Good selection of Malay food. The taste is good, and there could be a long queue at lunchtime. I had Nasi Lemak, and it tasted great. The portion was average, but overall, it was just enough for lunch.
Lee
2
I have eaten at their shop a couple of times over the years, and unfortunately, the standard is not consistent.
Because of the lack of choices for Muslim or Malay food here, you will end up at Spice Affair.
First of all, it's always crowded at lunchtime. The space between seats is really tight too.
So we decided to get takeout this time.
They only serve individual packets where you choose your rice and dishes. They do not allow buying dishes individually.
Total lack of flexibility.
Next, they are on the pricier side. Begadil or a tofu dish is almost $2, while meat is around $4 (beef rendang is slightly more).
So a meal there is easily $10 per person without a drink.
The beef was a huge disappointment. A few of us ordered it, and it was tough and left an unpleasant sensation on the tongue, a bit tart. The spices had not infused into the meat, and it was really tough to chew. Even tearing it with the utensils was tough.
The tofu was relatively good in comparison.
Begadil was tasty, but really small for the price, like a ping-pong ball smashed flat.
There are better Padang stalls out there.
Cyril Pereira
5
Had dinner there with a friend at around 6 p.m. on a Thursday evening and was surprised to find the place quite empty. However, the food was delicious, and the Nasi Ambeng could feed at least three people. I particularly liked the chicken curry as it had an aromatic flavour and was very palatable. Definitely value for money, with drinks and dessert included. I would definitely visit this place again.
Kuan Yew Wong
5
Oh, I love this restaurant so much. All the food is delicious. Everything is tasty, from nasi lemak, nasi padang, mee siam, and all the Malay dishes on display. This is one of the best places for Malay food in Singapore. Even though I don't work nearby anymore, I still go back and recommend this place to friends. You must try!
Zi Yan
2
Flavorful, but below Malay food standards, especially when the kitchen uses old, frozen ingredients. Especially the chicken, it's always overcooked and dead-dry and rubbery, hazardous to your gums and health. Expensive, $$.
Grant Ho
4
Here's the edited review:
Very much a basic restaurant/cafe – almost self-serve level (but they dish up your meal).
It was cheap enough and good enough for Western standards. The seating was comfortable, and the place was kept clean.
The staff were friendly and answered my queries. Their English was passable, especially considering my non-existent Malay/Mandarin! 😃
Sam Foo
2
Staff was polite and service was good. We ordered Ambeng Light: Fish Sambal and Chicken Lemak, and Ambeng Solo Beef Rendang. Unfortunately, we were there 45 minutes before closing at 8 PM on a Sunday night, so the food was not warm enough and side dishes were not available. Serving portion was large. It is value for money as there is no service tax or GST. The food is a tad salty for my liking. There will be no return visit for me.
Shidiq Mohd
1
Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the lack of basic hospitality: no greeting, not even a simple smile. It set the tone for what would become a very unpleasant experience.
When it came time to order, the server's demeanor was noticeably unpleasant. I pointed to a specific dish and asked what type of meat it contained, as I have allergies. Without answering, he proceeded to place the dish on my plate. I asked him to stop, but he ignored me completely. Once the dish was on my plate, I repeated my question. His response was curt and angry. When I told him I did not want the dish, he raised his voice at me.
Stunned, I asked why he was scolding me for simply inquiring about the ingredients of a dish for health reasons. Instead of de-escalating, he continued raising his voice in front of other customers. I was shocked and embarrassed.
The manager eventually stepped in, but instead of addressing the issue professionally, he told me to relax and excused the server’s behavior, saying “that’s just how he speaks.” I explained that I was calm and that such conduct is unacceptable in any service setting, let alone a restaurant. Defending this kind of behavior only reflects poorly on the management itself.
Reading other reviews, it appears this kind of poor service is not a one-off incident but part of the culture here. That is a shame because the food is actually decent. Unfortunately, no amount of food quality is worth being disrespected or publicly humiliated. I will not be returning, and I would not recommend anyone subject themselves to the same experience.
Poh Siew Lee
5
Love the Nasi Ambeng or Nasi Padang here. Both the curry chicken and beef rendang are exceptional, fragrant, juicy and tender. The rice set came with fried salted fish - another ⭐️ dish! The rice was cooked a little firmer, the way I like it. Freshly prepared teh and kopi are available, as well as other canned drink choices.
Angel Kam
4
I ordered nasi lemak and other veggies. I have a low spice tolerance, so it was a bit too spicy for me. But overall, the food is good. My only concern was that they were using food coloring for the nasi lemak.