Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
You are never short on options at Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre, but surely not all of them are good, right? Well, I went down to try a stall that not many have talked about: Takdenama. Since 2018, Takdenama has been serving homemade nasi goreng, the kind you might find in most Malay homes. But that begs the question: if I can have it at home, why would I buy it when I’m out?
With this review, I intend to answer that question. What truly sets them apart from a nice home-cooked meal, which I could get for free? This is probably biased, but I’m fairly certain their nasi goreng doesn’t come close to my grandma’s.
What to order at Takdenama
One of the things that impressed me was the variety of nasi goreng styles. None were too unfamiliar, but seeing all those variations on one menu was quite the surprise. It was kinda like Pokémon; you didn’t really realise how many there were until you looked at the whole list. I decided to go with one I was familiar with and one I wasn’t.
I got the Nasi Goreng Pattaya (S$7) and Nasi Goreng Ayam Black Pepper (S$7). Maybe it’s just a Geylang thing, but the food was prepared staggeringly fast. Both plates were ready in less than 5 minutes, which is very impressive. I was trying to photograph the makcik frying the rice, but she plated my dish before my camera could even focus.
First, the Nasi Goreng Ayam Black Pepper, a version I had yet to try at the time. While not uncommon, I would still consider it underrated and under most people’s radar.
To be frank, it was a little disappointing. The rice, while fried nicely and perfectly separated, was one-dimensional. The taste of sambal was barely noticeable, but I was pleasantly surprised by the smoky wok hei flavour. The black pepper chicken added a change of scenery, but that change held my attention only briefly.
The sauce was too sweet, as the kicap manis (sweet soya sauce) was a bit overpowering. You could only slightly taste the black pepper. I will say I liked that they used whole peppercorns, as the crunch gave the dish a much-needed kick. I would recommend they maybe reduce the soya sauce slightly. Some lemon, calamansi or something sour would balance the dish, and chopped chillies fried with the rice would be nice as well. Overall, it was not too bad.
Now the Nasi Goreng Pattaya was a surprise. Aside from your regular nasi goreng, I would consider it a basic variation. They say, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and this dish proves it.
Nasi Goreng Pattaya has two important components: the omelette and, of course, the nasi goreng itself. Ideally, the omelette has to be almost paper-thin, without any holes. You would then draw whatever you like on top using sweet chilli sauce. This is very reminiscent of omurice, a fried rice variant from Japan.
As we pierced the omelette shell, we were rewarded with a treasure trove of goodies. I expected it to be the same rice we had for the Nasi Goreng Ayam Black Pepper, but boy was I wrong. There were many toppings, from thinly diced cabbage and green onion to thick fishcake and chunky shrimp. My colleague Aaron and I were both surprised.
As I took a bite, I tasted a medley of flavours. The slightly sweet and meaty shrimp, the bouncy fish cakes and the cabbage added a very light crunch to the entire affair. The best part? The wok hei was much more prominent in this dish. My only complaint was that after a while, the rice covered by the omelette was slightly mushy. I’d suggest just mixing everything, but my OCD didn’t let me do it myself.
Who is Takdenama best for?
I think this stall is perfect for someone who wants something very quick and satisfying. Based purely on what I ordered, each nasi goreng seems distinct from the others, yet that unmistakable rustic flavour ran through both dishes. If you’re on lunch and having a particularly bad day at work, I’d suggest paying this place a visit. Nothing like a taste from home away from home, to lighten the mood.
How to get to Takdenama
There are a few ways to get to Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre. If you are taking the bus, there is a stop opposite the market called Joo Chiat Complex, and another behind it called Block 416.
If you are taking the MRT, the closest stop is Paya Lebar (green line), around an 8-minute walk away. Once you reach the market, the stalls are on the second floor, so take the escalators at the centre of the building. Do note that some stalls at Geylang Serai accept only cash, so be sure to bring some. While Takdenama accepts PayNow, some of the drink stalls may not.
Do we recommend Takdenama?
Yes, but stick to the classics. Dishes like Nasi Goreng Pattaya are the ones you can’t go wrong with. For the portion and prices, Takdenama guarantees a good lunch that is sure to fuel you for the rest of the day. If you’re looking for a hearty breakfast, it opens as early as 7am. Overall, this stall serves homemade, hearty cooking that reminds me of home. It is funny to say, considering ‘home’ is at most an hour away for most of us.
People also read:
