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    Special Hainan Chicken

    4.0 (61 reviews)
    ModerateHainan, Noodles
    Closed • 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Special Hainan Chicken Takeout or Delivery

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    SPECIAL HAINAN CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Special Hainan Chicken

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    C01. Signature Hainan Chicken Over Rice
    Jason T.

    My family and I are pretty big fans of Hainan chicken, so we decided to give this place a try while we were in the area. The portions here are generous, specifically for the Hainan chicken rice . We ordered the dark meat, specifically the thigh/leg pieces, and they were quite large. The rice portion was also very generous, and there was definitely no leaving hungry. The meal also came with the standard chicken broth, although I found the broth a bit heavy on the MSG. The chicken itself was decent, but it wasn't as tender as I would have liked. Some of the pieces were a little tough and chewy, and it might've been the type of chicken they used. What stood out the most, though, was how friendly and welcoming our server was. She was genuinely kind and attentive throughout our visit, and honestly deserves an extra star just for the great service.

    Laksa Noodle Soup (16.50)
    Victor G.

    Special Hainan Chicken opened 4 months ago where Lizhou City Restaurant was. Infrastructure similar, decor upgraded to Hainan Chicken themes. Soft vocals in background. Mural shows/explains Hainan Chicken roots in Hainan, China & its expansion to Southern China, Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore. Greeted courteously, quickly seated. Ordered. Food came in 10 minutes. Various associates work as a team. If something needed, just wave a hand. No check-ins. Offerings (Hainan, China via Singapore, Malaysia): Chiu Chow appetizers, Chef's recommendations, Crafted soup combos, broth options, Hainan Chicken, Chiu Chou brine free range ducks, drinks. Slurps: Laksa Noodle Soup (16.50)-laksa broth, fish noodle... -broth initially hot in temperature & taste. Cooled later. Udon sized noodle had fish essence flavor. -lotsa ingredients: 4 small crunchy bland shrimps, fried tofu, basil leaves, corn niblets, mild curry broth, meatballs, quail eggs, thin crunchy bamboo shoots. -drank soup, eat noodles & ingredients interchangeably. Different flava in every bite! 4.5 stars Service: Very good. Quality: fresh ingredients. Food cooked to order. Quantity: reasonable. Plenty of parking somewhere in big parking lot.

    Signature Hainan Chicken (half pictured)
    Austin W.

    I had a chance to try out Special Hainan Chicken today and thought they had some of the best Hainan chicken I've had in the Bay Area. In addition to Hainan chicken, I also had a chance to try out their shrimp cakes and fried tofu dishes. The Hainan chicken shows signs of being skillfully prepared. The chicken skin is tight, there's a jelly-like layer between the skin and the meat, and the meat -- even the white meat, is juicy and tender. The ginger scallion sauce included on the side is salty and fragrant. Salted, crunchy peanuts are garnished on top of the dish as well. A half chicken is probably the perfect size to share between two. The shrimp cake -- served with a side of sweet chili sauce, is snappy, and has a nice bouncy chew to it. The braised fried tofu is silky soft on the inside, and the outside is akin to the deep-fried tofu pocket used for inari. If you're looking for a spot to pick up delicious Hainan chicken, look no further than Special Hainan Chicken. The chicken here is definitely the star.

    Benny W.

    This restaurant is located in a plaza. They share a big parking lot with other businesses. We were greeted and seated by a friendly waiter upon entering the restaurant. We ordered the Hainan Chicken Over Rice, Pork Knuckle over Rice, Laksa Noodle Soup, Mix Meatball Soup, Deep Fried Taro & Sweet Potato Balls, and Salty Shredded Chicken. Our food came out the a timely manner. We requested the Hainan Chicken to be fully cooked and glad it was. Alot of Chinese restaurants tend to undercooked the Hainan chicken, which can cause food poisoning. The Pork Knuckles were tender. Laksa Noodle Soup and the salty shredded chicken were tasty. The deep fried Taro and Sweet Potato Balls were little chewy and not too sweet, which we really liked. They were generous with the portions and the prices were fairly reasonable. However, we were pretty thirsty after dining here.

