Singapore’s famous dish “Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice” – the chicken melts in your mouth

Text & Photos /Xiao Sheng

Singapore’s cuisine is rich and diverse, making it truly appealing. When I came to Singapore, I was eager to seek out authentic Nanyang flavors. One of the dishes I most wanted to try was Hainanese chicken rice. After searching online, I found that almost everyone recommended Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre near Chinatown. So, I decided to give it a try.

Maxwell Food Centre is another well-known food hub in Singapore, located near Chinatown and just a 500-meter walk away. Like other hawker centers, it houses hundreds of food stalls. However, unlike Tekka Centre, Maxwell is closer to Chinatown, so there are fewer Indian snacks here and more Southeast Asian-style Chinese dishes.




During meal times, Maxwell Food Centre is packed with diners. Before eating, I took a few minutes to walk around the food center. There were plenty of people, and while many stalls had queues, the longest line was definitely for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Although I couldn’t tell how many were locals, I noticed quite a few tourists lining up for it.


Bean Sprouts & Squid (SGD4): Besides the fragrant and tender chicken rice, I also ordered a plate of bean sprouts and squid. In addition to bean sprouts and squid, this dish includes scallions and crispy fried shallots for extra flavor. The bean sprouts were crisp, and the squid had a firm yet bouncy texture. The aroma of the fried shallots enhanced the overall taste — I really enjoyed this dish.


Fragrant and Tender Chicken Rice (SGD3.5): The Hainanese chicken rice comes with specially prepared chicken broth and sauces drizzled over the white rice and chicken to enhance the flavor. It’s served with a bit of cucumber, and a bowl of clear soup is included with the meal.


What looks like an ordinary plate of chicken rice is actually anything but — the chicken is simply amazing. The texture is best described as melting in your mouth, and achieving such tenderness in this cut of chicken is truly rare. The sweet-and-salty sauce isn’t overly strong and complements the chicken perfectly, highlighting the distinctive flavors of Hainanese chicken. The rice has absorbed the chicken broth’s aroma, making it even better. This perfect combination of flavors is exactly why I love Tian Tian’s Hainanese chicken rice.


There are many other delicious foods in the food center too. One evening, while staying near Chinatown, I went out to look for dessert and stumbled upon Lao Ban Tofu Pudding. I chose it simply to compare the taste of Singaporean tofu pudding with Taiwanese versions.


Tofu Pudding (SGD3): At SGD3, the price wasn’t exactly cheap. This tofu pudding had a bean aroma, though not as strong as some. The texture was smoother and more elastic, almost like a pudding-like version of tofu. The taste was decent, but it was definitely different from Taiwanese tofu pudding.

Maxwell Food Centre’s Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is truly excellent. I had thought that the standard of Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore would be generally good, but after trying some disappointing versions a few days later, I realized Tian Tian’s really does stand out. If you’re in Singapore’s Chinatown, you absolutely must try this renowned Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice — it’ll make your trip worthwhile.

[Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre]

Address:Stall10, 1, Kadayanallur St., Singapore 069184
Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journeyhttp://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog

Every journey, every adventure is about seeking — though I’m not always sure what exactly. But in the end, what I gain is often more than I ever imagined. And so, my wandering journey will continue, without end.