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

join telegram
follow instaMY

I’ve lived in Singapore my whole life, and it’s safe to say that trying every hawker stall in Chinatown is a feat that cannot be undertaken by the faint of heart. This road was paved by Nicole, with Jia Ji Mei Shi debuting as the first instalment of this series, followed by Ah Kong Wah Kuih. The flaming torch has been passed on to me, and after spending an embarrassingly long time getting lost, I found myself in front of Nasi Padang Mami Fita.

nasi padang mami fita's storefront
Credit

What I tried 

I’ll admit that I stuck out like a sore thumb—maybe it was the huge DSLR swinging from a strap on my shoulder, but I’m pretty sure it’s because I asked the owner of Nasi Padang Mami Fita what she would recommend from her stall. Creatures of habit like myself usually stick to what we know when it comes to hawker food, and my lack of experience with Malay food definitely showed.

nasi padang mami fita's set meal

Either way, there was pity in her eyes as she scanned the nervous intern in front of her, and with a brusque “you sit down, I take for you”, she got to work spooning a variety of her dishes onto a plate for me to try. Her usual set consisting of rice, sayur lodeh, and a main dish costs S$5+, though if you want to give everything a shot at one go, picking out your own ingredients will set you back S$7. 

cross section of mutton curry

The Curry Mutton was the first thing she offered, and wholly deserving of the two thumbs up she convinced me with. There’s the distinct gamey aroma that shone through undeterred by the sharp-tasting curry. It’s not pretty or aesthetically plated like the cafes I love dearly, but it explodes in your mouth like a flavour-filled firework.

And if I was impressed enough to go back for a second, third, and fourth mouthful, I’m betting you will too.

cross section of kantang begedil

I remember a friend asking me how I was going to survive as a food writer because I’ve never had a penchant for fried food—and if there’s anything Singaporeans love, it’s whatever’s fried until golden brown with a light sheen of oil. The Begedil Kentang warranted a little hesitation on my part, especially since the exterior crumbled under the pressure of my fork with a satisfying crunch.

Made with deep-fried potatoes that are mashed and later shaped into patties before a second round of frying, these palm-sized patties need to be chased with a large glass of water afterwards. The texture was impeccable but as expected, felt too oily and cloying for my liking, though I’m sure it’s every fried food lover’s dream come true.

black sauce chicken from nasi padang mami fita

Maybe fried food or curries aren’t your thing, in which case, I’ll reconsider our friendship. Before that happens, though, you might want to take my advice and try the Black Sauce Chicken—lovingly coated in sweet black sauce and lightly spiced with red cut chilli.

Its flavour profile definitely leans towards the former, and is incredibly well-marinated, though my only gripe is that the chicken was unusually tough. Though I could’ve just been unlucky during my visit, oh well.

sambal prawns from nasi padang mami fita

My time at Nasi Padang Mami Fita ended with a generous scoop of Sambal Prawns and a hard-boiled egg—it’s a staple that I grew up eating, even if I end up red-faced and sweaty. You don’t need to be a huge fan of sambal to spot the bright-red dish from a mile away, and I believe good sambal should be appreciated through smell from that distance too.

I wish the sambal gave a harder kick, but was instead greeted with what felt like an anticlimactic gentle hug. 

Final thoughts

nasi padang mami fita's sayur lodeh

I enjoyed my meal, but I’m confident that it’s going to take a lot more until I can consider myself an ardent fan of nasi padang the way I do with dessert. Tucked in the corner of Chinatown Complex away from the hustle and bustle of the busier stalls in the middle, Nasi Padang Mami Fita will offer you a brief respite in the form of a comforting plate full of your favourite grub.

Expected damage: S$5 – s$7 per pax

Other articles you might like:

First dibs: Nom Gelato, Chinatown — Whisky & bacon, blue cheese & other whacky flavours

Tangled, Chinatown Point: “Thought-through, lovingly made, and utterly deserving”

Price: $

Our Rating: 3 / 5

Nasi Padang Mami Fita

335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex Food Centre, #02-222, Singapore 050335

Price
Our Rating 3/5

Nasi Padang Mami Fita

335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex Food Centre, #02-222, Singapore 050335

Operating Hours: 10am - 6.30pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon

Operating Hours: 10am - 6.30pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon

Video thumbnail
time to say BELLOOOO 🍌 #singapore #universalstudiossingapore #minions #despicableme
00:39
Video thumbnail
have you ever tried rectangle pizza? 🍕 😮 #malaysia #kualalampur #foodie #korea #pizza
00:25
Video thumbnail
if you haven't tried these places, then what are you doing? 😤 #malaysia #foodie #kualalampur
00:19
Video thumbnail
shiopan shio-down 😬 #singapore #sgfoodies #singaporefood #bakery
01:09
Video thumbnail
anyone up for the best wanton mee in KL? 🤤🍜 #malaysia #kualalampur #noodles #foodie #klfoodie
00:27
Video thumbnail
your bank account might hate you after this 😬 #malaysia #kualalampur #fashion #vintage #y2k
00:38
Video thumbnail
Hunting for $2.50 breakfast spots in Singapore | Food Finders Singapore S7E1
12:35
Video thumbnail
if you're ever wondering how cny is celebrated in KL 🧧🐍 #malaysia #kualalampur #chinesenewyear
00:12
Video thumbnail
not sure where to go food hunting in KL? we got you! #malaysia #foodie #kualalampur #food #chowkit
00:29
Video thumbnail
located in a 101 year old heritage building! #foodie #sgfoodies #singapore
00:42
Video thumbnail
pop by the market for prosperity 🐍🧧 #malaysia #kualalampur #cny #chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear
00:19
Video thumbnail
this is for all pop mart lovers!! #singapore #jewelchangi #cny2025
00:19
Video thumbnail
anyone up for cheap chicken tenders? #malaysia #kualalampur #tenders #chicken #wings
00:20
Video thumbnail
🏌️here's a new range for you golfers out there #malaysia #kualalampur #golf #golfswing #golfer
00:13
Video thumbnail
make your own tea in HK 🇭🇰 #hongkong #dimsum #hongkongtouristspot
00:41
Video thumbnail
would you pay $5000 to stay in this suite? #singapore #hotelreview #sentosasingapore
00:41
Video thumbnail
if you ever craved teppanyaki, this is the place to go 😋 #malaysia #japanese #teppanyaki #foodie
00:19
Video thumbnail
How to eat like a local in Hong Kong | Food Finders Singapore S6E12
19:12
Video thumbnail
there's no more 'where to eat ah' after this 😋 #malaysia #kualalampur #pasarseni #central #market
00:22
Video thumbnail
Recreate Mcdonald’s Curry Sauce with us #mcdonaldscurrysauce #sgfoodie #sg #currysauce #recipe
01:01

Newest