The Chicken Rice Shop Turns 26: New Look, New Menu
The Chicken Rice Shop, one of Malaysia's most familiar homegrown casual dining names, has marked its 26th year with a nationwide brand refresh and a Merdeka deal aimed squarely at families. For regulars, it means a new look on the ground, a longer menu, and an RM16.90 combo running through the National Day season.
The refresh, unveiled on 12 August 2026, brings a revitalised mascot, refreshed staff uniforms and an updated printed menu across the chain's outlets. The brand has also widened its merchandise line, including its own Sambal Chilli Crunch, so the flavours regulars know from the restaurant can now travel home with them.
New dishes beyond the chicken rice
Hainanese Chicken Rice stays at the heart of the menu, but the anniversary line-up leans into how much the kitchen has grown around it. New items include Boneless Crispy Roast Chicken, Strawberry Kunafa Pai Tee, BBQ Chicken Mayo Pai Tee, and Cakoi with Pandan Gula Melaka, a mix of local comfort and a few playful twists for anyone who has not glanced past the chicken rice in a while.
The RM16.90 Merdeka Combo
Tied to the celebrations, the chain has rolled out its annual Merdeka campaign, running from now until 20 September 2026. The centrepiece is an RM16.90 Merdeka Combo built for a quick, affordable meal:
- A single portion chicken (steamed, roast or soy sauce)
- Chicken rice
- A choice of keropok lekor or Penang rojak
- A 12oz soft drink
It is priced to bring a family together over familiar plates without much fuss, which is the point of a Merdeka promotion running through the school holidays and into September.
Still growing, and still giving back
Since opening its first restaurant in 2000, The Chicken Rice Shop has grown to more than 160 outlets nationwide, all halal-certified. The milestone also doubles as a reminder of the chain's community work: through its ongoing CSR programme, it says it has sponsored more than 7,000 meals a year to orphanages, welfare organisations and nurseries across Malaysia since 2000.
The refresh lands during a busy stretch for casual dining chains in the Klang Valley, from Sushiro bringing its conveyor-belt sushi to 1 Utama to Eat Pizza going JAKIM halal in Bukit Jalil, as familiar names rework how they show up for diners.
"This refresh isn't just about a new look, it's about showing Malaysians that there's so much more to discover with us," said Jane Wong, Deputy General Manager of The Chicken Rice Shop Restaurants.
Worth a return visit
For anyone who grew up on its chicken rice, the 26th-year refresh is a low-stakes reason to go back: the same familiar plate, a few new things to try, and a Merdeka combo priced to share. Full details are on the official website.
