owner Kelvin Tan who took over the business from his father. It’s been running for more than 40 years. On Sunday, they serve the brighter yellow skin kampung chicken that is favoured for its firmer flesh.

Restoran Piau Hiong, Jalan Gelugor, Klang. Open: 6am to 2pm. Closed on Wednesday.

Situated in a single storey corner house, this stall is located across from the food court at Jalan Gelugor. There’s a choice of poached chicken or roast chicken that you can enjoy with your chicken rice or chicken rice balls. A standard portion is two large rice balls and is enough to fill you up. The rice is not as aromatic and the rice is soft on the inside. The chicken tends to be quite plain tasting so pair it with their watery ginger sauce, chilli sauce and lots of dark soy sauce to give it the much needed flavour.