
Prepared by TWS Branding Pte Ltd
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice was founded at Maxwell Food Centre by Mdm Foo Kui Lian, a determined hawker with a vision for perfect chicken rice.
Over almost 40 years, Tian Tian has grown into a household name in Singapore and a must-visit destination for tourists seeking authentic local cuisine.
The brand has been recognised by Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay, Michelin Guide, Singapore Tourism Board, and countless food critics worldwide.
Today, Tian Tian includes the iconic Maxwell stall, multiple outlets serving local communities (Bishan, Lucky Plaza, Simpang Bedok, Clementi), and overseas franchise outlets carrying Singapore's chicken rice to the world.
Tian Tian is famous. Long queues, international recognition, and nearly four decades of unwavering reputation.
The story is under-told. Social platforms exist but are not telling the full heritage story effectively.
We are not starting from zero – we are starting with 40 years of strong reputation that now needs a proper digital storytelling foundation.
Focused on heritage, craft, people and legacy before moving into trend-based or promotion-heavy content.
Short, compelling video reels and static story posts that bring the Tian Tian narrative to life authentically.
Turn Tian Tian's renowned offline reputation into a strong, cohesive digital presence.
Connect with both older and younger audiences through authentic storytelling.
Establish Tian Tian as a Singapore heritage icon on social media platforms.
Who is Mdm Foo? How did Tian Tian start? What values built it? These fundamental questions will anchor our narrative.
Showcase the rice, chicken, chilli, and daily discipline that creates the signature taste customers queue for.
Chart the journey from Maxwell origin through local outlets to overseas franchises, demonstrating growth whilst maintaining quality.
Shift perception from "famous stall with a queue" to "national food icon with a powerful story."
When someone thinks of "Singapore chicken rice" online, they should immediately think of Tian Tian – and remember the story, not just the queue.
This content foundation will serve the brand for years to come, establishing credibility and emotional resonance that transcends promotional campaigns.
Our big idea anchors all content. Each plate of Tian Tian chicken rice carries multiple layers of meaning and memory:
The story of one woman's determination and decades of dedication.
Part of our national identity and UNESCO-recognised heritage.
The birthplace where legends are made, one customer at a time.
A rare place where Singaporeans and visitors unite over shared taste.
Bringing quality closer to everyday Singaporean families.
Proudly representing our cuisine on the global stage.
We build the 3-month plan around six strategic content pillars. Each reel and static post will sit under at least one of these pillars, ensuring cohesive storytelling whilst maintaining variety.
The founding story, values, and historical journey of Tian Tian.
The techniques, discipline, and quality control behind every plate.
Founder, family, and staff who make it all happen daily.
The birthplace and heart of the Tian Tian story.
Outlets across Singapore serving everyday families.
Franchise outlets representing Singapore's cuisine globally.
Build an emotional foundation that makes audiences feel proud and respect the legacy.
This pillar establishes the human story behind the brand, creating deep connections that transcend transactional relationships with customers.
Fragrance, texture, oil balance – crafted daily.
Poaching technique and preparation perfected over decades.
Heat, garlic, acidity – balanced to perfection.
Daily checks ensure consistency never wavers.
This pillar humanises the brand by showcasing the individuals who bring Tian Tian to life every single day.
Mdm Foo Kui Lian – her journey, values, and vision that started it all.
Daughter Mui Yin and her commitment to preserving the legacy whilst guiding future growth.
Dedicated team members who have spent years, sometimes decades, perfecting their craft.
Purpose: Make the brand human. Show that Tian Tian is a family and a team, not just a logo or a transaction.
Cement Maxwell as the heart and soul of the brand.
This location is not just where Tian Tian started – it's where the legend continues to grow every day.
Outlets in Bishan, Lucky Plaza, Simpang Bedok, Clementi, and other neighbourhoods bring Tian Tian closer to everyday Singaporeans.
Families who make Tian Tian part of their weekly routines, not just special occasions.
Positioning chicken rice as comfort food for locals, not just "tourist food" to be experienced once.
Purpose: Rebalance perception. Tian Tian is for Singaporeans too, not only for visitors seeking Instagram moments.
Position Tian Tian as part of Singapore's global food identity.
Show that our hawker heritage has the quality and appeal to represent Singapore on the world stage, bringing authentic taste to international audiences.
Each month we will produce a balanced mix of video content and static posts, optimised for Instagram and Facebook algorithms whilst telling cohesive stories.
Consistent, manageable output
"Where It All Began"
Introduce Mdm Foo, tell the founding story, link her journey with Singapore's development, and set the emotional tone.
"Every Plate Matters"
Deep dive into technique, ingredients, and quality control. Show the discipline behind consistent excellence.
