Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Nasi Padang
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| Nasi Padang |
Nothing was sponsored, we visited as regular paying customers. Photos in this post were taken between 2000 and 2026 (across 26 years!), as such, the quality of photos varies drastically due to advances in camera technology. Mobile smartphones were in their infancy and had yet to become widespread.
Also Known As:
Nasi Padang, Nasi Campur, Padang Rice, Nasi Rames, Nasi Kapau
Average Price Per Serving:
SGD $7 - $15
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List in alphabetical order - click the links to jump to entry
- 1. Hajah Maimunah (HJH) Restaurant & Catering Private Limited
- 2. Hajjah Ratna Nasi Padang
- 3. Maimon Nasi Padang
- 4. Nasi Padang Sabar Menanti
- 5. Padang Lezat By Java Kitchen
- 6. Pondok Jawa Timur
- 7. Putra Minang
- 8. Rabiah Muslim Food
- 9. Rumah Makan Minang
- 10. Warong Java Nasi Padang
352 Makan EnakDju Dju Indonesian Nasi PadangHajah Monah KitchenLorong 1 Geylang Nasi PadangWarong Nasi PariamanWarung M. Nasir
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Description:
The Nasi Padang is a Singaporean Malay dish, named after the city of Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia, comprising an assortment of meats, fish, seafood, vegetables, sides, and condiments, served together with white rice. Also known as Nasi Campur, Padang Rice, Nasi Rames, or Nasi Kapau, the Nasi Padang dish is usually priced around SGD $7 to $15 per serving. It's commonly eaten early in the day, for breakfast or lunch, and is closely associated with the Minangkabau people. There are 2 serving styles for Nasi Padang, the common everyday 'pesan' style where customers choose their desired dishes from a window display, and the more elaborate banquet or buffet 'hidang' style where customers are served dozens of dishes in a communal setting.
A Nasi Padang is always served with steamed white rice, fluffy and sticky in texture with grainy earthy sweet flavour. Condiments served together are usually types of sambal, either chunky grainy sambal tumis / stir-fried chili paste (made with a blend of red chilies, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, tamarind, white sugar or palm sugar, and dried shrimp) with bold sweet savoury salty earthy spice flavour, or watery thin sambal belacan / fermented shrimp chili paste (made with a blend of red chilies, fermented shrimp paste, lime juice or calamansi juice, white sugar or palm sugar, and shallots) with fiery zesty sour tangy spicy herbal flavour, or chunky sticky sambal balado / stir-fried chili tomato paste (made with a blend of red chilies, shallots, garlic, tomatoes, and kaffir lime leaves) with mild savoury sweet spice flavour, or chunky sticky sambal ijo / stir-fried green chili paste (made with a blend of green chilies, shallots, garlic, salt, white sugar or palm sugar, and kaffir lime leaves) with sharp salty sweet spicy flavour.
Diners can opt for an assortment of dishes to accompany a meal of Nasi Padang. The Daging Rendang or Beef Rendang features cuts of beef shank, chuck, or blade, slow-cooked over hours (about 3 - 4 hours or more) together with coconut milk and a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, turmeric, water, tamarind, kaffir lime leaves, and toasted coconut. The Daging Rendang or Beef Rendang will be incredibly tender and moist, with deep meaty savoury herbal spice flavour.
The Sayur Lodeh or Vegetable Coconut Curry features vegetables (including chayote, string beans, cabbage, carrots, and jicama turnip) and tofu bean curd stewed together with coconut milk and a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, lemongrass, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, turmeric, water, kaffir lime leaves, fermented shrimp paste, and coriander. The Sayur Lodeh or Vegetable Coconut Curry will be soft and tender, with vegetal sweet flavour.
The Sambal Goreng or Stir-Fried Chili Paste With Tofu features string beans, tofu bean curd, and tempeh / fermented soy bean cake, stir-fried with a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, lemongrass, and fresh red chili. The Sambal Goreng or Stir-Fried Chili Paste With Tofu will be crunchy and firm, with bright vegetal earthy grainy savoury salty spice herbal flavour.
The Ikan Asam Pedas or Tamarind Fish Curry features a fillet of fish, either sea bass, snapper, Spanish mackerel, or stingray, marinated with salt and tamarind paste, then stewed together with a bumbu / spice paste of blended tamarind paste, dried tamarind slices, water, shallots, garlic, galangal, turmeric, lemongrass, salt, white sugar or palm sugar, kaffir lime leaves, tomatoes, okra / lady's finger, coriander, and fresh red chili. The Ikan Asam Pedas or Tamarind Fish Curry will be tender and flaky, with bright fishy savoury salty sour tangy zesty spice flavour.
The Urap Sayur or Spiced Coconut Vegetable Salad features a mix of bean sprouts and water spinach leaves, with optional cabbage, string beans, carrots, chayote, or cassava leaves, blanched in water and served with grated coconut and a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, galangal, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, lime juice or tamarind juice, candlenut, and fresh red chili. The Urap Sayur or Spiced Coconut Vegetable Salad will be fresh crunchy and juicy, with mild vegetal earthy bitter sweet sour tangy zesty spice flavour.