    Bug in Plum Soda
    Rachel L.

    They serve some pretty solid hainan chicken and I would say the portion and quality are great for the price! I had the Hainan Chicken Rice Noodle Soup. It was lots of food for only $14, but given that it was a limited time deal. The chicken was soft, juicy, and the green onion sauce was on the thicker side which I actually liked. The noodle soup was light and aromatic, but too light for the rice noodles to soak up any flavor. I added a ton of chili oil which helped. I also tried a bite of the hainan chicken rice plate; the rice had a subtle coconut-y flavor which was unique but nice. Now for the bad part; there was a bug in our drink. Had to throw it all away unfortunately. The service was usual; don't expect that they'll be constantly checking on you. However, everything came out really fast including our takeout orders. The place is a very casual and filled with what seems like regulars.

    Deep Fried Milk Curd
    Henry H.

    We've always enjoyed a good hainan chicken so we decided to give Special Hainan Chicken a try. Coming in you can see the restaurant's layout was in an elongated format. You have a long stretch down from the middle with small tables from each side. The decor was fairly new and the restaurant was about 70% full. Our waitress led us to our table and here's what we ordered: 1. Signature Hainan Chicken Over Rice - 3 out of 5 The Hainan chicken itself was on the saltier side for me. This quality of the chicken should have been controlled better. Given that this is the main dish advertised, this was an unfortunate miss. With the dipping sauce of scallions and ginger being crucial to this dish, you really couldn't taste it besides the salt. The side dishes included were fine and the portion is generous. 2. Special Hainan Chicken Noodle Soup - 3 out of 5 The Hainan chicken given was separate from the soup. The chicken tasted identical to the rice dish, I suspect that it may have came from the same batch. The soup was a little blend, it was not our favorite. 3. Pan-Fried Fish Cake - 4 out of 5 I wasn't able to tell if this was made inhouse or not. Nonetheless, it tasted great with the sauce it came on the side. 4. Deep Fried Milk Curd - 5 out of 5 I don't see this dish offered at many restaurants in general so I had to order it. It definitely did not disappoint. It tasted similar to fried tofu but not. With it having a side of condensed milk to dip it is a definite must try if you wanted something a little different or just miss having it like myself. An A+ for this dish. Overall I just can't say that I can give the Hainan chicken they serve a pass. It was a little too salty and when it's too salty, it over powers the sauce with the scallions that is crucial to this dish. I give it a 50/50 chance of coming back. Hainan chicken if made perfectly can be a dish that provides a healthier option that can also be made tasty. We'll see...

    Forgot to take photos before we started eating!   B01. Laksa Noodle Soup B03. Beef Brisket& Tendon Noodle Soup A01. Brined Tofu
    Farrah F.

    The food here is really tasty and they get orders in quick! We got a fried tofu dish as an appetizer, the hainan chicken (how could we not?!), laksa, and the beef tendon soup. The hainan chicken was a great deal + comes with noodle soup (the sweet corn is a great addition there!) + roasted/salted peanuts too. :] My parents felt the tofu wasn't salty enough but I kinda liked/preferred the milder flavor. (You can always ask for more soy sauce if you want.) My dad's favorite was the laksa--it's a bit spicy but the flavor was delicious + you can choose the type of noodles you want in em'! Service is quick/friendly and they speak English/Cantonese/Mandarin! We'll very likely be back!

    oyster omlette
    Kathleen W.

    We had to come out to their second location and do their deal ~ The interior is more spacious and modern than the San Leandro location. Everything was refreshed and comfy to dine in. We ordered on the app and it was a bit confusing as there were several items from the previous guests that mixed with ours. Our food arrived quickly and everything was so well made. This location gave out a lot more hainan chicken than the other spot and the oyster omlette was so well done. You can really taste the oyster infused throughout the fluffy egg. The chicken was the usual, cold and heated up in the piping hot broth with knife cut noodles. The food here continues to be a steal in this time.

    May '26 hours
    Steve D.

