13:02 31/08/2013 Chicken Rice is one of our favorite food next to Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai and Mee Goreng in KL. Every time we gnaw that succulent chicken and fragrant rice we wondered how come it taste so good knowing it’s just a simple dish. This lead us to father Google on “how to make a chicken rice”. The first 60 seconds was oh sounds simple but after realizing the tedious process. We just scrape the whole idea and just bought one from hawker, cravings solve! Our fascination for Chicken Rice didn’t end there, would you believe that we traveled 350KM of August last year just to taste the best of bestest Chicken Rice? Follow the adventure on the next jump if the touted best is yay or nay!
The two hours of waiting at the boarding gate was exhausting, making our 40 minutes ride to Singapore unnoticed. But it’s just the beginning, the sky train ride from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, an MRT ride from Changi Airport then exchange a train at Tanah Merah before reaching Tanjong Pagar station. When all summed up it’s equivalent on the travel time spent on a plane. And walking on the long stretch of Maxwell Road pavement plus scorching heat of afternoon sun, made us more even weary. We’ve all done that for the love of Chicken Rice!
Upon reaching near the intersection of Maxwell and Tanjong Pagar road. A noticeable structure flash to our mind, terracotta pillars with a semi rounded crystal ball with overhead sign “Maxwell Food Centre”. We’d come to the right place. Blissfully! all those ho hum fade away right there when a whiff of familiar scent elated our senses, unmistakably of that Chicken Rice.
We didn’t wait long and then scouted Singapore’s best Chicken Rice. Swarm of people were on a look out mode, might also be searching of that famous shop. It didn’t take five minutes and we’re standing in front of the blue neon lighted Hawker stall “Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice”. Patrons beside us wore that straight face that looks like a hungry zombie in Walking Dead. While some raise their eyebrows one notch higher of a drag queen over thinking that we’re jumping on the line.
Before things get worst , we shun away and followed the end of long line. Whoa! there was like 20 folks ahead of us before we can place an order. We patiently waited and giving up wasn’t an option as we traveled 350KM just to be there. In Singapore, you’ll knew if the stall serves a good food if people patiently queuing.
You might be wondering, how come we knew this is the bestest of Chicken Rice in the red dot nation. After reading a post from Paul of walkflypinoy, of his Singapore Food favorites, among them is Tian Tian Chicken Rice. His honest remark and his strong recommendation about Tian Tian made us googled “best chicken rice in singapore”. It brought us to thebestsingapore site which tallied all the best Chicken rice shops in Singapore. For all to know Chicken Rice is a National dish of Singapore, and Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stood above the rest
After reading numerous reviews and thumbs up from local foodies. With all it’s accolades on it’s breast, even the renowned Travelling American chef, Anthony Bourdain was lured on this stall. Without second thoughts we’d put Tian Tian on the top list upon visiting SG.
Before we got excited murmuring our order, we’d survey the area and found a spot just rear of Tian Tian stall. Open space to breathe while chomping that savory Chicken Rice, Whew!
As we got nearer and nearer to the stall, we can’t hide our excitement. We’d already knew what to order even before gazing on that blue board which show the prices and offered menu. We took Half Hainanese Steamed Chicken ($12) with three plates of rice ($0.50 each) for two person.
The luscious Hainanese steamed chicken spilled with savory sauce topped with spring onions, cilantro and thin slice cucumber. They said the first bite was crucial. All we remembered was marriage of mmmm and ………. Heavenly tasty! Chicken meat is tender with it’s thick juices oozes every time I took a mouthful which creates a sublime feeling. It wipes out the best memory of chicken rice that we’d ever consume.
Anthony Bourdain was right “Chicken Rice is so fragrant and delicious that it can be eaten on it’s own”. It’s our first time eating rice imbue with flavor and richness of chicken with some hint of ginger and spices. The rice complements well with Steamed Chicken, and completely disregard the chili and dark soy sauce on the side. We emptied the plate and spare nothing except the bones. Every Sing dollars and travel mileage spent were all worth it. A definitely “die, die must try” when visiting Singapore.
So to answer the question is it a Yay or Nay? Definitely a Yay!
Tip: Please bring a lots of patience upon visiting this stall and don’t go there if you’re on a diet. 🙂
Address: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice 1 Kadayanallur Street #01-10 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore
Tel: (65) 9691 4852
Opening hours: 11 am – 8 pm Closed on Monday
Note: This is not paid post or some sort, we just want to share our good experience with this hawker.
