Ricky's Chicken Rice is small outlet in the Market Plaza food court in Central Market. It's been an icon in the Adelaide chicken rice scene for a long time.
Rickys Chicken Rice
Ricky's steamed chicken rice set is still only nine dollars and it's one of the most creative and diverse chicken dishes in town. It's also text-book comfort food if you're feeling a bit under the weather.
You can order the fried chicken rice set as well, but stick with the steamed chicken rice set. Watch out for bones. Boneless chicken is available for fifty cents extra but that ruins part of the fun.
When you order you're given a bingo ticket with a number. Generally we wander off and get a drink, or one of the hundreds of other tempting dishes that surround you. I generally don't take notice of the numbering system above the counter as five minutes is usually enough to return, hand over your number and pick up your food. Make sure you grab some cutlery before you head off to jostle for a place to sit down.
The traditional Hainanese set consists of a bowl of a rich chicken broth with wispy spring onions, steamed rice (cooked specially in chicken broth), a spring onion and a chilli sauce in separate bowls, and the main event; tender, almost melting, pieces of chicken in a soy sauce with slices of cucumber arranged neatly alongside. You can mix and match so many flavours. It's great value and great fun,
Rickys Steamed Chicken Rice Set
Of course Ricky's menu includes other dishes. The noodles with chicken are an excellent choice, particularly for fussy kids. I'd try the others, but I haven't made it past the chicken rice yet.
Taste of Malaysia at Hawkers Corner on West Terrace used to make a nice version of chicken rice, but they appear to have been replaced. The chicken rice at Papa Rich (Gouger Street) is exactly that, rich... too rich for me. As the smallest bear once said, this one is just right.
Ricky's Chicken Rice is a Hainan province and Adelaide lunchtime tradition that is well worth a visit.
