- With 8 New Dishes Direct from Hainan Including Braised Dongshan Goat, Hainan Drunken Duck and Stir-Fried Lotus Stalk
- Fresh Ingredients, Subtle Seasonings and Old-School Cooking Methods: Pure Hainanese Natural Sweetness
Singapore Mr Hainan Singapore’s only full-fledged Hainanese restaurant direct from the shores of Hainan Island to serve true-blue, found-only-on-Hainan dishes, introduces the limited-time ‘Hainan Style Prosperity Tossed Kampung Chicken’ to usher in the Year of the Horse.
Mr Hainan’s ‘Hainan Style Prosperity Tossed Kampung Chicken’ (S$38, available from today until 2 March 2026) encapsulates the true essence of Hainanese cuisine with its mild profile, lighter and cleaner palate that emphasises fresh ingredients, natural sweetness and subtle seasonings. At the centre of this dish is Mr Hainan’s signature free-range kampung chicken that has been bred specially for the restaurant for 180 days on an antibiotic-free diet for firm and succulent meat, set atop a bed of freshly farmed vegetables doused in light homemade Hainanese sauces to give the dish its signature Mr Hainan taste profile. This dish may be paired with Mr Hainan’s chicken rice made with aged rice that fully absorbs the chicken broth.
Mr Hainan Introduces Authentic Hainanese Dishes Rarely Found in Singapoге
Hainan Island is China’s largest island province and home to the country’s longest coastline. Blessed with rich fishing grounds, its seafood is prized for freshness and quality. Hainan’s baby threadfin is especially valued for its delicate texture and natural sweetness, earning a reputation as one of the finest in the region. Caught fresh and carefully handled, it is celebrated for its clean, elegant flavour that shines with simple preparation. The Hainanese place great emphasis on symbiosis with nature, from which comes their daily sustenance. Food sources in Hainan are mostly wild and naturally reared – from free-range ducks and chickens who graze along the sea to wild pork and freshly caught seafood – Hainanese cooking introduces the barest of seasonings to enhance flavourful freshness and nothing more. Mr Hainan imports black soya beans, tamarind and fish from Hainan to ensure this freshness is retained in its dishes.
Although Singapore has many Hainanese descendants, most Hainanese food found here incorporates Western elements due to the influence of the British in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, Hainanese men were employed as cooks, ship stewards, and butlers for British families. Apart from Hainanese Chicken Rice (known as Wenchang Chicken in Hainan), classic dishes such as Luffa and Glass Noodle in Chicken Broth (S$18.80) or Baby Threadfin with Black Bean Sauce ($29.90) are rarely found in Singapore.
This Lunar New Year, Mr Hainan will also be introducing 8 new dishes, each dish an embodiment of Hainan’s love for fresh and lightly seasoned meats:
- Braised Dongshan Goat (S$28.80) – A treasured dish among Hainan’s four signature dishes. The goat meat is lightly wok-fried with aromatic spices to lock in its fragrance and tenderness.
- Hainan Drunken Duck (Jiaji Style) ($25.80) – A signature Hainan dish made with carefully selected duck, gently marinated in Huatiao wine and aromatics. The skin is smooth, the meat tender and fragrant, with a subtle balance of savouriness and freshness.
- Beef Brisket Pot (S$25.80) – A signature Haikou dish with over 500 years of heritage. Slow-braised beef brisket and tripe, infused with deep wok heat and time-honoured spices.
- Braised Pork Trotter (S$22.80) – A traditional Haikou-style pork trotter pot, slow-braised until tender and glossy. The aroma of old-town fire-cooking is gently drawn out through time, resulting in a deep, savoury richness balanced by natural sweetness.
- Paper-Wrapped Garlic Pork Ribs (S$8.80 per piece) – Fresh pork ribs marinated in garlic and spices, wrapped in paper and cooked to seal in the aroma and juices. Crisp on the outside, tender within, with a lingering garlic fragrance, presenting a classic street-style favourite elevated through careful technique.
