Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice opens new restaurant at Jewel
Fans of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice can now get their fix at Jewel Changi Airport, where the famous Maxwell Food Centre stall has opened a new flagship restaurant with a selection of exclusive dishes.
The new outlet introduces several dishes not available at its other locations, and we were among the first few to get a taste of these exclusive creations.
The brand first started as a humble stall in 1986, founded by Madam Foo Kui Lian and her elder brother. Over the years, Tian Tian gained international recognition, including praise from the late Anthony Bourdain, a win over Gordon Ramsay during the 2013 Hawker Heroes Challenge, and a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition that it has retained since 2016.
Today, the business is run by its second generation, with Madam Foo’s daughter Loi Mui Yin taking over ownership in 2009 and expanding the brand, while maintaining its original recipes and standards.
The standout dish from the new menu was Madam Foo’s Steamed Chicken Curry ($13.80++). Instead of the usual chicken rice pairing, Tian Tian’s signature steamed chicken is served with a special curry created by Madam Foo herself, which you can enjoy with chicken rice, white rice, noodles, vermicelli, or baguette slices.
This was easily our favourite dish of the visit. The curry was thick, rich, and packed with flavour, but still balanced enough that it didn’t feel overly jelak. The gentle spice made it especially addictive, while the chicken stayed tender after soaking up the gravy.
The Tian Tian Heritage Platter ($25.80++) is another outlet-exclusive item. Perfect for sharing among two to three diners, this set features a mix of hawker favourites, including ngoh hiang, Hainanese pork chop, Thai-style fried tofu, tiger prawn beancurd rolls, and fried salad prawns.
The ngoh hiang and tiger prawn beancurd rolls were our favourites, with both staying crispy on the outside while remaining soft inside even after sitting out during our shoot.
The Nanyang Golden Chicken ($12.80++) is another exclusive item, featuring Tian Tian’s steamed chicken marinated with turmeric and curry leaves before being fried until crisp. Unfortunately, it was sold out during our visit, as the dish requires hours of preparation beforehand.
Returning from Tian Tian’s early days is the Crystal Chicken Feet ($9.80++), a boneless chicken feet dish that first gained popularity at the Maxwell stall in 1986. The dish has a springy, gelatinous texture and a mild flavour. Personally, it wasn’t my favourite, though this largely comes down to personal preference.
Of course, the classic Chicken Rice Set ($11++) is available too, with both steamed and roasted chicken options.
The rice remained the highlight, with fluffy grains carrying notes of chicken stock and garlic.
However, the steamed chicken was slightly drier than expected during our visit.
Dipping each piece of chicken into the house-made chilli helped, with its tangy flavour and heat adding more flavour and moisture.
Wash everything down with a Homemade Fresh Lime Juice ($5.30++), prepared with freshly squeezed calamansi lime for an extra tangy and refreshing finish.
The Jewel outlet is the brand’s biggest outlet yet, with seating for around 98 diners. Located on Basement 2 of the mall, the new restaurant sits right next to Food Republic.
FYI: Tian Tian Jewel will officially launch on 22 August, with a soft opening promotion offering 20% off from now till 17 August.
While you’re here, check out our full guide to the best chicken rice in Singapore. In other exciting food openings, beloved old-school bakery Chin Mee Chin has opened at NEX with a new menu!
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #B2-243 & 244, Jewel Changi Airport,Singapore 819666
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Tian Tian is not halal-certified.
10 Best Chicken Rice In Singapore Ranked, Including Tian Tian And Boon Tong Kee
Photos taken by Ian Sim.
This was a media tasting at Tian Tian Jewel.
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