ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant

ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant
67 Desker Road

44 Changi Road

49A Jalan Besar

https://www.facebook.com/pages/ABC-Nasi-Kandar/299879557196650

Assorted Tandoori Platter (SGD $25)

Curries Galore

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 5
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 9
Spent about SGD $16 per person.


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Established in November 2016 and with several outlets across Singapore, ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant is a casual eatery specialising in Malaysian style Nasi Kandar and North Indian Tandoori dishes. A place to get a fast, satisfying, and wallet-friendly meal, ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant is known for serving reliably above-average quality of dishes more often than not.

Ambience at ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant is modern functional. The brightly lit place is relatively clean, with closely packed tables. Buzzing with energy and movement, it's usually crowded during peak periods. Powerful (but dusty) fans move the air around, and large signages of the menu adorn the upper walls. Casual eatery vibe; grab a bite and go.

Service at ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant works fast... sometimes too fast, as staff make assumptions about your order. Clear communication is necessary here, I like that staff have decent product knowledge and repeat your orders to verify accuracy. They clean up quickly when diners are finished. It's partially self-service, with ordering and payment at the counter.

Food at ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant is focused on Malay and Indian cuisines, specialising in Nasi Kandar, Tandoori dishes, and curries. Taste and quality is, more often than not, above average and consistent, with few missteps. Portions are sized for either individuals, or communal group dining. Prices are reflective of a typical casual eatery, budget about SGD $16 per person.


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ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant Seating

ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant Menu

ABC Nasi Kandar Restaurant Menu

A straightforward Kopi Tarik (SGD $1.10), with less sugar. This has decent strength of body to the coffee, a frothy head, and milky sweet toasty flavour. Alright.

Kopi Tarik (SGD $1.10)

The Teh Tarik (SGD $1.10) is creamy smooth and rich, with a milky earthy sweet bitter flavour. Alright.

Teh Tarik (SGD $1.10)

Loved the Teh Halia (SGD $1.30) with less sugar. This is warming and stiff, with an earthy spice sweet flavour. Good!

Teh Halia (SGD $1.30)

The Air Bandung (SGD $2.10) is so refreshing on warm days, with its blend of evaporated milk, rose syrup, and water. Has a beautiful floral sweet flavour that is distinct. Good!

Air Bandung (SGD $2.10)

Air Bandung

With ongoing covid-19 measures, there's very little street stalls that still sell Vadai (SGD $2)... this is one of them. Their vadai is large with a crisp exterior, fluffy interior, and mild grainy sweet savoury flavour. Made with ground black gram beans / vigna mungo / urad, clarified butter / ghee, salt, water, and curry leaves, I like that it's non-oily. Served with whole green chili for added spicy kick, and a choice of chutneys; I particularly like the coconut chutney for its earthy milky sweet complement of flavour. Good!

Vadai (SGD $2)

Vadai

Vadai

The Malaysian style Nasi Kandar (SGD $6.80) will alleviate cravings. The white rice is fluffy and soft, with long-grains that separate easily, and a grainy sweet flavour. The spiced cabbage is crunchy, with bold vegetal sweet savoury spice flavour. The egg masala is bouncy and soft, with eggy sweet flavour, and the masala gravy holding mild savoury spice notes. The ayam goreng / fried chicken was beautiful, with tender moist chicken meat that comes easily off the bone, a crispy skin, and a bold hit of savoury salty spice flavour. Added chicken curry gravy for a robust spicy savoury taste. Highly recommended!

Nasi Kandar (SGD $6.80)

Nasi Kandar

Nasi Kandar

Nasi Kandar

The fragrant Rice Pilaf (SGD $1.90) features long-grain basmati rice steamed with pandan / screwpine leaf, chickpeas, peas, bay leaf, clove, and cardamom. This gives the rice pilaf an aromatic herbal earthy grainy sweet flavour, and the loose fluffy light texture pairs so well with curries. Good!