- Hainan-styled Stirred-fried Lotus Stalk (S$15.80) – Hand-picked tender lotus stalks, gently stir-fried to highlight their natural fragrance and crunch. Light, refreshing, and free from heaviness, reflecting a true taste of Hainan’s countryside kitchens.
- Chilled Hainan Styled Salad with Bird’s Eye Chilli (S$5.80) Simple glass noodles tossed with pickled vegetables and light seasoning. Tangy, savoury, and comforting, one of the common side dishes in Hainan street eateries.
- Hainan Cooling Dessert (S$6.80) – A traditional Hainanese favourite, a chilled coconut milk dessert with taro and chendol enjoyed for its cooling and refreshing qualities.
Due to its proximity to Southeast Asia, Hainanese dishes also incorporate several Southeast Asian ingredients that go well with Hainanese preparation methods. Of note are the Hainan Fortune Pot (S$18.80) which resembles the Peranakan Chap Chye, the Hainan-styled Pickled Vegetables ($5.80), a blend of pickled vegetables much like achar in milder sauces, the Handmade Golden Coconut Pastry (S$12.80) that is hand-shredded daily and painstakingly baked by hand, and the Assam Juice ($5.80) which is made from tamarinds and served in a miniature traditional tea-leaf picking basket.
Building a Love for Hainanese Culture Through Food, A Symbiosis with Nature
Established in 2022 by Mr Dong Haideng, a true-blue, born and bred Hainanese who wanted to showcase his heritage and culture to the world, Mr Hainan aims to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation of Hainanese food culture through a chain of casual dining Hainanese restaurants starting with Singapore, where Hainanese Chicken Rice is much appreciated and Chinese food similarly well-accepted.
Mr Hainan’s ambience and concept are steeped in Hainanese culture from its handwoven wicker-basket stools to a miniature replica of Nantian Yizhu (Southern Heaven Rock) of scattered, uniquely shaped rocks along the coast of Sanya, China’s southernmost point called the “End of the Earth”, to giant motifs of the Thunder God following the Li ethnic culture¹ – each wall portrays deep cultural and historical meaning of what it means to be Hainanese in daily living.
“Hainanese cuisine is not often publicised and is not as famous as other cuisines from China. The freshness and lighter seasonings required in Hainanese cuisine means that replicating this cuisine is more demanding. However, I believe that those who have tasted the true essence and natural sweetness of the Hainanese cuisine, will keep coming back, because “natural” is what food should taste like,” explains Mr Dong. “I would like Hainanese cuisine to be globally appreciated and will strive to make it happen!”
Prior to Singapore, Mr Dong managed Yan Jiang Hainan Cuisine, a restaurant group in Sanya, Hainan, ranked within the 2026 China’s 100 Must-Visit Restaurants on Trip.com², which is the island’s go-to full-fledged Hainanese establishment for premium business functions, family gatherings and tourists.
Global Flagship Store in Singapore
Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, Vivo City #02-116, Singapore 059858
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun: 12pm to 9.30pm
Website: www.mrhainan.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mrhainan
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrhainan
Official Hashtags: #mrhainan #hainanesecuisine #hainanculture #hainanfood #hainanesechickenrice
About Mr Hainan
A taste of real Hainan cuisine as it’s meant to be celebrated.
For most diners in Singapore, Hainan food begins and ends with chicken rice. But in Hainan itself, the cuisine tells a much larger story one of family gatherings, festive banquets, and dishes prepared to mark meaningful occasions.
Mr Hainan is one of the few restaurants in Singapore dedicated to showcasing Hainan cuisine beyond its most familiar export. The menu draws from traditional Hainanese home cooking and celebratory dishes that are rarely seen outside the island. By presenting Hainan cuisine as a complete food culture from everyday comforts, to ceremonial dishes, Mr Hainan invites diners to experience an island cuisine that goes beyond a single iconic dish.
For more information on Mr Hainan, visit www.mrhainan.com.
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