Foodie Couple,
Sky and Summer
I've also tried eating at Maxwell Road in Singapore and they do have a nice variety of foods there.
I haven't been to Singapore and haven't tried this yet, it's looks very enticing. But seeing that long line, it must be something I should visit when I get there.
The food Hainanese Chicken's superb and looks delicious. the long queue's boring to wait. But worth it I think
Huhuhu this post just made me miss Singapore more! I often walked in Chinatown SG before but never once did I attempted to eat at Maxwell because there are cheaper prices elsewhere. But of course, the chicken rice here is said to be the best.
Sometimes, the simplest are the best. Chicken rice seems to be very simple but according to you is imbued with so much heavenly flavor, it just has to be tried. I hope I'll have my chance.
How was your dining experience?
Yes, Chicken Rice is their staple food and missing it is like missing eating Adobo in Phils. 🙂
You bet, it's all worth it.
Maxwell Road is just stone away from Chinatown, you should have visit it. By the way, I find the food range in Maxwell reasonable compare to other hawkers.
Agree Miss Teresa, this simple dish really wowed us big time.
Yum! I love chicken especially when it's juicy and has a lot of sauce. The dish you got looks really well-cooked! 🙂
I must visit this place! when I go to Singapore this summer!!
i will be going to Singapore soon and am so excited to try the Chicken Rice..will definitely visit this place..
Wow this made me hungry and want to go to Singapore to try this chicken rice 😀
this is really yummy! i love chicken rice haha even more my daughter loves it too! what i miss about singapore is their vegetarian noodles which I cannot find here in malaysia.
I love Hainanese rice + Chicken. First time to try it here at SM Southmall but for some reason, the resto was gone 🙁 and OMG, that long line, it must be really really good for the people to wait that long.
Sounds good to me, i hope we can have somthing like this here in Makati..
Maybe, there already is in some night food markets that I havent visited, who knows.
You adjectives surely bought me.
You should, do let us know what's your experience.
Yeah Leira, your visit to SG will not be complete without tasting the best of National dish of Singapore, only in Tian Tian.
A die die must try as what they say.
They vegeterian noodles here, but's just hard to find a shop.
It was all worth waiting, if you heard about chicken rice shop in Manila, that;s something you can to start to explore with.
Gosh, I haven't been in Singapore since childhood. Gotta go back there soon.
Thanks for this info, but I'd like to visit someday.
will be visiting Singapore in April and I can't wait to visit this place too
I would love to try this dish! I always go for any chicken dishes 🙂 If we have something like that in my local place, I'd definitely bring my friends there para matry naman namin 😀
I was unaware of this bridge when I was in Singapore last year, but like everything in Singapore the architecture is impressive.
I don't if the Singaporean theme restaurant fronting Cogot is still open, but Ive heard they serve authentic Hainanese Chicken rice.
Singapore has nice bridges too though it's not as emphasized as their other attractions.
Such a beautiful photo! I wish i could snap a photo of that bridge soon..SG really has a lot offer.
Ang dami actually ng magandang tanawin sa Singapore considering that it is more cosmopolitan in nature. I am not sure if this picture here is my personal favorite pero it is well captured nonetheless.
Pretty! I really love to travel, but I've yet to venture to places outside of the Philippines. Singapore is on top of my list of places to see soon, though.
Sir this is nice. how come i didn't saw this when I was in singapore!!! Singapore is a concrete jungle but they compensate whatever is lacking.
Its just stone away from Fullerton. There are more interesting places in SG better than Merlion and MBS.
Sure Jherson! 🙂
Enjoy travelling MrsC!
I had tantamount of photo from still unprocessed that's worth sharing 🙂
Thanks! best to visit it during sunset.
Blame it to bias on commercialism.
There are more interesting places in Singapore worth to visit aside from this Bridge.
you should go back Sir, you'll be surprise what it looks now.
Welcome! enjoy your travel to SG.
Just near to Fullerton Hotel and Singapore River. Walking distance to Merlion
Hainanese Steamed Chicken is one of my fave in my every visit to Singapore. And yes, Chicken Rice is the Adobo Rice of Singapore— can be eaten on it's own! 🙂
Ang sarap talaga ng hainanese chicken nlng.. even the looks pa lang, succulent na sya. how much more if you take a bite of it!