"The Future of Tradition"
Showcase next generation leadership, multiple outlets, overseas expansion, and tie into Singapore's national story.
Each month has a clear theme, 6 reels with rough scripts, 4 static posts, and specific requirements from Tian Tian – all designed to build upon each other cohesively.
6 reels focused on founder and origin story, establishing the human foundation of the brand.
4 static posts to deepen the narrative with historical photos, timelines, and heritage quotes.
Launch the series with a powerful cinematic story about Mdm Foo that immediately establishes emotional connection.
Maxwell queue stretching into the distance
Close-up of Mdm Foo today, calm and confident
Old photos or re-enactment of kampong childhood
Shots of her working or supervising in today's stall
Slow, beautiful shots of chicken, rice, chilli, queue
Rough Voice-Over Script (Mandarin, with English subtitles):
Opening (Narrator): "Before the world queued for this chicken rice… there was just one hawker auntie."
Mdm Foo: "小时候,我们住在甘榜,每天天还没亮就要起床去巴刹。" ("As a young girl in the kampong, I woke up before dawn to go to the market.") "我只是想认真煮一盘鸡饭,让大家吃得开心。" ("I only wanted to cook a good plate of chicken rice so people could leave happy.")
Closing (Narrator): "This is Mdm Foo Kui Lian. Founder, hawker icon, and the heart behind Tian Tian."
Deepen founder story by linking kampong life to becoming a hawker legend, showing the journey and transformation.
Rough Voice-Over Script:
Narrator: "She grew up in a simple kampong along Thomson Road. Meat was rare. Most days were vegetables and memories."
Mdm Foo: "那时候,我们住在一间小房间,什么都没有,但是家人都很努力。" ("Back then, we lived in a small rented room, with very little, but everyone worked hard.")
Narrator: "In 1986, she took a risk and opened a small stall at Maxwell Food Centre. That decision changed Singapore's food scene."
Explain why the stall is called "Tian Tian" and what it stands for, revealing the philosophy behind the name.
Rough Script:
Narrator: "'Tian Tian' means 'every day.' It was not just a nice name. It was a promise."
Mdm Foo: "我们叫'天天',就是希望每天都可以给人吃到好的鸡饭,不会腻,也不会失望。"
Show the unseen work before customers arrive, revealing the dedication that starts hours before the first plate is served.
Staff arrive in darkness, lights turning on at the stall, beginning the daily ritual.
Fresh ingredients arriving, quality checked, prepared for the day ahead.
Washing, chopping, boiling stock, preparing rice and chilli with meticulous care.
First batch of chicken being cooked, steam rising, the day's standard being set.
Narrator: "Before the first customer arrives, the work has already been going on for hours."
Staff member (optional): "我们每天早上五、六点就开始准备,切菜、煮汤、试味道。" ("Every morning around 5 or 6am, we start preparing – cutting vegetables, cooking stock, checking taste.")
Highlight the chilli as a key differentiator and signature element of the Tian Tian experience.
Narrator: "Some people say they can recognise Tian Tian just from the chilli."
Mdm Foo / Staff: "辣椒要够香、够辣、够酸,才可以配合鸡和饭。" ("The chilli must have fragrance, heat and acidity, to match the chicken and rice.")
Show what Tian Tian means to customers – beyond taste, it's about memories, tradition, and shared experience.
Customer examples:
Narrator: "After nearly 40 years, people still queue. Not for hype, but for taste and memories."
Before the world queued for Tian Tian, one man quietly walked into Maxwell Food Centre. No cameras, no fanfare. “He stood quietly in front of the stall — watching, listening, observing,” recounted Mdm Foo. When he tasted the chicken rice, his verdict became legendary: “Good enough to eat on its own.”
This unplanned moment transformed Tian Tian from a local legend into a global icon, affirming that the world’s best food thrives in places of heart, not luxury. His story brought Tian Tian’s authentic craft and heritage to the world.
He came quietly. He stayed late. He changed everything. Now, it is time for us to tell our story ourselves.
This bonus heritage content reel documents the day Anthony Bourdain visited Tian Tian, told entirely through the founder’s and family’s recollections. It reinforces Tian Tian’s authenticity, legacy, and global relevance.
A cinematic, memory-driven tribute using the original Anthony Bourdain poster, Maxwell Food Centre cutaways, and emotional bilingual narration. No footage of Bourdain is required, only the family's heartfelt memory and the legacy he left behind.
The reel opens with a black screen and elegant text: "A day we will never forget." accompanied by soft, atmospheric music.
A slow push-in on the iconic Anthony Bourdain poster, under warm hawker lighting, as the narrator sets the scene: "Before the world discovered Tian Tian… one man walked into Maxwell quietly."

