Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Maxwell Food Centre; Singapore

I always have avoided doing touristy things, but one day I decided to do something touristy for a change here in Singapore. So I headed to Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown to try Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice!

Most people know and have heard of Tian Tian from Anthony Bourdain's programme, "No Reservations". It has also been awarded and written up about for being Singapore's best chicken rice.

After looking at the menu and waiting in queue, I decided on ordering the Medium Chicken Rice, since I was quite hungry upon arriving at Maxwell.

Medium Chicken Rice; SGD 5.00

The chicken looked like it was shimmering thanks to the way it was cooked and the special sauce poured over it. The chicken was cold, juicy and succulent. I remember reading somewhere that the chicken would be dipped in ice before it is chopped up and served.

The idea is that the ice would lock in the moisture and the natural oil of the steamed chicken, making the meat retain its juiciness.

The star of the Tian Tian's chicken rice (for me) would really be the rice. The rice is basically a meal in itself. It's delicious, flavourful and fragant. Without the rice the chicken would just be cold steamed chicken, but with the rice, there is a nice balance between cold and warmth and juiciness and flavour.

Now I see the hype over Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. It's definitely as must try for tourist or anyone who just loves chicken rice!

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice made it to the Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2016.

*Total For My Meal: SGD 5.00

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice @ Maxwell Food Centre is located at:

#1 Kadayanallur Street; #01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

Operating Hours: 

Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00am-8:00pm

Mondays: CLOSED

*about a 8-10 minute walk from Chinatown, Telok Ayer & Tanjong Pagar MRT Stations!

Directions from Chinatown MRT Station:

Exit to Pagoda Street
Go straight on Pagoda Street
Turn right and go straight on South Bridge Road
Turn left and go straight on Erskine Road
Turn right on Kadayanallur Street
Maxwell Food Center will be on your right