Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice

Each grain of rice has a life of its own. The rice is generously coated in chicken oil that gives it a beautiful off white hue and I could taste each grain bouncing in my mouth. Chicken is smooth and silky. Not a fan of chicken skin usually but I subconsciously devoured everything. No issues with the disposable plates. In fact, any local knows this is much more hygienic than the reusable plastic ones, where most cleaners who are paid peanuts at hawkers don’t do a serious job with cleaning. So understand the local context and get off your high horses.

Yum, yum, yum! The auntie here is so lovely and was very friendly when helping me to decide on what to order. I went for the set which only cost eight bucks. Everything was tasty and fragrant with a delicious ginger under tone permeating throughout the dish. Filling, mildly healthy and most importantly, it made me happy

the best Hainese Chicken rice i have ever had in Singapore! however the food court is bit busy as you need to look for a seat for a while. location is good, price is reasonable

Best Hainanese Chicken Rice! We did some research before reached to this place and tried SG'chicken rice, then figured out even there is no Michellin star for this place - this is actually superb with reasonable price. The chicken is soft, tender goes with fresh, delicious vegie and amazing chicken rice. You should order the set meal (S$6 or 8 for bigger serve) It locates in the middle of the first lane of Maxwell food court, you wont miss it 'cause of the long quene!

Absolutely thrilling! This was hands down one of the best Hainanese Chicken Rice experiences I’ve ever had! We went for the SGD 7 serving, and it was so generous that we strolled around Chinatown feeling completely satisfied for hours. If you find yourself in Singapore, do not miss out on this gem!

A good rendition of chicken rice at Maxwell food centre. If you do not want to wait at the snaking queue for Tian Tian chicken rice then Ah Tai represents a decent alternative. On the day the chicken was well cooked and the rice appropriately flavoured. The soup is the usual chicken stock you get accompanying a chicken rice. Price was affordable.

Tried Ah Tai chicken rice, the chicken was tender and the rice was very fragrant. They also gave you an additional ginger sauce with your Chili sauce which was nice. Had Tian Tian the day before, was also good but not worth the wait. There are 9 chicken rice places in the Maxwell Centre they must be all decent otherwise they would go out of business. Try them all and find out your favourite. Maxwell Centre is next to the MRT so easy to get to but very busy at lunchtime. Try to go before or after peak hour.

Not as famous as Tin Tin but this shop delivers higher value, as they produce very delicious Singaporean chicken rice at a more reasonable price than Tin Tin. This shop has long queue so be patient.

First time here, ordered the half chicken Taste 0.5/1* Chicken was chilled, tender and juicy on the spot, the sauce was similar to Tian Tian, savoury, sweet, if had fresh could be the better one, but as we brought it home, the chicken quickly dries out for some reason Value 1/1* Cheaper than other store, aka good value Service 1/1* Fast and friendly Cleanliness 1/1* It's a hawker center Overall/Revisit 0.5/1* Might revisit if not in mood for other one, but definitely no take out Paying for ambience/reputation? 0/1* NO Above and beyond? 0/+1* NO

This was my first meal upon landing in Singapore and it did not disappoint! I ordered a large serving size of Hainanese Chicken Rice and got the set meal for a total of $8. This included broth, bok choy, and chili and oyster sauces. Everything was so delicious and I enjoyed the texture and flavors. The rice and chicken were cooked perfectly and were so tasty! Friendly service, short wait, cash only. ATM conveniently located within Maxwell FC. I definitely preferred Ah Tai to its competitors! (Especially the popular overhyped one just a few stalls down...) Poached chicken version only available here and they're closed on Tuesdays. If you have time for only one chicken rice joint, Ah Tai is the one. Trust.

