Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Kitty and I, together with our children, were in the area running errands and decided to head to Maxwell Food Centre for dinner. We had initially considered Uncle Louis Famous Chicken Rice, but my son specifically preferred Tian Tian, so we joined the queue there instead. There was a substantial queue, yet it moved surprisingly fast, and we were served in about 15 minutes, which was much quicker than we expected. In my personal opinion, both the chicken and the rice at Tian Tian are far superior. The chicken was tender, smooth and juicy, with beautifully soft skin and well seasoned meat that was full of flavour. The rice was wonderfully fragrant and fluffy, perfectly infused with ginger and pandan, and every grain was separate and rich in taste. Kitty and the children loved it as well, and we all agreed that the quality was excellent. The chilli sauce was bright, tangy and carried just the right amount of heat, while the ginger sauce was fresh and aromatic, complementing the chicken perfectly. However, when it was our turn to order, there were no extra vegetables, eggs or other side dishes left to add to our order, and only bean sprouts were available. While the food itself was excellent, the service was disappointing and the reason for our four star rating. The lady serving us gave only five small portions of chilli sauce for our family of five and kept both the chilli and black soya sauce bottles behind the stall, out of reach of customers. My son and I asked for more black soya sauce for our rice, but she told us the amount given was more than enough and only provided two small servings. We felt this was unnecessary and restrictive, as customers should be free to add sauces according to their own preference. Despite these shortcomings, the chicken rice was excellent. We will consider returning, but we hope that the service and the availability of condiments will be improved by then.

Although the line may look long, the turnover is quick, so the wait time is short. Since it's a food court, securing seats can be difficult for large groups. Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is a renowned Hainanese chicken rice restaurant representing Singapore. It was founded in 1986 by Madame Foo Kui Lian at Maxwell Food Centre, and the current #01-10/11 location remains its flagship store. It became a popular restaurant with long lines in the 2000s, and gained worldwide fame in 2008 when chef Anthony Bourdain praised it. In 2013, it further increased its recognition by winning the "Hawker Heroes Challenge" against Gordon Ramsay. In 2016, it was also selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand. The recommended dish is, of course, "Hainanese Chicken Rice." This dish features tender, moist boiled chicken served with fragrant rice infused with chicken broth, fat, and aromatic vegetables. Adding chili sauce, ginger, or dark soy sauce enhances the chicken's flavor even further. As of 2026, general information suggests small (S$5), medium (S$6), and large (S$9) portions. For first-timers, the medium-sized Hainanese chicken rice is recommended. Adding side dishes like green vegetables, bean sprouts, or a boiled egg is also a good idea. It gets particularly crowded between 12 and 2 PM, so aiming for 11 AM or after 2:30 PM will make it less crowded.

The chicken at Tian Tian Maxwell is really second to none. The only thing letting them down is the hygiene awareness of the lady who assembles the dishes at the pass. I was waiting to collect my food and saw the lady tearing the ticket from the previous customer with both her gloved and non gloved hands (the previous customer would've had to touch money or his phone at the cashier to pay for his food, and then had ro hold onto that ticket with his dirty hand). Then she was grabbing and touching the semi dirty hawker center trays with her gloved hands. I thought she would've changed her glove after touching the trays, but then she just uses her dirty gloved hand to grab the bowl and started scooping my rice. I thought that was bad, then she again used the now dirty gloved hand to grab the cucumbers that she lines the bottom of the paper containers with. Finally, she used that dirty gloved hand again to grab cilantro to garnish my chicken. Just a reminder to that lady, she's using her gloves wrong. Technically, she is only keeping her hand clean by wearing her glove, but the point is to keep the food clean. Every time you touch something dirty or semi dirty with your glove, you need to change it.

Delicious! As a Hunan native who loves spicy food, I can attest to its deliciousness! I didn't have high expectations, especially since I had just eaten an hour earlier. But since I was already there, I figured I might as well check it out. And guess what? It really was delicious! Even just the rice was tasty. I finished it all, even though I was already stuffed. The only downside was how hot the seating area was. Otherwise, nothing much to say! (BTW, they only accept cash or credit cards.) The chili peppers were also great, with a hint of lime! Definitely worth trying!

A long-standing Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice rose to fame years ago after being featured on classic food travel shows. Its popularity has grown steadily, with five outlets now across Singapore. I visited its original stall at Maxwell Food Centre in search of the authentic classic taste, but my experience was ultimately underwhelming and disappointing. Having grown up eating Cantonese poached chicken, I hold high standards for poultry flavor and texture, firmly believing that good chicken should taste like chicken. However, Singapore’s local kampung chicken lacks natural poultry aroma and boasts nothing special in terms of texture. The seasoning further ruins the dish. The thickened soy sauce glaze poured over the chicken is overly sweet and salty, overpowering and completely masking the meat’s subtle natural flavor. To make matters worse, the pale, colorless chicken skin looks unappetizing and dull, lacking the traditional golden hue that enhances visual appeal.

I think it tastes much better than the Hainanese chicken in the mall, although some people may have different opinions. It's said that white chicken is a specialty of Singapore, and while I'm not entirely sure, it's quite delicious, and the sauce is a must-try. The queue itself isn't too long, about 10-20 minutes. Once you get your food, it's easy to find a seat outdoors. The price isn't too expensive; a large bowl cost me about 9 SGD. In short, it's definitely worth the queue for this authentic local dish!

The busiest shop in the square sells out every day, so you have to queue during mealtimes. The chicken is super tender and delicious, and the rice itself is very fragrant. The accompanying chili sauce is extremely spicy, so use it with caution. Unfortunately, there are only fans in the square, so it's really hot to eat there at noon!

it's worth the hype, but the portion is small and maxwell center is so stifling hot. i went at 4 pm on a thursday, only had to wait for 5 minutes. the rice is aromatic. the chicken is succulent. the sauce is flavourful. the bok choy is crispy. i highly recommend ordering half or whole chicken, the medium chicken rice plate will get you four measly pieces of chicken. but it's cheap!