Spicy and rich, Indonesian food has long captivated our tastebuds with dishes ranging from ayam penyet (fried smashed chicken), bakso (beef meatballs in soup) and nasi campur (mixed rice). Though we still can’t travel yet, we can transport ourselves to different districts in Indonesia where these dishes originate from with offerings found here. Keep scrolling to find out where to find the best Indonesian food in Singapore.
Cumi Bali is the place to be if you’re looking for the homecooked taste and rustic decor that transport you to the island. Get the namesake dish Cumi Bali, charcoal-grilled squid, before tucking into other favourites such as Ayam Sate Madura (Javanese-style satay) and Beef Rendang.
50 Tras St, Singapore 078989
Nasi Padang, or rice cooked in the style of Padang, Indonesia, is the star at Sari Ratu. Consequently, you’ll be spoiled for choice as they have a wide range of dishes to accompany rice. These include Ayam Bakar (grilled chicken), Sayur Nangka (young jackfruit in gravy) and Gulai Kambing (mutton curry).
20 Pahang St, Singapore 198617 and 304 Orchard Rd, #02-107 Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863
Warung Ijo proves that vegetarian food doesn’t have to be boring or tasteless. Using beancurd, mushroom or meat analogues to replace meat, you can expect your favourites such as Rendang Fried Rice, Gulai Fish (fish in curry), Ayam Penyet and Nasi Lemak.
337 Beach Rd, Singapore 199565
IndoChili has won various accolades for its food including the Food Republic Hawker King Challenge so you know you’re in for a treat. Serving up cuisine from Java, Padang, and Bali, star dishes include Gado-Gado (salad with peanut-based sauce), Sop Buntut (oxtail soup), Ikan Bakar Bali (grilled fish) and Nasi Kuning (yellow rice).
7 Wallich St, #B1 – 03 Guoco Tower, Singapore 078884 and 54 Zion Rd, Singapore 247779
Right off the edge of Orchard Road, Warung M. Nasir is another place for nasi padang. Dishes that people fan over include Beef Rendang, Sayur Lodeh (vegetables in curry), Sambal Goreng, Ikan Assam Pedas (fish in sour and spicy sauce) and Bergedil (stuffed hash).
69 Killiney Rd, Singapore 239526
Named after the sound that food vendors in Indonesia make using the kentongan, a traditional communication tool, Tok Tok has become beloved for their food. Soto Betawi (Jakarta beef soup), Siomay Bandung (steamed fish dumpling and tofu with peanut sauce) and Nasi Uduk (pictured) are among the must-try dishes at Tok Tok.
313 Orchard Rd, #B3-10 313@Somerset, Singapore 238895 and 60 Paya Lebar Road, #01-71/K6/K7 Paya Lebar Square, 409051
Founded by an Indonesian mother and son duo, Kulon serves only bakmi but they do it so well. Bakmi is a dish of Indonesian dry noodles where thin strands of noodles are coated in a variety of sauces. The noodles are then finished with various toppings ranging from bakso beef balls, Javanese marinated fried chicken thighs to braised sweet soy sauce chicken and spicy sambal.
30 Bali Ln, Singapore 189866
Located in Lucky Plaza, Gading Street Food was formerly known as Warung Surabaya. Despite the rebranding, Gading still attracts foodies with authentic Indonesian food such as Nasi Liwet (a rice dish cooked in coconut milk from Solo) with fried chicken, fried fish as well as Siomay Bandung and Nasi Gudeg (a Yogyakarta dish made with young jackfruit).
304 Orchard Rd, #02-63 Lucky Plaza, Singapore 238863
Pondok Jawa Timur is another restaurant to refuel at after shopping along Orchard Road. The restaurant first opened within the Indonesian embassy in 2006 before expanding to a shopfront. Star dishes include Bakwan Jagung (fried corn fritters with prawn), Gulai Kepala Ikan (red snapper curry), Ayam Penyet and Sambal Goreng Kentang Kering (sambal with fried tempeh and potato chips).
14 Scotts Road #05-22/23 Far East Plaza, 228213
Bara has an ambitious aim of reintroducing Indonesian flavours amidst the competitive sea of “penyets and padang options”. Their answer? Nasi Bakar, spiced rice that’s wrapped in banana leaves before it is grilled and served with a host of side dishes. These sides include Sambal Udang Kentang (prawn and potato with sambal), Ayam Goreng Serundeng (fried chicken with crispy topping) and Ayam Bakar Betutu (Balinese-style grilled chicken).
16 Enggor St, #01-10 Icon Food Village, Singapore 079717
You don’t want to miss the nasi tumpeng (pictured) here. Originating from the island of Java, this coned-shaped turmeric-flavoured and coloured “rice mountain” comes with eight delectable vegetables and meat dishes that symbolise gratitude and good fortune. Perfect for sharing, you get to sample different types of side dishes together with your family.
405 Havelock Rd, Level 3 Furama RiverFront, Singapore 169633
This heritage restaurant on Kandahar Street started in 1954 specialising Minangkabau (an ethnic group indigenous to the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra) cuisine, such as nasi padang (rice with various side dishes), rendang (spicy meat and coconut dish) and sayur lodeh (soup with vegetables in coconut milk).
18 & 18A Kandahar Street, 198884 and Our Tampines Hub, 1 Tampines Walk, #B1-47A, 528523
Sample a range of home-cooked Indonesian dishes from Padang, Sulawesi and Java at Tambuah Mas (which loosely translates to “add more please” in Padang dialect). Try the tahu telor (fried beancurd with eggs), an original family recipe and the ikan pepes (similar to otah-otah but made of pure seabass fillet).
Tambuah Mas has multiple locations in Singapore.
We can’t forget the yummy food from our beloved hawker centres! Over at Block 16 Bedok South Road, we hear this place is the place to the best nasi rawon (rice with black beef soup), nasi jenganan (rice with peanut sauce) and nasi sambal goreng
16 Bedok South Rd, #01-11, Singapore 460016
Even if you are clueless about Indonesian food, we’re pretty sure you’ve heard of ayam penyet. You can find this “smashed fried chicken” all over Singapore even at hawkers centres. It’s a simple dish but it packs a (spicy) punch. You can also replace the chicken with fish, beef balls, prawns, beef and even beancurd but you really can’t go wrong with fried chicken.
Ayam Penyet Ria has multiple locations in Singapore.
We’ll throw this in the list for good measure. Bumbu (which means seasoning or spices traditional mixed by using a pestle and mortar) serves Thai-Indonesian food and an interesting pick includes pandan leaf chicken.
44 Kandahar St, Singapore 198897 and 4 Queen’s Rd, #02-101, Singapore 260004
Text: Pinky Chng/The Finder, additional reporting by Atika Lim. Updated by Ho Guo Xiong on 25 July, 2021.