Rice Pilaf (SGD $1.90)

The Mutton Mysore (Wet) / Mutton Curry (SGD $4.50) has chunks of tender boneless mutton, in a rich curry that is deep with meaty savoury spice flavour. The curry gravy is made with mutton stock fried with oil, powdered coriander, powdered turmeric, fennel seeds, chili, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, cumin, onions, chopped tomatoes, curry powder, and shallots. The mutton mysore (wet) / mutton curry pairs well with rice or breads, and is decently satisfying. Worth ordering!

Mutton Mysore (Wet) / Mutton Curry (SGD $4.50)

The Chicken Kecap Manis (SGD $5.50) has a tender moist half chicken, liberally glazed with sticky kecap manis / dark sweet soy sauce, which lends a deep sweet savoury salty flavour. Their chicken kecap manis is best shared, as it's really rich on the palate. Good!

Chicken Kecap Manis (SGD $5.50)

An uncommon dish, the Duck Masala (SGD $5.50) features bone-in duck stewed in a rich thick masala curry. This renders the duck masala tender and juicy, with the meat coming easily off the bone, and having a robust meaty savoury salty spice flavour. Good!

Duck Masala (SGD $5.50)

The Fish Curry (SGD $5.50) entices with the bright rich curry, deep with savoury spice flavour. The mackerel fish fillet is tender and firm, flaking off the large cross-section bone nicely, and has that distinctive savoury salty sweet flavour. Good!

Fish Curry (SGD $5.50)

Their Prata here is underwhelming, and isn't worth talking about. Could be improved.

Prata

Loved the Thosai Masala (SGD $2.50), which is pretty filling. Made with black gram bean flour / vigna mungo / urad, white rice flour, salt, clarified butter / ghee, water, and fenugreek seeds. The porous soft thosai masala, with mild bitter earthy sour sweet flavour, is stuffed with soft chunky spiced potatoes and red onions. This results in a bold sweet starchy spice flavour. The accompanying gravies of coconut chutney, tomato chutney, and dhal curry are a little thin, but still lend decent flavour. Good!

Thosai Masala (SGD $2.50)

The Naan Plain (SGD $1.50) is well executed, with the large naan flatbread being fluffy soft in texture, with a light chew. This thick leavened flatbread is made with plain white flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt, baking soda, and plain yoghurt. Has a bready sweet smoky flavour from baking in the tandoor oven, and picks up curries well. Worth ordering!

Naan Plain (SGD $1.50)

Naan Plain

The Naan Garlic Basket (SGD $2.20) features a large fluffy soft naan flatbread. This thick leavened flatbread is made with plain white flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt, baking soda, plain yoghurt, and studded with bits of chopped garlic. With a smoky herbal aroma and a bready spice sweet flavour from baking in the tandoor oven, the naan garlic picks up curries well. Worth ordering!

Naan Garlic Basket (SGD $2.20)

Naan Garlic

The Naan Cheese (SGD $3) features a fluffy soft naan flatbread. This thick leavened flatbread is made with plain white flour, water, yeast, sugar, salt, baking soda, plain yoghurt, and filled with soft cottage cheese. With a smoky cheesy aroma and a bready salty sweet flavour from baking in the tandoor oven, the naan cheese picks up curries well, and is relatively filling. Worth ordering!

Naan Cheese (SGD $3)

The Naan Sesame (SGD $2.20) is essentially a plain original fluffy soft naan flatbread, enhanced with a sprinkling of some white sesame seeds. While still retaining the natural bready sweet flavour, it takes on a slight crunch and a nutty aroma. Overall a rather mild enhancement that makes little difference, unless you eat this on its own to fully appreciate the flavour. Worth ordering!

Naan Sesame (SGD $2.20)

The Tandoori Roti (SGD $1.70) is an unleavened flatbread made with whole wheat flour / atta, refined wheat flour / maida, water, sugar, salt, and plain yoghurt, and takes on a smoky aroma from baking in the tandoor oven. This has a soft chewy texture, with mild bready sweet earthy smoky flavour, and picks up most curries well. Good!

