Mum Daughter Kitchen: Authentic $2.50 nasi padang with homemade rempah

This is my second time coming to Chinatown for Malay food and honestly, why not? My previous visit has been stellar, and “Muslim-owned” and “Chinatown” aren’t words that you usually use in the same sentence without the additional “non”. My hunt led me to Mum Daughter Kitchen located at Chinatown Complex, which serves nasi padang.

Mum Daughter Kitchen initially started as a home-based business selling and delivering nasi padang in mid-2020 when it was suggested by the mother of the owner (thus explaining the stall name). Its owner, Jahan is married to a Chinese man, Clarence, who has 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. Jahan cooks most of the dishes using her very own recipes.

What I tried at Mum Daughter Kitchen

I can see how people may view the lauk (dish) offering as lacking. From experience, I have definitely seen other nasi padang stalls offering nearly three times what was available at Mum Daughter Kitchen, but knowing that they were freshly made every morning made it acceptable.

Besides, what’s the point of having thirty dishes when I know I will choose the same three to four dishes every time?

With strong recommendations online, I just had to try the Sotong Masak Hitam (squid cooked in ink) at S$3.50 as well as the Ayam Masak Lemak Chilli Padi (chicken cooked in coconut milk and chilli) at S$2.50.

I am also very familiar with them and practically alternate between those two dishes weekly while I was growing up (and still do!).

Another thing to note is that gravy from some of the dishes is free of charge! Curry and Lemak anyone? I also had a portion of Kangkong Belacan (S$1) and a piece of Begedil (S$1). There were also other dishes like Fish Curry (S$3/S$4) and Turmeric Vegetables (S$1); probably even more, had I come earlier! 

First into my mouth was the Sotong Masak Hitam, and my oh my, was it unexpectedly tender. Two chews were all it took for me to get another spoonful. I was blown away by how similar it tasted to my aunt’s cooking but its tenderness gave it an edge.

The ink added a certain umami taste that had hints of fish in it. It also had subtle spices behind every piece. Portion-wise, it was decent with the quality you’re getting. Overall, the online reviews got this one right— it is a definite must-try!

Next up on my spoon was the Begedil. It was soft and the insides were seasoned well. The potatoes were also really smooth and gave them a unique texture amongst the other dishes on my plate.

Having said that, I have had begedil with a more crusty and flavourful exterior and this definitely wasn’t it. Still delicious though.

My fork was called to action when it came to the Kangkong Belacan. It was cooked well— it was soft but not limp and even had a decent chew on it. Initially, you could only taste the greens but there was a nice bit of spice at the end of it. Expertly done by Mum Daughter Kitchen.

All in all, a very good option to have and I would get two portions next time.

Last and certainly not least was the Ayam Masak Lemak Chilli Padi. I have a pet peeve when it comes to this dish: somehow all my makciks (aunties) find the need to make this the spiciest thing any living being has tasted. Seriously!

But thankfully, it’s not the case here. It was creamy with a subtle spice that slowly built up.

I enjoyed the exterior of the chicken more than the actual chicken flesh. The skin of the chicken had absorbed the creaminess of the gravy and it became a delectable gelatinous goodness, which was a total 180-degree turn from the Begedil.

The chicken flesh was expectedly dry and was hard to pry away with the plastic utensils provided by Mum Daughter Kitchen.

However, the star of Ayam Masak Lemak Chilli Padi was without doubt the gravy, which is free of charge. It made the pairing of rice with anything extra delightful.

The whole meal didn’t last very long.

Final thoughts

There’s nothing else to say but to come and eat here. In the past, I did not dare order items that my aunt often cooks because of the fear that they will never taste as good, but Mum Daughter Kitchen has shattered that notion by being better.

It’s as authentic and earnest as they come.

Also, the price point is on the affordable side and I can already imagine crafting my budget nasi padang order from as low as S$2.50 (gravy is free guys).

Budget aside, the must-tries are definitely the Ayam Masak Lemak Chilli Padi and Sotong Masak Hitam. Definitely worth every cent!

You also won’t get the awful experience at of people overpaying in nasi padang or similar economic rice stalls. When in doubt, it’s as simple as asking for the price before ordering. Jahan was more than happy to break down the cost of my meal. 

What’s next? Father Son Pizzas?

Expected damage: S$2.50 – S$8.50 per pax

Other articles you might like:

Sinar Pagi Nasi Padang: Traditional Kapau-style nasi padang with over 40 ingredients since 1960s

Nasi Padang Mami Fita, Chinatown: “A comforting plate of your favourite grub”