    "Special Hainan Chicken" in Union City serves more than just chicken and rice. This new restaurant serves up tasty combos of rice plates and noodle soups, with a choice of meats and seafood. I saw "Special Hainan Chicken" cross my Yelp feed. The dish, "Pork Knuckle Noodle Soup" caught my attention. So I jump in my car and rush down to Union City, and the El Mercado Shopping Center. You know, the asian shopping center with the Sheng Kee Bakery. The inside of this place is very nice. Lots of tables, comfy cushioned bench seats, and lots of room. Pretty decor and artwork. I was there at around 4pm. Staff were prepping for dinner service. A young lady explained the menu and gave me a cup of plain water. They didn't have hot tea. So I ordered the Thai Iced Tea ($4.50). I ordered (B02) Pork Knuckle Noodle Soup. You have a choice of noodles. I went with vermicelli in the original broth. I really liked the broth. That savory flavor with the taste of ginger was so good. The dish was loaded with noodles, green veggies, corn, mushrooms, scallions, etc. The pork knuckles melted in my mouth. I would order it again. (Price: $14.99). The only negative experience I had was when I was ready to pay and leave. The two servers were busy, and no one brought my bill. So after awhile, I just went and stood at the counter for about 5 mins. But overall, a very good meal. I would come again......4-stars. "Special Hainan Chicken" is a good place to get a quick meal for under $20 per person. Nice dining room, and quick service. Checkout at the end might be slow if it's busy. Free parking

    Anna C.

    Everything is meeting expectations. The Hainan chicken noodle soup and the smoked duck rice plate are both delicious. The tomato fish noodle soup is average, there was a strong taste of defrosted in their fish fillets and overall sweet taste of the soup but acceptable. They offer a points system so you can use the points accumulated to exchange for free appetizers in the future. Good for quick meals.

    Soup broth
    Terrysue T.

    Came on a weeknight and didn't have to wait to be seated. They let me choose where to sit and then handed me a menu. When you order, you order through the QR code on your table. I ordered the C01 Signature Hainan Chicken Over Rice. There was a pop up through the QR code that said that you can join their membership for free and then your first order would be 10% off. I signed up with my phone number. When I tried placing my order and then entering my phone number, the program kept "thinking" and wouldn't go through. So I ordered from one of the workers instead. My food came in less than 5 minutes from when I ordered. It came with a soup, too. The soup broth was good, a little sweet, but a little peppery too. The rice was fluffy (as they described it) and good. The peanuts, the cucumbers, and the wood ear mushrooms were good. The chicken was good, too! It had meat on it versus some other places I've been to had mostly bones. The scallion topping was so good as well. When the server came for me to pay, they entered my phone number for the membership and I got 10% off.

    Hainan Chicken.
    Samson W.

    Had moved here last month and while getting used to the area, we saw this place. So we finally ate here. Almost great service except for one error. It seems that they don't understand the rule. There are not a large restaurant which I would expect to gladly pay it. The waitress said it would cost a dime and it's due to California rule. It's why I am only giving four of five stars. Nevertheless excellent Hainan Chicken. Would return if I had a hunger for chicken.

    Free soup
    Ann L.

    Tried out SHC on Wed 4/8/26 after work, got there by 5pm and didn't have to wait. I got the special hainan chicken over rice grand opening deal $9.99, reg price $15.55. I thought it was ok. Cold chicken, lots of tiny chicken bones to spit out. Comes w/ cucumber, peanuts, ginger scallion sauce, rice. B. got special Hainan chicken noodle soup sale price $13.95, reg price $15.99. It's a huge bowl w/ noodles, the chicken comes separate w/ peanuts and ginger onion sauce. We got extra cucumber salad $6.99 - just ok, not enough garlic for me. Mala honeycomb tripe $10.50 - B. Liked it. Ok for me. Separate bathrooms in the back. Women's had 2 toilets, 1 sink. With tax was $45.89, tip added later. Might go back, not in any hurry.

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    Ask the Community - Special Hainan Chicken

    Special Hainan Chicken - hainan - Updated September 2026

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