Tandoori Roti (SGD $1.70)

The Chapati (SGD $3) is an unleavened flatbread made with whole wheat flour / atta, refined wheat flour / maida, water, oil, salt, and brushed with clarified butter / ghee. It has a chewy soft texture, with mild bready grainy salty sweet flavour, and picks up most curries well. Good!

Chapati (SGD $3)

The Bhindi Masala (SGD $3.50) features a thick curry of spiced tomato, filled with a generous portion of soft okra / lady's fingers. The curry gravy is made with ginger, cumin seeds, garlic, powdered turmeric, powdered coriander, salt, chili, powdered asafoetida / asafetida, pepper, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, garam masala, water, tomatoes, red onions, and nigella seeds / kalonji. With more savoury spice than vegetal sweet flavour, this lends good fibre, and the vegetables hold up well in the thick curry. Good!

Bhindi Masala (SGD $3.50)

The Palak Paneer (SGD $5.50) features a thick curry of pureed spinach, powdered cumin, water, and clarified butter / ghee, filled with a generous portion of soft cottage cheese. Their version of palak paneer is more savoury than vegetal sweet in flavour, with less spice notes. Overall, still rather satisfying, the curry picks up easily with breads. Worth ordering!

Palak Paneer (SGD $5.50)

Palak Paneer

Loved the Malai Kofta (SGD $5.50), which features mashed spiced potato and chickpea balls, in a creamy yoghurt and shallots curry. With bold savoury starchy milky sweet flavour, this was yummy and addictive. Would order again. Highly recommended!

Malai Kofta (SGD $5.50)

The Vegetable Ball Masala (SGD $5.50) features balls of mashed spiced potato, green peas, carrots, corn kernels, and spinach, in a thick curry of garlic, ginger, tomato puree, powdered cumin, powdered turmeric, salt, fenugreek leaves, water, yoghurt, and shallots. With a soft juicy texture and bright vegetal sweet savoury earthy milky flavour, this was rather pleasing. Good!

Vegetable Ball Masala (SGD $5.50)

The Aloo Gobi (SGD $4) features a thick curry made with chunky soft potatoes, tender crunchy cauliflower, curry leaves, ginger, powdered coriander, garlic, black caraway, white onions, cumin seeds, turmeric, and ghee / clarified butter. Their version has a mild vegetal sweet spice flavour, pleasant enough to pair with most dishes, yum. Wish there was just a little more cauliflower though. Worth ordering!

Aloo Gobi (SGD $4)

Aloo Gobi

The Butter Chicken (SGD $6.50) features a thick curry of melted butter, fresh cream, salt, red onions, garlic, powdered cumin, cloves, chili, powdered turmeric, cinnamon sticks, powdered coriander, ginger, pepper, fenugreek leaves, tomato puree, cardamom seeds, bay leaves, sugar, and chicken stock, filled generously with boneless chunks of tender moist chicken that have sweet savoury flavour. Their version is milder with more sweet notes than elsewhere (probably too much tomato), and doesn't quite entice the palate. Decent at best. Could be improved.

Butter Chicken (SGD $6.50)

Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken

The Mutton Keema (SGD $5.50) features a thick curry of minced mutton, red onions, tomato puree, garlic, ginger, powdered cardamom, powdered turmeric, powdered coriander, powdered cumin, fenugreek leaves, salt, chili, and garam masala, garnished with coriander and green chili. This has a tender chewy texture, with bold meaty savoury salty spice flavour. Best paired with Indian breads. Good!

Mutton Keema (SGD $5.50)

Served on a steaming sizzling hot plate, the Assorted Tandoori Platter (SGD $25) is a visual treat for the eyes, and a delight for the palate. Featuring 5 types of marinated meats and 1 side salad, the tandoori platter is best shared. Highly recommended!