It's strictly ok to me I understand... this is nostalgic for people in singapore. But for me, this was basic and didn't have much redeeming value. Did a side by side of tian tian and ah tai hainanese chicken. I'm going to copy and paste this same review for Tian tian and ah tai. Tian tian: long wait (this is where the out the door line is). It moves fast but you also have to be pushy. The sauce had move flavor, and the chicken was more tender. Everything else was the same Ah tai: shorter wait, nicer people. The broth they added on the side was delicious. The chicken itself had more ginger flavor and was still very tender and moist. If I had my choice, I'd go be to ah tai because the broth is an added bonus, and the line is shorter.

I wanted to try Tian Tian for the famous Hainanese Chicken Rice, but it was a Monday so they were not open :( So my consolation prize was Ah Tai. Still worth trying both either way if you get the chance. It may appear basic, but it's a staple in Singapore.

Ask a local....or your Houston CM Jandito...for a recommendation. When in Singapore, eat Hainanese Chicken Rice. Visited the Maxwell Food Centre with our guide, Cheyenne, from Indie Singapore Tours. Had already bookmarked Ah Tai, but couldn't decide between that and Tian Tian. So interesting that the chef at Ah Tai used to be the chef at Tian Tian. The food at Ah Tia was so delicious. For 6 Singapore dollars, you get a generous serving of chicken rice with a boiled chicken on top and a soup. Add some thick soy sauce. Delicious! Note: the locals tend to go more to Ah Tai. The line was wrapped around the building with another tour group for Tian Tian.

I prefer Ah Tai over the more famous shop a few stalls down. There were no lines and the couple working the stall were very friendly. They gave me my place of chicken and chicken rice, soup, and a saucer of chili sauce. I looked down and the woman then hands me another saucer of chili sauce and says "I better not see this in the trash, lah ". I mustered up my best Singlish and said "of course not, lah!" and we had a laughed. If you want the better chicken rice in Maxwell, go here!

Everyone in Singapore says get the chicken and Rice. Looking at this dish looks so boring just plain looking chicken and plain looking rice. There was a good size line in front of this stall and the one next to it had a longer line, the guy in front of us said the other stall is more famous but this one tastes better - good enough for me. Wow I was surprised how good this seemingly boring dish tasted, so good we got another order. Tasted perfect with some Tiger beer we got from the stall next to it. This is in Maxwell Hawker Market next to MRT station across from Buddhist Tooth Temple that you should also check out. Yes a must try for anyone visiting Singapore.

We were debating between this place or the famous chicken rice place 2 stalls down and since this place has a shorter line, we went to this one instead :) Short history, the owner of this place use to be the head chef at the famous place for 20 years! He decided to open his own shop as a competitor hahaha The chicken and rice is really good. The rice is smooth and very fluffy and aromatic. The children is tender and juicy. Definitely worth a try

I tried Ah Tai because tian tian is closed on Mondays and have no regrets! This is the perfect Hainanese chicken rice experience. The chicken is so moist and the sauce is a wonder sauce, I can dip anything in it. I got the combo for $6 Singaporean dollars with bok choy and soup which I highly recommend as the soup was life affirming and tasty. While chicken rice seems like an unassuming dish, I understand why Singaporeans are obsessed with it, everything you need in tasty, melt in your mouth morsels, hearty and so so affordable! Definitely worth a stop on any Singapore itinerary.

I found their chicken rice is more tasty than the most popular place (just few stall next to them). There are few foodie blogger said the same thing this place is better. I just can't taste too much different between the chicken, but the rice and sauce definitely are more tasty. It is hard to explain and you just need to try it yourself. The service is fast and the ladies (casher) was very friendly. Make sure you bring cash at hawker center. Overall the experience is good. I tried both stall in the same time, and order small size to max out your stomach to taste all the good food at the center.

So "the locals go here while the tourists go to Tian Tian" the saying goes... both are outstanding and I did prefer Ah Tai for the sauce. SOOOO good! Also beautiful that the line was super short

I prefer Ah Tai over Tian Tian (3 stalls over). You can definitely taste the ginger in the chicken which I heard helps tenderizes the meat. The rice has just enough of chicken flavor and fat. The chicken here MELTS in your mouth; it's SUPER UBER tender. This is my favorite chicken stall in all of Singapore. They also give a side of chicken broth and it comes with extra soy dipping sauce and a side of the spicy bright orange chili/garlic/ginger sauce.

