Lunch at Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre. This under-rated Hainanese chicken rice spot is run by 64-year-old Wong Liang Tai @ Ah Tai, the former head chef at the more famous Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, hardly 10 paces away in the same food court.
Ah Tai started his own chicken rice stall in April 2012 to rival that of his former employers of 20 years, when he was sacked after a huge row.
Honestly, if you asked me, I can’t really tell the difference between the two - both had perfectly Hainanese-style poached chicken. The chicken rice was fluffy, fragrant, and tasty from the delicately-flavoured chicken stock used to cook the rice, with hints of ginger, scallions and garlic. We also ordered a couple of hard-boiled eggs that had been slightly braised in soy sauce.
Bok choy, par-boiled then dressed in oyster sauce, and topped with crisp-fried shallots. This was well-cooked, tender, and much tastier than versions I’d had at other similar set-ups elsewhere in town.
Beansprouts, given a quick par-boiling, to kill the raw taste of beansprouts, yet retaining the crunch, then dressed in chicken drippings and blend of other condiments (soy sauce, sesame oil, etc.), then topped with a scattering of crisp-fried shallots and chopped green scallions.
I enjoyed the meal here as much as the one at Tian Tian, but without having to contend with a long queue.
Address
Ah Tai Hainanaese Chicken Rice
#01-07 Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184
Tel: +658137 6559
Operating times: 11am to 7.30pm, Mon, Wed to Sun. Closed on Tuesdays.