Mdm Foo shares her memory: "他从早站到晚,默默地看我们怎么准备。" ("He stood there from morning till night, quietly watching how we worked.")
A family member adds: "My mum said he didn’t say much. He just observed everything… very carefully," accompanied by macro shots of chicken preparation.
Symbolic shots of the bustling Maxwell Food Centre, queues forming, and a slow-motion drizzle of chilli over rice, as the narrator remarks: "他很认真…像在研究我们的味道。" ("He was serious… like he was studying our flavours.")
The screen cuts to white, revealing Bourdain’s iconic quote: "Fragrant and delicious… good enough to eat on its own."
A close-up of Bourdain's eyes on the poster dissolves to Mdm Foo smiling humbly, as the narrator concludes: "That day, he told our story… to the world."
The reel fades to black with text: "Thank you, Anthony Bourdain. Thank you, Singapore. 天天海南鸡饭 — Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice."
Narrator: "Before the world discovered Tian Tian… one man walked into Maxwell quietly."
Mdm Foo: "他从早看到晚,一直很安静,很认真。" (Sub: “He watched from morning till night — quietly, seriously.”)
Family Member: "He didn’t ask for anything. No special treatment. He just wanted to understand the food."
On-screen Quote: "Fragrant and delicious… good enough to eat on its own." — Anthony Bourdain
Narrator: "That day, he told our story to the world."
A cinematic, memory-driven tribute told by the founder & family, using the original Anthony Bourdain poster, Maxwell cutaways, and emotional bilingual narration. A global moment retold through Singaporean eyes — authentic, heartfelt, and iconic.
Clean, respectful photo of Mdm Foo with caption summarising her journey: from kampong girl to hawker icon, her values of quality and consistency.
Beautifully designed quote: "You can grow the business slowly, but you can never play with the taste." — Philosophy that built the brand
Historical or vintage-style photo with caption: "Where Singapore's most iconic chicken rice story began. Maxwell Food Centre, 1986."
6 reels about rice, chicken, chilli, tools and quality checks – revealing the craft behind the legend.
4 static posts about ingredients, staff profiles, and customer testimonials reinforcing the quality message.
Position rice as the hero element, not just a side dish. Show that Tian Tian's reputation starts with perfecting the foundation.
Raw rice being carefully washed, quality checked grain by grain.
Stock and aromatics being added with precise measurements.
Stirring and steaming with careful temperature control.
Opening rice cooker – steam rising dramatically, perfect texture revealed.
Rice being scooped onto plate with care and precision.
Narrator: "At Tian Tian, the story doesn't start with chicken. It starts with rice."
Cook: "饭要香,又不能太油,也不能太软。" ("The rice must be fragrant – not too oily, and not too soft.")
Show the care taken during poaching – demonstrating that tender chicken is the result of knowledge, not luck.

Narrator: "Tender chicken doesn't happen by accident. It is timing, temperature and experience."
Cook: "火太大,鸡就老了;火不够,鸡就不熟。每天我们都要注意。"
Rice, Chicken, Chilli
Show each element quickly in succession, building to final beautifully plated dish.
Message: "Each part is crafted to match the other. Balance is everything."
Close with perfect plate from above, all three elements working in harmony.
Close-ups revealing the character in well-used equipment:
Staff using them in repeated, practised motions.
Narrator (for both): "For decades, the same tools and the same steps have created the same taste. This is how a legend stays consistent."

Focus: Quality control is not optional
Staff line: "每天我们都要试味道,不可以随便。" ("Every day we taste everything. We cannot be casual about it.")
Focus: Month 2 recap summarising the craft message
Quick cuts showing:
Narrator: "Everyone sells chicken rice. Tian Tian is different because, for almost 40 years, they never stopped checking every plate."
Beautiful photography of key ingredients – garlic, chilli, lime, ginger – each labelled with its role in creating the signature taste.
Simple, elegant overlay showing rice, chicken, chilli, cucumber with brief descriptions of each element's purpose and preparation.
Profile of a long-time cook with their story: years worked, favourite part of the job, what makes Tian Tian special to them.
Real short reviews transformed into beautiful typographic cards: "Best chicken rice in Singapore" "Worth every minute of the queue"

This month bridges past and future, showing how Tian Tian honours tradition whilst evolving to serve new generations and geographies.
Introduce daughter as steward of the legacy, showing continuity and evolution of leadership.
Mui Yin observing kitchen operations, learning from her mother.
Talking to staff, understanding what makes Tian Tian special.
Checking food quality, ensuring consistency across outlets.
Walking between outlets, planning expansion whilst protecting taste.
Mui Yin: "从小,我就在档口长大,看着妈妈每天这样努力。" ("Since young, I grew up at the stall, watching my mother work so hard every day.")