The chicken rice was super good! I'm not a fan of bok choy but I ate every last bite.

Best hainan chicken rice I've tried so far! Tian Tian is more popular but the rice is not as good as Ah tai. Both are good but ah tai wins easily! The sauce is also better. Rice is flavorful and had a great texture.

Back for our yearly trip and since we were close to Maxwell food court, I decided to head in to grab some Hainan chicken and rice. Once we entered, I quickly saw a long ass line that had formed for Tian Tian. Since it was a hot and muggy day (typical Sing weather) I quickly remembered a good friend mentioning that Ah Tai was as good if not better than Tian Tian. Glanced over and saw that there were only 2 people in line, I made a b line over. Pricing wise, both are similarly priced (IIRC) but Ah Tai didn't have a long ass queue. Within 5 minutes, I was inside an air conditioned taxi and headed back to the hotel room to eat. At first glance, both places offer a cheap and tasty lunch/dinner. The main difference between the two was how fragrant the rice is at Ah Tai. I don't remember Tian Tian being as fragrant and actually thought the rice texture at Tian Tian was slightly off the last time I ate there. The chicken at both places were good, tender and moist but Ah Tai does throw in some veggies which is a nice addition to the regular dish. Will have to do a head to head comparison next year but for now, Ah Tai reigns king in my book for chicken and rice.

Based on some YouTube videos and the yelp rating we decided to give it a try. This place is kinda hard to find with google navigation. Ah Tai can be found right in the center of hawker center. This place was opened by someone who used to work at the famous tian tian hainan chicken Flavor 3.5/5 The chicken is very standard. What's special is the rice which was very flavorful. Wait and line 5/5 The wait is pretty decent. We waited 3 minutes at 12pm on Saturday. The wait at tian tian was 35 minutes Price 5/5 $5 for a set (chicken, rice, soup and veggie) is unbeatable and you get the best value of the price for sure Comparison to tian tian: Tian tian's rice tastes even better and is more flavorful as they have adjusted the recipe multiple times since opening. However the price is slightly more expensive with $9 if you want the veggies and chicken. The portions are slightly less there and you wait faaar longer. Overall tian tian is not worth the wait and is recommend ah tai if you crave or want to experience hainan chicken

That's some good chicken! Tian Tian was closed when I visited, but I read that Ah Tai Hainanese chicken rice was up there. It did not disappoint. The chicken was flavorful and moist. The best part was the aroma of the rice that they serve with the chicken. They have probably served millions of Hainanese chicken rice. They have reached perfection.

4 years later and still my fave Hainanese chicken spot! Made sure to make this my first lunch stop when I arrived because I just couldn't wait. Tian Tian still has all the hype but that meant no lines for Ah Tai. The chicken rice was just as I had remembered it and still love the side broth. Can't wait to come here all the time!

Unfortunately, Tian Tian Chicken & Rice stall was still closed when I visited Maxwell Food Centre the second time that I was there. I read online that Ah Tai was still a good option for chicken and rice. I got here by 5pm before the dinner rush and the line wasn't super long yet. The line was long by the time I finished eating, but the lines seemed to move quickly from my observation. The chicken and rice was good and cheap (i.e. 3.5 SGD for medium size). The chicken was moist and delicious. Not bad overall.

Best Hainan chicken I've ever had in my life. If you're from Los Angeles, you're probably familiar with Savoy's hainan chicken, which locals always rave about. I honestly have never liked that place; but if you like Savoy, you're definitely going to love Ah Tai. The funny thing is Ah Tai is on the 2018 Michelin Bib Gourmand but the guide has it listed as "Ah Gong" (which means the same thing as "ah tai"). Weird that Michelin would make that error but I spent hours trying to find "Ah Gong" in Singapore to no avail, only to accidentally realize that it's three stalls away from Tian Tian Hainan Chicken. For some reason, Tian Tian is more popular and has a way longer line, but I can tell you it's all hype. I tried both and I'd rather eat Savoy than the atrocity Tian Tian is serving. Ah Tai was so good, we got a second plate and devoured it in minutes. The chicken, the rice, everything was perfectly cooked and flavored. You're missing out if you come to Singapore and don't give this place a shot!

