Weekend trip ideas: 14 places for the best nasi padang in Singapore

Che’ Rose is the eponymous nasi padang stall of Rosmah Nidar Marlian, whose relatives run the more famous Rumah Makan Minang and Sabar Menanti. But Rose probably serves “the best rendang in Singapore,” which she proclaims on a signboard. The beef rendang is one of her bestsellers, and the multidimensional chicken rendang is the sleeper hit.

Monday – Thursday, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am – 2.30pm

(Image credit: @bryan_dfl / Instagram)

Coba Coba, which is Bahasa Indonesian for ‘try try,’ is a father and son’s way of paying homage to their heritage. They opened a restaurant in Yishun in 2014 and specialise in serving nasi padang and nasi ambeng the old-school way. Signature dishes include lemak siput sedut (sea snails in coconut gravy), chicken belado, and stuffed squid called sotong sumbat.

Daily, 8am – 9pm

(Image credit: Coba Coba)

Another bloodline of the family behind Rumah Makan Minang and Sabar Menanti is Ratna Sari, who opened Hajjah Ratna Nasi Padang on Beach Road. Patrons can choose from beef rendang, chicken rendang, and asam pedas, as well as sambal tunis squid, fried fish belado, ayam lemak cili api (chicken cooked in coconut milk and chili padi), and ayam kalio (chicken cooked in spiced coconut gravy).

Monday – Friday, 11am -8pm
Saturday, 9am – 9pm
Sunday, 11am – 5pm

(Image credit: @ratnanasipadang / Instagram)

Hjh Maimunah Restaurant was established in the 1990s and has been a consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient since 2018. Its nasi padang tends towards the Malay style, and some highlights include sotong hitam, or squid braised in its ink, ayam bakar, asam pedas, beef rendang, sambal goreng, and sayur lodeh. Besides Kampong Glam, Hjh Maimunah has another location in Joo Chiat.

Monday – Saturday, 7am – 8pm

(Image credit: Hjh Maimunah Restaurant & Catering)

Istimewa Nasi Padang is helmed by husband and wife, Kamarolzaman and Hasni, who founded the business over three decades ago. The couple’s nasi padang was named one of the three best examples in Singapore in 2020 thanks to signatures like the ayam goreng Istimewa, rendang lembu, asam pedas, and terong belado. Their nasi ambeng is popular too.

Saturday – Monday, 8am – 2.30pm

(Image credit: @singaporeliciouz / Instagram)

Just two corners away from Rumah Makan Minang is Sabar Menanti, whose founders come from the same family. The name roughly translates into ‘waiting patiently day and night,’ which diners still do for its rendition of beef rendang, asam pedas, sotong hitam, and jackfruit with beef tripe. Top it off with a bowl of pulut hitam and some kuih.

Tuesday – Sunday, 7am – 5pm

(Image credit: Sabar Menanti 2 / Facebook)

Nasi padang can be fiery, and thankfully Putra Minang serves it in air-conditioned comfort. The restaurant has lesser-seen dishes such as ayam opor (chicken braised in spiced coconut milk), lamb curry called gulai kambing, and telor asin, or salted duck eggs, as well as the usual suspects of rendang, sambal petai prawns, and sayur lodeh. Putra Minang also has outlets at Lucky Plaza and International Plaza.

Daily, 9am – 8.30pm

(Image credit: @putraminangsg / Instagram)

Hock Lock Kee, better known as Rendezvous Restaurant due to its former home at Rendezvous Hotel, started over 70 years ago as a coffee shop in Bras Basah. They originally served Western food to the British troops stationed here, and switched to nasi padang after the colonists pulled out. Diners flock to their chicken and beef rendang, as well as sambal sotong, ayam goreng, and the lovely curry chicken. Complete the meal with chendol and ice kachang.

Daily, 11am – 9pm

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Rumah Makan Minang traces its heritage back to when Padang-born Hajjah Rosemah Binte Mailu immigrated to Singapore in the 1940s and set up a roadside stall in the 1950s. Eventually, she moved to a corner shophouse where her five children helped out in the business, and one of them opened Rumah Makan Minang. The food here is still based on the matriarch’s recipes, which range from ever-popular beef rendang to sayur lodeh.

Daily, 8am – 9pm

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Serangoon BBQ & Curry 1983 is run by Peter Tan and his wife, who originally helmed the popular Serangoon Nasi Padang until they sold the business in 2020. Due to high demand, they decided to open a hawker stall to sell the dish again, which Tan picked up from Malay neighbours in the 1960s. The highlight of their nasi padang is the rice dyed blue with homegrown butterfly pea flowers, accompanied by the signature barbecued chicken marinated with 17 spices and boasting a crispy skin.

Wednesday – Monday, 9am – 3pm

(Image credit: Serangoon BBQ & Curry since 1983 / Facebook)

Haji Nasir Kiram moved to Singapore from West Sumatra and started working as a street hawker in Geylang Serai in the 1960s. His specialty was nasi padang, and business proved successful enough that he moved into his current location at Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre. Placards in front of dishes help patrons identify the riotously colourful food, and many go for items like barat kalio (beef tripe), chicken rendang, jackfruit curry, and tapioca leaf.

Everyday, 9am – 8pm

(Image credit: @julianamh1 / Instagram)

Along with Rumah Makan Minah, Warong Nasi Pariaman is one of the mainstays in Kampong Glam. The business was started by Isrin bin Ibrahim and Rosna binte Zainah in 1948 as a stall, and they expanded soon after. Now run by the second generation, it continues to attract diners with its examples of ayam bakar, sambal squid, and beef rendang.

Thursday – Tuesday, 7.30am – 3pm

(Image credit: @warongnasipariaman / Instagram)

Nasi padang takes on a different tune at Warong Java. While the dish is available, most diners come for nasi jenganan, a similar item but smothered with a spicy peanut sauce. Sides of begedil, cow lung, beansprouts, and more come standard, all best consumed with a cooling drink to keep the heat at bay.

Tuesday – Sunday, 7am – 6pm

(Image credit: @the__keemo / Instagram)

Warung M. Nasir is the namesake restaurant of Singapore-born singer-songwriter Mohamad Nasir. The gramophone and keyboard decor references his music career, but the most striking thing here is the array of dishes behind a glass wall. Popular items include beef rendang, ayam goreng, ikan asam pedas, and sambal goreng. Urap-urap, or grated coconut salad, also makes an appearance.

Daily, 10am – 9.30pm

(Image credit: @lloyd_sng / Instagram)