Assorted Tandoori Platter (SGD $25)

Assorted Tandoori Platter

The Chicken Tikka Plate (SGD $6) features boneless chunks of chicken, marinated in a mix of tandoori spices (including garlic, ginger, cumin seeds, cardamom, red onions, black pepper, lemon juice, cloves, cinnamon sticks, garam masala) and plain yoghurt, and roasted in the tandoor oven. The chicken tikka meat is juicy and tender, with a fragrant smoky aroma, and bold savoury sweet spice flavour. Good!

Chicken Tikka Plate (SGD $6)

Chicken Tikka

The Chicken Malai Tikka Plate (SGD $7), also known as Murgh Malai Tikka, features boneless chunks of chicken, marinated in a mix of plain yoghurt, garlic, ginger, and cardamom, and roasted in the tandoor oven. The chicken malai tikka meat is juicy and tender, with a fragrant smoky aroma, and mild milky sweet savoury flavour. Highly recommended!

Chicken Malai Tikka Plate (SGD $7)

Chicken Malai Tikka

The Chicken Hariyali Tikka has boneless chunks of chicken, marinated in a mix of plain yoghurt, garlic, ginger, crushed mint leaves, and coriander, and roasted in the tandoor oven. The result is tender juicy chicken hariyali tikka meat, with a bold vegetal herbal earthy bitter sweet savoury flavour. Good!

Chicken Hariyali Tikka

The Seekh Kebab Mutton features tightly packed minced mutton, marinated in a mix of tandoori spices (including garlic, ginger, cumin seeds, cardamom, red onions, black pepper, lemon juice, cloves, cinnamon sticks, garam masala) and plain yoghurt, and roasted in the tandoor oven. The seekh kebab mutton turns out juicy with a crumbly bouncy texture, having bold meaty savoury salty spice flavour. Good!

Seekh Kebab Mutton

The Seekh Kebab Chicken features tightly packed minced chicken, marinated in the same tandoori blend, and roasted in the tandoor oven. The seekh kebab chicken turns out juicy with a tender bouncy texture, having mild sweet savoury spice flavour. Good!

Seekh Kebab Chicken

The Fish Tikka Plate (SGD $8) features chunks of firm white flesh fish (basa, catfish, or dory), marinated in a mix of tandoori spices (including garlic, ginger, cumin seeds, cardamom, red onions, black pepper, lemon juice, cloves, cinnamon sticks, garam masala) and plain yoghurt, and roasted in the tandoor oven. The fish tikka meat is flaky and tender and juicy, with mild sweet savoury spice flavour. Clean-tasting and lovely. Good!

Fish Tikka Plate (SGD $8)

Fish Tikka

Fish Tikka

Fish Tikka

The Tandoori Salad is an accompanying salad of fresh crunchy juicy vegetables, all sliced thinly, and served with a mint sauce. There's cucumber, red onions, carrots, and a sprinkle of lemon juice. Combined with the dipping sauce, this has bright vegetal sweet sour herbal flavour. Worth ordering!

Tandoori Salad

The Mee Goreng (SGD $4), also known as Mee Goreng Mamak, features yellow egg noodles fried with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, salt, garlic, eggs, bean sprouts, sliced red chili, and tomato ketchup. Garnished with fried shallots, fried egg, and juicy cucumber slices, the mee goreng here has a soft moist texture with savoury salty spicy flavour, being less sweet compared to elsewhere. Portion is large for an individual, and is best shared. Worth ordering!

Mee Goreng (SGD $4)

Think of the Kothu Prata Mutton (SGD $6.50) like a chopped up version of a mutton murtabak. Made with crisp dough, eggs, white onions, minced mutton, and curry leaves, the entire thing is chopped up and tossed. Each bite is a robust burst of meaty savoury salty spice flavour, so yummy. I like that their kothu prata mutton isn't too oily. Highly recommended!

Kothu Prata Mutton (SGD $6.50)

Kothu Prata Mutton

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