Ah Tai split off from Tian Tian (3 stalls down). The star here is also the chicken rice plate. Similar to Tian Tian, it's 3.50 for a small. Theirs comes with chicken broth on the side. It's traditional chicken fat rice with breast meat (with bone and skin) and cucumbers. Their chicken was more tender and more flavorful, and the rice was richer. I think the portion was bigger, too. I definitely preferred Ah Tai over Tian Tian. Also, extra points for having plastic utensils during the coronavirus outbreak (the other place still had regular utensils - yes, more environmentally friendly, but I would like to limit disease transmission....) Pro tip: grab a cold beer from the stall next door to go with your food!

If you ever find yourself in Chinatown, head straight to Maxwell to this stall for the best chicken rice you will ever eat in your life. Mouthwatering slices of boneless white meat chicken over a bed of fragrant rice with fresh cucumbers and a light yet flavorful sauce await you. The chef used to cook for Tian Tian just a few stalls away - we tried both and ruled that Ah Tai was the clear victor. The house made chili sauce is a great addition to those who like a little extra kick!

First try at Hainanese chicken! Went on a Thursday afternoon (around 5:30 pm). Tried to go to the famous Tian Tian chicken spot, but they ran out of chicken (maybe a blessing in disguise?). Saw that quite the line was forming at this place so decided to give it a try. So glad I did! Ordered the chicken set which came with soup, chicken, bok choy, rice, and 2 sauces. All that came out to 5 SGD. The rice was fragrant with garlic and ginger. I could eat the rice alone. The chicken was super tender and paired so well with the chili sauce. The chili sauce packed a punch and had a nice spicy kick to it. Honestly didn't bother to try the soy sauce looking sauce since I liked the chili sauce so much. Liked this place so much, think I'm going to try to for another visit to this place before I leave Singapore in the next few days!

Chicken rice, Singapore's national dish. You have not been, if you have not tried it. Dare I reject the opinions of the "Travel Channel" gurus and side with the locals? Look, this place is better. Outstanding chicken. Tender and juicy, boiled in an incredible broth of chicken stock, its collagen, lemongrass, and other herbs. Served with a side of rice cooked in the same stock and a bowl of the magical elixir itself. Add a sweet molasses sauce and homemade zesty, herbaceous, fresh siracha and all is right in Singapore. Incredible complexity and just plain delish. A bargain at $3.50 SGD per set. Half and whole chicken on offer. Lines get long (30 min plus). Don't worry, it won't be long before what is arguably the best chicken rice per locals is entering your drooling mouth! Maxwells Hawker center, two stalls to the left of "the tourist spot". Note: be willing to share your table with strangers. Outstanding.

A friend of mine visited Singapore before me and told me that if I did anything on my trip, it had to be visiting at least one Hawker Centre. We were recommended the Maxwell Centre and headed this way to see what we could grub on before our buffet dinner; we're little fatties, we know. Like many before us, we were hoping to check out Tian Tian. Don't judge us for being basic, Anthony Bourdain was a gd international treasure!! Unfortunately for us, it was closed on the Monday we visited. Luckily, we spotted Ah Tai just a few stalls down. Our Hainanese Chicken cravings needed to be met, so we handed over a cook $5 SGD and were presented with a lovely plate of rice with a good serving of chicken and bok choy, a side of broth, and a few dipping sauces. The broth was nice and light, flavorful but not salty. It was just a bit too toasty in the Centre for me to really enjoy hot broth. The bok choy was great, and paired really nicely with the flavors of the tender chicken and aromatic and soft rice. And of course, the dipping sauces were an excellent addition to the meal (but I'm just a sucker for dipping sauces). My sister and I shared this plate, and it was just enough for a nice snack for the both of us. It was so tasty we considered getting another, but figured we should try some other things while we were there. For $5 though, Ah Tai is probably the tastiest, most slammin' deal you'll find in all of Singapore.

