Tian Tian Plus succeeds in getting you in the queue, but the food may keep you from going back
Bringing foreign imported food concepts may not always be a guaranteed success. While doughnut giant Krispy Kreme has failed, Shake Shack (currently) manages to sustain its queue even during the hottest days of summer. Tian Tian Plus, a branch of Singapore’s hawker centre favourite Tian Tian Chicken Rice, reached Hong Kong last month with a huge following. The lines snaked around the block, filled with hopefuls looking for a taste of the popular chicken rice.
In contrast to the original in Singapore, Tian Tian Plus has landed in Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay, occupying a large shop space divided into a bar at the front and a spacious dining room at the back. Despite the abundance of windows set along the sides or the establishment, the dining room seemed dimly lit even in the daytime.
There may be a hint in its name, but Tian Tian Plus is not only about chicken rice; it also includes three other concepts local to Singapore. A Noodle Story and Lao Jie Fang serve Chinese inspired noodles, while The 50s pay homage to the country’s coffee culture. While the concepts all exist under the same roof, it is worth noting that the noodles are only available at lunch, while the restaurant turns to Cantonese-inspired a la carte dishes during dinner service.
We began our meal with a proper chicken rice, prepared and presented in the same fashion as Singapore’s original recipe. While our chicken was deboned and cut into even slices, the meat was a bit tough and was coated in what may have been a glaze resembling the Cantonese abalone sauce, an overseasoned topping that we deemed unnecessary. The rice, however, was impressive. The fluffy rice brought inviting aroma of chicken fat and refreshing notes of lemongrass.
