Pondok Indah – 5 years on, cult favourite nasi padang spot reappears at ulu area

Talk about a comeback. After a hiatus of 5 years, crowd-favourite Pondok Indah has reopened in an industrial building at Tai Seng. Despite being situated in an ulu area, word on the street is that one can expect up to an hour of wait time there!

Erm, so what is the big deal?

If the name sounds familiar, you may have spotted the Indonesian stall at multiple kopitiams. First established in 1998 at Siglap by Indonesian-Chinese Lindawaty Siam who dabbled in the F&B industry for over 20 years (she even worked at an army canteen), this humble eatery has found itself in 7 different locations, which include Ubi and Kallang.

Unfortunately, due to the raging pandemic and expiring leases, we saw the last of Pondok Indah in 2019. Fast forward to now. As evidenced by impressively snaking queues after a mere 2 weeks of opening, the business is back and better than ever. Psst, to avoid the lunch crowd, be sure to drop by before 11.30am.

So what’s for lunch? Expect authentic, true-blue Indonesian cuisine at its best.

For those who are not familiar with nasi padang, think cai fan which covers a much wider (and robust) range of ingredients. Always seen with a vibrant blend of spices, chillies and curries, this Indo staple packs a punch and fiery kick. So imagine how much time and effort it takes for Lindawaty and her assistants to prepare the diverse range of 30 dishes at the stall.

Essentially, the seasoned chef’s nasi padang stems from a meld of Singapore and Indonesian influences. From the addition of basic ingredients like onion and garlic to not-so-regular ingredients like cardamon and lemongrass, Pondok Indah’s dishes are bound to have a depth of multifaceted flavours in every bite.

With mains such as Selar Fish Belado (S$2.50) and Asam Pedas Stingray (S$4), be sure to try their highly-raved Beef or Mutton Rendang (S$4.50) that features fork-tender protein stewed in a rich curry base perfumed in coconut milk and other aromatic spices. If you are not a fan of red meat, fret not, for they also have Chicken Rendang (from S$3).

Be warned, I have heard that their in-house rempah is very spicy. Up for an early meal? Start your day with a bowl of creamy Lontong (S$4) or a hearty portion of Mee Soto (S$4).

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