I liked Ah Tai's more than the famous Tian Tian Chicken Rice. My friend waited 10 minutes to get his food, I waited 10 seconds. We both tasted it side by side to see which one we liked more and we both agreed it was Ah Tai's. This place is slightly cheaper and a lot tastier. We felt like Tian Tian was good but lacked the flavor that Ah Tai's had. Ah Tai even has an extra soup which was also a fantastic compliment to the meal. I would come back here!

Came by for their Hainan Chicken the other day and it was a tasty experience! Located 3 stalls down from Tian Tian, this stall had no line. Word on the street is that the chef used to work at Tian Tian! The drumstick chicken rice was quite tasty. Chicken was very smooth and had a nice gravy-like sauce over it. The rice was fragrant, soft, and flavorful. My entree also came with a small soup which was a great way to finish off a light lunch. Maxwell Center isn't air conditioned but they do have fans... Humidity and temperature might be a issue for foreigners! ...Maybe get a cold drink before ordering the meal? $4.2 SGD for a drumstick rice with soup.

If you're at Maxwell Food Centre, and having a hard time deciding between all the Hainanese Chicken Rice stalls - let me do the honors of narrowing it down for you. You should be standing between Ah Tai's and Tian Tian's. Both stalls are literally two spaces apart from each other. Ah Tai used to work for Tian Tian as a cook for 20 years until he was let go by management, and started his own stall. Both are pretty good, but Ah Tai gives you more rice and a cup of soup! Plus there are no lines at all. I'd say give Tian Tian a try, but when you're craving chicken rice and can't be bothered to stand in a line - go to Ah Tai's. You will not be disappointed!

Been meaning to write this review for a while. Revisited Ah Tai in my recent Singapore trip. I can confirm that Ah Tai still has it going on. Don't be enthralled by the long line at Tian Tian (mostly because of the Bourdain effect - also RIP ;___;). The chicken rice at Ah Tai is better and minus a wait. Chicken is so tender and the rice is just right. They also have a combo set you can order for $5.50 SGD with some veggies and soup. Either way, you can't go wrong.

With the unfortunate close proximity to the famous Tian Tian Chicken rice, this place never gets the respect. I believe the chicken itself at both places are comparable to each other (amazing). However I would give the edge to Ah Tai for the following reason: - no ridiculous line: Waited only 5 minutes during the busy lunch rush. - Side dishes: received a free chicken soup and the optional veggie. - Price to food ratio: about 5% more. Overall, if you have one meal at the Maxwell Food court, Tian Tian is the popular/notable one to go to, however Ah Tai is the good locals spot to hit up.

tl;dr perfect for an expat ready to dive into the famed chicken rice dish! Super affordable and hits the spot, definitely *at least* on par with its more famous neighbor Tian Tian. This was all 5 SGD (~ $3.70 USD)! I came to Ah Tai on my first night in Singapore (a Friday night), eager to dive into the hawker culture. In all honesty, I was planning on going to Tian Tian, but they had closed 10 minutes before I arrived (which was around 6:30pm? Oh well). I was not disappointed in the slightest, and absolutely loved my food. The chicken was packed with flavor, and it was clear that the chef(s) at Ah Tai were professionals from the first bite. As others have mentioned, the rice had a great fragrance/aroma to it, which made the entire dish even more flavorful! The broth was flavorful yet not too salty, which is a pet peeve of mine in these sorts of dishes. While I also personally enjoyed the chili sauce, it can definitely be too spicy for some patrons, so be aware of that. Overall, a wonderful place to be, and I will definitely return in the future!

