The newly-opened Oporto is a fast-food chain from Australia specialising in Portuguese flame grilled chicken.
Boasting over 150 stores in Australia, Oporto was first opened in Bondi Beach, Sydney back in 1986.
Its first branch in Singapore is nestled at the corner of Holland Piazza, which used to be the old Holland Road Shopping Mall – affectionately known as the Windmill Building. Ah, nostalgia.
Interested to see how this Australian foray would fare against Nandos, perhaps its most obvious ‘competitor’.
Considering how the Holland Village enclave tends to get crowded during the weekend nights, Oporto should be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood.
If you do not want to queue for the restaurants in the area, there is now an alternative: just dabao some flame-grilled chicken and dine under the stars with your friends at the mini-park by the MRT exit.
Just make sure not to leave behind any litter.
The 30-seater restaurant has a good variety of seating arrangements, including a six-seater communal table, counter seats facing outwards for people-watching and even a few counter seats outside.
The Flame-Grilled Portuguese Chicken here comes marinated with either the Original Chili or Lemon & Herb sauce in quarter, half and whole chicken portions ($6.90, $11.90 and $21.90 respectively).
Diners have the option to choose between breast-and-wing or thigh-and-drumstick portions.
Unlike at Nandos, there is no customising your level of spiciness here at Oporto.
Other items include the Bondi Burger ($5.90 single patty, $2 per additional patty), Chicken Taça Bowl ($9.90) and Chicken Rappa ($7.90).
There is a decent variety of sides available, such as White Rice, Spicy Rice, Chips, Crunchy Slaw and Grilled Corn which can be coupled with a drink to complement your mains ($2.50 – 1 reg side & drink, $3.50 – 1 large side & drink).
Sauces such Garlic, BBQ and Mayo are chargeable at an additional $0.50 per tub.
The Original Chili 1/4 Grilled Chicken Set Meal ($9.40) had grilled chicken which was well-marinated with its savouriness permeated into the meat.
The spicy chicken breast was glazed with a delectable chili sauce, packing just enough of a kick for a chili-lover like myself.
I also appreciated the grill marks which lent a hint of smokiness to every bite. Overall, great flavours.
However, I cannot extend the same praise for its texture, which was unfortunately a tad too dry.
Not sure if the chicken was simply overcooked, or pre-grilled and left in a warmer which might have dried it out.
The fries were decent. I liked how they came in a slightly thicker cut so there was a contrast between the crispy exterior and the soft starchy interior.
The Lemon & Herb 1/4 Grilled Chicken ($6.90) had marinade which was on point, with savoury and tangy notes lingering after each bite.
Bursting with flavour, the skin was a joy to eat. A great alternative to those who cannot handle their chilli.
However, it was plagued by the same issue of being a little dry – which was more surprising this time considering it was the thigh and drumstick portion.
Teething problems, perhaps?
The Oprego Burger Set Meal ($8.40) was my least favourite dish of the day.
While the chicken patty was rather sizeable and came with a delightful sweet and savoury sauce, it tasted mostly of breast meat and too dry – again.
The side of Spicy Rice was a shame because while I really liked the initial hit of herbs and spices with every mouthful, but what was left after the punch faded away was under-seasoned rice.
Overall, Oporto’s competitive price points and delicious sauces do make it a worthy rival to Nandos.
It is a fast-food option that you can try considering its uniqueness in Singapore. And when you do, I recommend heading straight for the flame grilled chicken and skip the burgers.
Oporto
No. 3 Lorong Liput, #01-01 Holland Piazza, Singapore 277739
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Daily)
Other Related Entries
Burp Kitchen & Bar (Tanjong Katong)
Dusk Restaurant & Bar (Faber Peak)
Dallas Restaurant and Bar (Suntec City)
Hans Im Glück (Orchard Road)
The Bird Southern Table And Bar (Marina Bay Sands)
* Written by Simon Koh, who believes that a great meal is truly a incredible thing. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
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