My top 3 best Nasi Padang in SG

[Nice-Gook]

I really wanted to stay off this thread.But felt obliged to enlighten forumers from buying some crap stories from a half illiterate.

Nasi Briyani derives it's fragrance from a specialty rice called Basmati rice.It is one of the most expensive lot.Besides it also has a good glycemic index.Which simply means its good for diabetics since it comes under the category of unrefined brown rice.http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=dailytip&dbid=365

Now, Nasi kandar is not so much about rice per ce.It is about the blend of curries poured into the same plate.Like say mutton curry and fish for example.Basically it started as a poor man's food.Penang is it's origin.

Koreans and Japanese variant of rice is quite different.Koreans usually add some barley in their rice while cooking.It gives the stickiness for the rice to be picked by chop sticks.

Again the best fragrance rice does not comes from Thailand.In fact most rice these days comes from Vietnam and prior to world war;it was from Burma.The most expensive rice in SEA comes from Indonesia.If I am not mistaken from Solo....two to three years advance booking.

 

[groober2011]

To the best of my limited knowledge, every rice-growing society has their own version of "Nasi Padang," which is what it really means in Indonesian/Malay. Padang is field(actually referring to anywhere outdoors where many villagers do field labour together). Those at home will cook the simple meals and cart the food to these workers to eat during lunch breaks.

 

[gatehousethetinkertailor]

Been to every nook of Padang regency in Sumatra.Hence eaten every known variety of Padang food there is.But want to stay off this thread simply because as there is no such as thing as a typical ethnicity of food anymore.For better or worse.Just as there is no Singapore variant of Hainanese chicken rice in Hainan itself or no such thing as Fish head curry in S.India;in fact fish head is never eaten as a decent dish in India.

Likewise,the Nasi Padang had evolved.In fact the Nasi Padang one eats in the provincial capital of Padang and Pariaman (an hour and a half drive)is different.Not to mention the Nasi Bakau of Bukit Tinggi( a three hour drive from capital) which is quite different altogether.Now you must note the difference between Pariaman and Padang per ce.Those from Pariaman are usually the coolie class--hence their food is not so rich.

But what markes a truly authentic Nasi Padang is as you mention,the green and red sambal..Yes,the green one is the killer and the red milder.But most of the Nasi Padang outlets in Sinkie does not serves the sambal.Heck,who cares since taste matters most and why bother if it's nothing original or authentic.

btw.pls note that Minang never use the term machik for aunties or older females.only malays uses this teminology.You should call them ibu.

Ya Bapak, I intentionally used the term "makcik" to distinguish the Malay makcik cooks from the Indon Ibu who you can find in some of these Indon stalls/restaurants - and yes you are absolutely right, Nasi Padang has nothing to do with a "field" - its etymology is usually associated with cooking from Padang:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padang,_Indonesia

You won't be disappointed with the green sambal either. Bisa sssiiiiiippppppppp

And the chicken rendang is a hefty piece with really thick and spicy - I usually don't bother with any other dishes - just rice and chicken rendang.

The only other stall I know that used to serve kickass Chicken Rendang (and Nasi campur) used to be Warong M Nasir when it first opened in Liang Seah Street back in 2003/2004 - the food was really good and the Chicken rendang was extremely tasty - I asked the owner (a young Malay chap who used to be a seafarer married to a Japanese woman) what distinguished his food and he said he did not skim on the quality of ingredients.

Sadly, they moved away and the quality has gone down over the years - I am no sure whether the same young guy runs the business anymore.

Kampung Glam Cafe in Arab Street is also very popular and the good is not bad.

 

[Nice-Gook]

To the best of my limited knowledge, every rice-growing society has their own version of "Nasi Padang," which is what it really means in Indonesian/Malay. Padang is field(actually referring to anywhere outdoors where many villagers do field labour together). Those at home will cook the simple meals and cart the food to these workers to eat during lunch breaks.

Not really lah.

At least not in the context of Nasi Padang.It originated from an ehtnic Indonesians called the Minangkabau or Minangs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padang,_Indonesia The cuisine of the Minangkabau people is commonly called Padang cuisine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minangkabau_cuisine

Padang food.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Sumatra

http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=13724&rog3=ID

 

[groober2011]

Not really lah.

At least not in the context of Nasi Padang.It originated from an ehtnic Indonesians called the Minangkabau or Minangs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padang,_Indonesia The cuisine of the Minangkabau people is commonly called Padang cuisine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minangkabau_cuisine

Padang food.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Sumatra

http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=13724&rog3=ID

Then I stand corrected. Thank you for the information.

 

[gatehousethetinkertailor]

To the best of my limited knowledge, every rice-growing society has their own version of "Nasi Padang," which is what it really means in Indonesian/Malay. Padang is field(actually referring to anywhere outdoors where many villagers do field labour together). Those at home will cook the simple meals and cart the food to these workers to eat during lunch breaks.

Wikipedia tells it differently:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padang_food

 

[whoami]

Geylang Serai market move already? or they still at that temporary market? theres a stall called Sinar Pagi there too, I havent go there and try. Will find a chance to go there, thanks ahh

Yes! Sedap! Especially the rendang.

