SINGAPORE : Two years ago, the stars aligned to bring what he calls the "perfect" burger to Adam Chen's lips. Now, like a benevolent fairy godfather, he's paying it forward by bringing R Burger to Singapore.

"It was an inspiration of hunger!" said the MediaCorp artiste about his new business venture - a Japanese chain that also has outlets in Thailand.

"It started with my trip to Bangkok about two years back. I'd done quite a lot of shopping, my legs were tired, and I just managed to catch sight of the signboard just outside Siam Square. I went in for lunch ... From there, I fell in love with the burger. Everything was, in my opinion, at that point in time, pretty much perfect."

In about two weeks' time, you, too, can taste perfection at R Burger Singapore's first outlet at ION Orchard. But if you're expecting typical guilt-laden fast food, you'll be in for a surprise.

The "R" stands for Revolution. "Revolution in the sense that you'll no longer perceive a burger in the same way," said Adam. "The bun is not your standard bun. It's steamed, like a Chinese mantou. It's also a health food - it has less calories, and it contains marine collagen."

Egad! Eat this burger and become pretty? "And you will not grow old," said Adam, laughing.

If that's not healthy enough for you, the joint also serves coffee and a selection of teas instead of soft drinks, and tofu nuggets. Yes, you heard right. Tofu.

"I know!" said Adam, "I thought tofu nuggets didn't sound very good, too - until I had them. And I don't even eat vegetables or tofu."

The burgers on the menu include the R burger, which features a beef patty with miso sauce, shiso leaves and pickled daikon; the chicken ume burger, and the avocado cheese burger.

So why is Adam becoming an entrepreneur? "I want to retire early so that I don't have to work by 40!" quipped the 33-year-old. Adam also runs Three Kings Kitchen, a duck and chicken rice stall with three outlets across the island.

"I have not gotten to the point of considering quitting showbiz yet, but if things get a bit more busy, I might consider it," he told TODAY. "I would give more priority to business than show business. I think the sense of satisfaction is greater."

If this fast food joint takes off, Adam's showbiz career might just be ended by a burger. We feel your pain, ladies.

- TODAY/il