The Begedil or Perkedel or Fried Potato Patty features boiled then deep-fried potatoes, mashed together with a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, spring onions, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, white pepper or black pepper, and nutmeg, formed into a patty then coated with whisked chicken eggs and deep-fried again. The Begedil or Perkedel or Fried Potato Patty will be soft and chunky, with addictive starchy earthy savoury salty flavour.
The Gulai Daun Singkong or Cassava Leaves Curry features boiled then mashed fresh cassava leaves, stewed with water and coconut milk together with a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, galangal, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, lemongrass, turmeric, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, coriander, and fresh red chili. The Gulai Daun Singkong or Cassava Leaves Curry will be crunchy and soft, with mild vegetal earthy bitter herbal sweet sour tangy zesty flavour.
The Bendi Goreng Telur or Stir-Fried Okra With Eggs features boiled okra / lady's fingers stir-fried with whisked chicken eggs and a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, white pepper or black pepper, and dried red chili. The Bendi Goreng Telur or Stir-Fried Okra With Eggs will be tender and crunchy, with bright vegetal eggy sweet savoury spice flavour.
The Ayam Goreng Cabe Ijo or Fried Chicken With Stir-Fried Green Chili Paste features a bone-in chicken thigh marinated with a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, galangal, white sugar or palm sugar, salt, white pepper or black pepper, lemongrass, bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves, and fresh green chili, braised then deep-fried and topped with fresh green chili. The Ayam Goreng Cabe Ijo or Fried Chicken With Stir-Fried Green Chili Paste will be tender and juicy, with enticing meaty salty savoury sweet spice flavour.
The Sambal Sotong or Stir-Fried Chili Paste With Squid features fresh squid, optionally marinated with corn starch, stir-fried with a bumbu / spice paste of blended shallots, garlic, galangal, white sugar or palm sugar, salt or light soy sauce or dark soy sauce, tamarind paste, lemongrass, fermented shrimp paste, dried red chili, and fresh red chili, with optional tomatoes or coconut milk. The Sambal Sotong or Stir-Fried Chili Paste With Squid is bouncy and chunky, with bright sweet savoury salty herbal spice flavour. The Nasi Padang is a satisfying and complete meal, often eaten in a communal group setting with family or friends.
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1. Hajah Maimunah (HJH) Restaurant & Catering Private Limited
@ 11 Jalan Pisang
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 7:30am – 7pm, Closed Sun
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Nasi Padang (SGD $12) @ Hajah Maimunah (HJH) Restaurant & Catering Private Limited.
Established in August 1997 by Madam Mahiran Binte Abdul Rahman and named after her mother, this family-owned casual dining restaurant has placed on the 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand list, and offers over 30 varieties of dishes daily.
Their dishes are characterised by warm full-bodied flavours, built from slow-cooked bases and richly seasoned gravies, with an emphasis on traditional kampung-style preparation that highlights depth rather than heat. Their generous use of spices and aromatic complexity evoke memories of rustic homely cooking.
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2. Hajjah Ratna Nasi Padang
@ 17 Beach Road #01-4709
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 10am – 6pm, Closed Sun
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Nasi Padang (SGD $7) @ Hajjah Ratna Nasi Padang.
Established in 1967 by Madam Hajjah Sharifah, this humble eatery has consistently served the same range of 20 dishes since its inception, maintaining their nostalgic flavours through time-tested recipes.
Their dishes are deeply traditional, emphasising slow home‑style preparation and richly layered flavours, with a good balance of aromatic herbs. Dishes lean towards warmth, depth, and gentle heat, without sharp intensity of taste. Their labour‑intensive methods mean only a small batch can be prepared daily, and they quickly sell out around lunch.
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3. Maimon Nasi Padang
@ Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre, 49A Serangoon Garden Way #01-29
Opening Hours: Wed - Thu 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 8pm, Closed Fri, Sat - Sun 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 8pm, Closed Mon - Tue
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Nasi Padang (SGD $7) @ Maimon Nasi Padang.
Established in 1979 by Madam Maimon, this stall is well-regarded for their authentic flavours made using traditional recipes, and their wide variety of over 30 dishes available daily.
Their richly seasoned home‑style dishes are rooted in classic Malay culinary techniques, featuring robust spice profiles and comforting textures. The eye-catching range, consistent quality of taste, and wallet-friendly prices create many returning customers.
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4. Nasi Padang Sabar Menanti
@ 719 North Bridge Road
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 7am – 5pm, Closed Mon
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5. Padang Lezat By Java Kitchen
@ Northpoint City, 930 Yishun Avenue 2 #B2-12
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 9pm
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6. Pondok Jawa Timur
@ Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road #05-22
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 8pm
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7. Putra Minang
@ Somerset Bencoolen, 51 Bencoolen Street #01-05
Opening Hours: Thu - Tue 9am – 9pm, Wed 9am – 5pm
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8. Rabiah Muslim Food
@ Whampoa Makan Place, 90 Whampoa Drive #01-34
Opening Hours: Mon - Sat 12pm – 7pm, Closed Sun
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9. Rumah Makan Minang
@ 18 Kandahar Street
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 8pm
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10. Warong Java Nasi Padang
@ 539 Bedok North Street 3 #01-619
Opening Hours: Tue - Sun 7am – 3:30pm, Closed Mon
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