On Saturdays, they serve extra dish eg udang goreng/krepek. Sedap!

Sinar Pagi nasi padang stall is now at 1st floor Geylang Serai new mkt.

But be prepared for the long queue.

 

[Alamaking]

The stall at Havelock/River Valley, opposite Great World City is quite good.

Thats at zion road, in the rejected list, lol

how special is the taste? hmm... thanks for the heads up, shall try it

Got sell at Geylang Serai, it looks like this, its a bigger version of Petai

 

[Alamaking]

Thanks Alamaking, great thread. Fan of Nasi Padang but now understand how they are served. Been to Pariman and enjoyed it. Loved the Rendeveous chicken and the sotong. The staff however are poor in courtesy and stiff.

When did they go to Eu Tong Sen? I thought they are in the hotel of the same name facing Cathay, their old address.

They moved when Rendevous Hotel renovated, they have been at Central for at least 2 years

 

[Alamaking]

None I have tasted here has rendang comparable to those from Indonesia, and Nasi Padang is hard to find in our neighbourhood stalls.

Yes, I agree, you cant find any store here comparable with the original ones.

Actually, most Singapore and Malaysian Malays call it Nasi Campur (mixed rice). Indonesians call it Nasi Padang (field rice). As a whiff of Indonesian wind blew over to Singapore decades ago, some Singapore Malays began to call it Nasi Padang too.......

In Sumatra, especially at Padang, they called it Nasi Ramas rather than Nasi Campur, which are usually said at the Java island.

 

[Alamaking]

But what markes a truly authentic Nasi Padang is as you mention,the green and red sambal..Yes,the green one is the killer and the red milder.But most of the Nasi Padang outlets in Sinkie does not serves the sambal.Heck,who cares since taste matters most and why bother if it's nothing original or authentic.

btw.pls note that Minang never use the term machik for aunties or older females.only malays uses this teminology.You should call them ibu.

You are absolutely correct, i forgot to mention about the green red chillies.

 

[Alamaking]

Padang rice cannot compared with Basmati or Thai fragrance rice lah, Padang rice are lower grade of rice, not in full rice shape all the time, Singaporeans will taste the diff, but I wont, cox im used to it.

Nasi ramas or nasi campur usually only consist 1 meat and 1 vege topped with lots of rice and gravies wrapped in banana leaves, its a poor man's food. Just like what we saw bangalas workers sitting and eating their white rice with gravy.

 

[Alamaking]

Yes! Sedap! Especially the rendang.

On Saturdays, they serve extra dish eg udang goreng/krepek. Sedap!

Sinar Pagi nasi padang stall is now at 1st floor Geylang Serai new mkt.

But be prepared for the long queue.

Are they open in the afternoon? around 3pm?

 

[Alamaking]

I just came back from Jakarta this week and had Nasi Padang at Garuda restaurant something there... cant say I exactly like their concept there as all the food are put on table and those not eaten, are taken back for the next diner... but in Rome, do what the Romans do, I guess. Food was so-so.

Prefer the Padang food here, so far always liked Rendezvous but really too pricey, so dont eat it often.
Nice to find out so many other places recommended by bros here... will check them out, thanks.

Dun eat Nasi Padang at Jaakarta, theirs not much taste, not hot and a bit sweet, i dun like it at all.

 

[soikee]

Thats at zion road, in the rejected list, lol



Got sell at Geylang Serai, it looks like this, its a bigger version of Petai

This is not petai. It's called buah gee-leng (lizard). You need to cook it with metal nails; once cooked remove the nails.

 

[Alamaking]

This is not petai. It's called buah gee-leng (lizard). You need to cook it with metal nails; once cooked remove the nails.

I never say this is petai..... its called jengkol in Indo

 

[soikee]

This is petai, some cooked, some eat it raw with just chillies

Learned from Tommy Suharto that eating petai is good cos it helps to nourish and strengthen the kidneys.

 

[soikee]

Got sell at Geylang Serai, it looks like this, its a bigger version of Petai

Alamak! You said it's the bigger version of petai didn't you?

 

[Alamaking]

Learned from Tommy Suharto that eating petai is good cos it helps to nourish and strengthen the kidneys.

Petais is good for people with diabetes, Jengkol is definitely not good for kidneys, because it is hard to digest.

Alamak! You said it's the bigger version of petai didn't you?

Yah, both taste bitter and give a bad after taste, your mouth will gets smelly, your urine will be smelly also. But I love it, LOL

 

[soikee]

Petais is good for people with diabetes, Jengkol is definitely not good for kidneys, because it is hard to digest.


Yah, both taste bitter and give a bad after taste, your mouth will gets smelly, your urine will be smelly also. But I love it, LOL

The nonyas boil buah jee-leng with metal nails to rid off the bitterness.

They serve it coated with grated coconut & palm sugar as a dessert.

I love to eat lots of petai in sambal udang and buah jee-leng for my dessert.