I don't know chicken rice, but I feel like I got a full education of it here. Rice cooked in chicken stock, with some chicken and veggies on the side. There was also a bowl of soup which I wish I could get more of. The chicken and rice were delicious and the sambal was excellent. Another sub $4 meal that I wish I ordered more of

If you have read the other reviews, you would know the history of this stall. So I will not bore you with it. This is my go to Hainanese chicken rice stall (don't mistake this with other types of chicken rice). Rice is fragrant and the texture is just right. Chicken is tender and flavourful, not too fatty. Liver is good too but if you go too late, they run out of it. They are also willing to give you generous helpings of Chilli, ginger and black sauce as well as chicken soup. Service is good, no attitude problem. No long queue for one of the best Hainanese chicken rice in Singapore.

Food: 4.0/5.0 Service: 3.5/5.0 Value: 3.0/5.0 Decor: 3.5/5.0 Overall: 4.0/5.0 I've done T*** T*** before and anyone who knows me knows I don't do lines (unless it's A**le). Ah Tai did the trick. Basically just as good (you know I'm right) but basically no line. Don't be a lemming; save yourself the fifteen minutes and get this.

$5 chicken rice set. That is all you need to know, lol! Located in the Maxwell food court in the middle aisle, it's a few shops next to the famed Tian Tian shop reviewed by Anthony Bourdain as the best Hainanese chicken rice. I wish I was able to compare, but we came on a Monday and the shop was closed (much to our dismay)! We were only in Singapore for two days with Monday being the last full day, so we came to Ah Tai since it was voted by locals as the best Hainanese chicken rice. Plus, the dish is one of ten you must eat in Singapore, so duh...we couldn't leave without trying! All you need to know is their chicken rice set comes complete and for only $5!! Comes with seasoned rice, a plate of bok choy, chicken, soup and three different types of sauces to complement your chicken. I especially loved the ginger, but the chili sauce is just as enjoyable. Since it's a food court, seat anywhere as you please. The shop is super tiny and it's run by three dudes. One guy chopping the chicken, one guy plating the sides and the other handling business. They were very friendly, welcoming, and happy at 11am even though most of the stalls were still setting up. Glad I got to try this!

Sorry Anthony Bourdain but this hawker stall's chicken rice might be slightly better than your favorite's icon fare. Since your T.V. Show the toe stalls have been battling it out for chicken rice domination. It is struggle that is virtually impossible to choose between gastronomic perfect, but I think fave to give a slight nod to these guys, for I actually found myself not caring about the added sauces and spices. Yeah, it is that good that the chicken and the rice are enough to pull it off without any extras. Truly, a very succulent dish which is well worth the line wait. ***An additional note: apparently the original chief at Tian Chicken Rice, made famous by Anthony Bourdain's TV show, is no longer there but here...that explains a lot. Locals who are in the know line up for this chicken rice.

Since I tried Tian Tian last time when I was in town, which I enjoyed, this time I decided to give Ah Tai Chicken Rice a try. I was not disappointed! Chicken was tender and juicy. But the star though was definitely the fragrant rice! I can just eat the rice the whole day... my sister can have all the chicken! So how is it compare to Tian Tian? I guess next time I need to do a blind folded side by side comparison. Or this is just my excuse to just have more Chicken Rice!

It's awesome. Seems like many of these other reviews tell the story and accurately too. Shorter lines, better food. (Not by much though!) Hainanese Chicken Rice is delicious pretty much anywhere. We actually bought a do it yourself package from a grocery store in Singapore and made it ourselves once we got home. Even that was yummy. Nevertheless Ah Tai is arguably the best of the best. You won't go wrong.

