As mentioned in my previous post, Hainanese Chicken Rice is a de facto national dish of Singapore. It can be enjoyed in literally any food courts, hawker centres, coffee shops and restaurants. To me, I determine how good a chicken rice is based on three factors. Firstly, Chicken rice. Secondly, Chicken meat. Lastly, Chilli.
There has been claims that Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice along with the likes of Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice, Chatterbox and Fook Seng Goldenhill Chicken Rice are favourites among Singaporeans. Having check out Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice previously, I happened to be near Maxwell and hence decided to check out the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.
I visited Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at 4pm on a weekday and was surprised that there was a queue. This stall is certainly famous.
They have expanded and now occupy 2 stalls now. Place your orders at the right (of the picture) and collect at the other end!
Endorsement from magazines, newspapers and even celebrities. They are even recognised internationally! Anthony Bourdain (Celebrity Chef) said that the rice can be taken alone. Although it is simple, it delivers a taste that develops wonderfully and engages the sense!~
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'White' Chicken Rice $3.50 with Gizzard $0.80 |
The chicken drizzled in some 'special' sauce that is mixed by Tian Tian was amazingly tender, fleshy and tasty. It was so good that I found that there was no need for me to dip it (chicken meat) into the chilli sauce. Nevertheless, I did try the chilli sauce. It was delicious! The spiciness and sourness (from lime) gave it an extra oomph! It made me wonder each time when I am eating the chicken if I should dip it into the sauce as either way was equally delicious!
The rice was fragrant and flavourful. However, not all the grains of the rice was soft. Some stuck together and were hard. As for the Chicken Gizzard? It was slightly more expensive than else where at $0.80 and I wish that they were sliced in smaller pieces to aid eating.
Overall, Tian Tian is certainty a place to check out if you are looking forward to a meal of chicken rice.
ps: out of all the places that I have eaten thus far, I would rate Tian Tian's Chicken Rice at second. My top favourite would be the Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice at Golden Mile Food Centre. Main reason is because some parts of Tian Tian's rice were hard.
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)
Maxwell Road
#01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
Tel: 9691 4852
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11am - 8pm
Closed on Mon
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