"现在轮到我们这一代,继续守住这个味道。" ("Now it's our generation's turn to protect this taste.")
Highlight staff loyalty and teamwork – showing that Tian Tian is built on people, not just recipes.
"我在这里工作了十五年。" ("I've worked here for fifteen years.")
"这里就像我的第二个家。" ("This place feels like my second home.")
"我们像一家人一样。" ("We're like a family.")
Narrator: "Behind every plate are people who have dedicated years of their life to keeping the taste consistent."
Show that Tian Tian is more than one stall – it's accessible to Singaporeans across the island.
The origin, where it all began
Serving the North
Heart of Orchard
East Coast favourite
West side treasure
Visual approach: Exterior and interior shots of each location, customers at each outlet, map animation or simple text overlay with location names.
Narrator: "From our original stall at Maxwell, Tian Tian has slowly spread across the island. The same taste, closer to more homes."
Celebrate overseas franchises, positioning Tian Tian as Singapore's culinary ambassador.
Narrator: "What began in a Singapore hawker centre has now travelled overseas."
On-screen text: "Spreading Singapore's love for chicken rice to the world."


Focus: Local perspective on what Tian Tian means
Short street interviews with Singaporeans:

Focus: Grand finale tying into national identity
Montage featuring:
Narrator (Reel 6): "Hawker food is more than a meal. It is memory, identity and comfort. For almost 40 years, Tian Tian has been part of Singapore's story, one plate at a time."
Beautiful portrait with quote about continuing the family legacy and protecting her mother's values for the next generation.
All Singapore outlets clearly marked on stylised map with addresses and opening hours for easy reference.
One beautifully designed card per featured city showcasing international presence and pride.
Michelin Guide mention, STB features, heritage awards, and media recognition arranged elegantly.
We will handle everything else. Story planning, filming, editing, subtitles, captions, scheduling, and publishing are entirely managed by TWS Branding.
We deliberately keep the production light, respectful and easy on the team.
Small crew, minimal equipment, natural conversations. We work around the business, not the other way round.
If something doesn't feel right, we adjust. The goal is authentic storytelling that honours the brand, not stressful content creation.
Story planning, content strategy, storyboard creation, monthly themes
All filming, directing, lighting, sound recording with minimal crew
Video editing, colour grading, subtitles (English + Chinese), music licensing
Copywriting for captions, static post design, carousel creation
Scheduling, posting, optimal timing for each platform
Monthly performance review, insights, and strategic recommendations
Each month follows a structured yet flexible workflow designed to minimise stress whilst maintaining quality.
Confirm which reels and posts to shoot and publish. Finalise schedule, identify subjects, prepare shot lists.
On agreed days with minimal disruption. Flexible timing, small crew, respectful approach.
TWS prepares first cuts and drafts. Adds subtitles, music, graphics, and captions.
Client reviews content and requests simple changes. We refine until everyone is comfortable.
Content goes live according to optimised schedule. Basic performance summary shared with insights.
Hero founder story plus origin content goes live. Establish emotional foundation and introduce Mdm Foo's journey.
Deep dive into craft and cooking process. Showcase rice, chicken, chilli preparation and quality control.
Next generation plus outlets plus overseas stories plus Singapore national narrative. Show growth and future.
Shift into trend-based, promotional and collaboration content building on the foundation we've established.
This phased approach ensures we build a solid narrative foundation before moving into more tactical, promotional content in subsequent months.
Increase from current base
How many people see content
Video outperforms in views
Heritage content saved
Comment sentiment we want to see:
Stronger brand association with:
With the story and identity clearly built through these three months, we can then confidently expand into more dynamic content strategies.
Ride social media trends in a way that still aligns with brand values and heritage positioning.
Partner with food creators and influencers who respect the heritage story we've established.
Launch targeted campaigns around SG60, seasonal menus, promotional offers with strategic messaging.
Encourage customers to share their Tian Tian stories, creating authentic community engagement.
All future content will sit on top of a solid, respected brand narrative that positions Tian Tian as more than just another chicken rice stall.
Nearly 40 years of dedication, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to quality.
Representing the best of our UNESCO-recognised food culture to the world.
From one stall in Maxwell to multiple outlets and overseas franchises, always protecting the taste.
Give Mdm Foo the recognition she deserves.
Document the journey for future generations.
Show what makes Tian Tian truly special.
Share it with new audiences worldwide.
The story already exists in the queue at Maxwell, in the hands of the cooks, in the memory of thousands of customers, and in the values passed from mother to daughter. Our job is to capture it, honour it, and share it with the world through thoughtful, respectful digital storytelling.
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice 3-Month Social Content Foundation Plan