Located just a few stalls down from Tian Tian chicken rice is their biggest competitor created from a spat between the original owner. The queue for Tian Tian on a sunday afternoon at 12pm had easily 50 people in line, Ah Tai on the other hand, only had maybe 5-10 people. Sadly though the lady in front of me ordered 18 boxes of chicken rice which resulted in a bottleneck. Watching them prepare 18 boxes of chicken rice let me see first hand how much work went into preparing the chicken rice. As you can see the background, the man with the cap was fishing out several whole chicken bones from the soup! It's no wonder the soup was so tasty and yet not peppery! I didn't feel too thirsty after drinking half a bowl of soup. I was very happy with my plate of chicken rice. The rice was flavourful and the chicken was very moist and tender, so much better than the Yishun 925 chicken rice I just had a few days ago. I happily gulped down the entire plate and I will definitely be back with more friends and family to devour a whole chicken next time!

Upon my arrival in Singapore, I had chicken rice on the mind. Given that I arrived just after midnight, my search would have to wait a few hours. After a few hours of sleep, I was on my way to Maxwell Centre to find this dish. I knew enough to avoid the lunch rush hours so I made my way over there just after 1 pm. I saw the line for Tian Tian first but from my research I knew to look left for Ah Tai's stall. And there it was. I look another look at Tian Tian, Bourdain's picture and quotes plastered on the side and their menu and asked myself if I should really give this a try. Hipsters foodies couldn't be wrong, could they? Ultimately, the research I had performed looking through local/Singapore reviews won out and I found myself drifting over to Ah Tai to try the food from the person that originally made Tian Tian's chicken what it is today. There was one person in front of me, so the wait was minimal. I ordered the steamed chicken rice, which came with rice, pieces of chicken breast, cucumbers and a bowl of the chicken broth. This is real food with the focus solely on the quality of the ingredients and the skill it takes to prepare it to ensure that its freshness is well represented. The food was served on a warped cafeteria tray, with all my dishes and utensils sliding quickly to the four corners as soon as it was handed to me. I kept telling myself to walk slowly and NOT DROP MY CHICKEN RICE! The chicken was very juicy and very tender. The rice was moist but but not wet and full of flavor. The broth was clear and tasted of chicken, as it should. I did not find the food to be greasy, oily or fatty. The sauces provided enhanced the neutral chicken meat but still allowed the taste of chicken to shine through. No shortcuts were taken here. This is chicken done right, and all for $3. Ridiculous. Even though I was sitting in front of a fan, this food centre can get quite warm. Remember to bring your own napkins. I also purchased a sugar cane and lemon drink from one of the many beverage stalls nearby.

This is a slight 2nd place to Tian Tians. A former chef at Tian Tian opened this location just a few stalls away from his former boss. The food is great! I would compare both just to see which one you like better. The rice is fragrant, and you can taste the granules between each grain. The chicken is soft, topped off with a light soya sauce and the dipping sauce is great. There are no complaints, but the slight (magical) edge goes to Tian Tian

The Good: Arguably the best Chicken Rice in Singapore The Bad: Since it's in a hawker center, the ambiance isn't the best and communication (in english) may be a challenge The Pro-tip: Have your chicken rice with all 3 sauces! I tried to go to Tien Tien, the original place that Anthony Bourdain ate at but it was closed when i went. Good thing i checked-out Yelp for other Chicken Rice places nearby. Ah Tai had great reviews and it did not disappoint! Had abit of trouble communicating with the shop since their english wasn't the best. Good thing there was a good samaritan who translated for us! The chicken was excellent and the rice was perfect! Perfectly cooked, very flavorful and the sauces - soy, ginger and chili - were perfect complements to the dish! As it turns out, the original chef from Anthony Bourdain's show move down this food stall. So I didn't miss out after all! You haven't had Singaporean Chicken Rice until you've eaten here! Trust me! Will we be coming back? Yes, everytime we're in Singapore!

Located in the same Maxwell Food Court that houses the icon and the biggest competitor, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. They are just a couple stalls down Tian Tian Chicken Rice. I must say the Chicken in silky smooth, very juicy, moist and tender. I like rice here better than Tian Tian. Its very fluffy, seasoned very well, and slightly flavored with the chicken broth. The soup is also very tasty. The veggies is perfect cooked, and still crunchy. I slight edge to Ah Tai.

I actually wanted to eat at Tian Tian, which is just two stalls over, but it was closed! Luckily, Ah Tai was open and the line was long - a good sign. I ordered the chicken rice set for $5 and it was so much food! It came with rice, chicken, veggies, and a soup (plus the 3 dipping sauces for the chicken). The old man puts everything on the tray. The chicken was delicious. The rice was delicious. The veggies were delicious. And the soup was delicious. Get the idea? The red chili dipping sauce was my favorite out of the three. The yellow one (ginger or garlic based maybe?) was also good. Really yummy place for hainanese chicken rice!

I had to try Ah Tai because it was literally two food stands away from Tian Tian, plus the owner used to be a chef at Tian Tian. It tasted good. They also give you some bok choy with your chicken rice so the veggie component is much appreciated. However, the chicken was small and choppy. It did not feel like good cuts of breast meat.

The owner of this stall used to work st the famous Tian Tian a few counters away. Today, the queue at Tian Tian lasts anywhere between 10 minutes (at opening at 10am, or mid afternoon) and 45 minutes (meal times); its prices are the highest among all the Hainanese chicken rice stalls at Maxwell (although that's still most reasonable); they only give out the chilli and dark soy sauces upon request (although that is very much part of the dish!). There is never a queue at Ah Tai. So, is it worth it? If you're not a foodie, the answer is "hell, no!"'On the other hand, if you can tell subtle differences in the texture of the chicken, the fragrance of the rice, or the degree of kick in the chilli sauce, or if you just line up servings from the various chicken rice stalls at Maxwell (Tian Tian, Ah Tai, Heng Heng), you would have to say "Tian Tian is the best lah!" Unfortunately, Ah Tai would come third, although on its own, it is not bad.

Ah Tai and Tian Tian chicken rice are pretty similar in many ways. I heard that the founder of Ah Tai chicken rice had some links to Tian Tian chicken rice for a start, maybe not related by blood but in terms of skills in preparing the chicken rice. The rice is flavorful, chilli, spicy hut not overpowering. For the chicken meat, tenderness is just right, not too soft, not too tough. Do not forget the ginger sauce as well, this adds a kick to the taste when you eat it. Price wise seems a little cheaper than Tian Tian but they open 7 days a week so that is a big plus! This is especially so when you need nice food on Mondays, where a lot of stalls tend not to be open. One thing to note is that you should specify if you want the cheaper smaller option, else they will charge the larger portion by default.

Only idiots (aka tourist or someone who just came back from a very long time travel will go to Tian Tian). The chef behind Tian Tian success, Ah Tai not only had emulated the juicy yet dry, aromatic yet not overwhelming, bloodless yet not over poached, firm yet tender, uniformed, fresh yet not chicken smelly.... Ah Tai has bring this Hainanese Chicken Rice a few notch higher. Don't trust any locals who tell you their fav chicken rice stall near here or there is better cos they know nothing. Ah Tai's poached chicken is well massage before steaming. Only special bred chicken from a secret farm is used. No other chicken rice stall in Singapore use this expensive stock.

What a tasty, satisfying hawker-style meal! We ordered half a chicken, oyster sauce veggies and 2 servings of rice - it was plenty of food to feed three and very well priced. We got to the Maxwell Food Centre for dinner around 6:30 and after waiting in line to order we sat down at a table near the Ah Tai stall. Not long after we started eating we noticed people being turned away because they had run out of chicken - So probably a good idea to get in for an early meal if you want to check this place out!

Came to the maxwell market to visit Tian Tian based on popular reviews, but it was closed at the time. Ah Thai was open with a long line. Come to find out that the chef actually used to work for Tian Tian and started his own business here. Of course, we ordered the chicken and rice set. Super valuable and great food. Definitely great fix and will be back. If you're in Singapore, you have to give this place a try at least once in your lifetime!