Malaysia
Singapore
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Dubbed as the Malay cai fan, nasi padang is another staple dish we Singaporeans know and love. I used to work in an office near Kampung Glam, so naturally, I’ve had more than my fair share of nasi padang during my time there.
When I think of cult favourites, names like Hjh Maimunah, Sabar Menanti, and Rumah Makan Minang come to mind. So when our intern Kaye covered an article on another beloved spot, Pondok Indah, reopening after a 5-year hiatus, I knew I had to go down and see if its “cult favourite” status still holds up.
Located in an industrial complex in upper Aljunied, it’s a pretty ulu spot to set up shop after disappearing for 5 years, in my opinion. However, that doesn’t stop loyal customers from making the trip; I heard the wait during peak hours can stretch up to an hour even!
What I tried at Pondok Indah
Just like ordering cai fan, I have a default set of dishes I go for when ordering nasi padang— chicken lemak, sambal goreng, begadil, and paru (beef lungs). I thought avoiding peak hours would help me skip the queue, but it led to a different issue: fewer options. Half of my favourites were gone, leaving me scrambling to find replacements to make up for it.
In the end, apart from my usual sambal goreng and begadil, I chose a fried chicken wing and lemak gravy over rice to mimic my beloved chicken lemak alongside some achar. The total damage was S$7 for my dishes.
First up, the rice with lemak gravy. The rice was fluffy— nothing special— but the lemak gravy was something else. Fragrant, creamy, and packing a nice kick from the chilli padi, it was a pity they ran out of chicken for the lemak because I’m sure it would have been just as impressive.
Next, the fried chicken wing. It was pretty good; the spices were on point and the meat was well-cooked— maybe a tad overdone, as it was a bit dry, but nothing some gravy couldn’t fix. If I had one complaint, it would be that the wing was smaller than I’d prefer, which might explain why it was a bit dry.
200-seater food court with Peranakan fare, mala grilled fish & in-house bar
Moving on to the sambal goreng. This medley of tofu, tempeh, and long beans stir-fried in sambal delivered precisely what I expected from this dish. Indeed a classic, it had a robust, savoury profile with a nice heat from the sambal. It’s definitely one of my favourites, though the portion size could’ve been a little more generous.
The begadil— a potato patty akin to a croquette— was just fried perfection. Crispy on the outside with soft, velvety potatoes on the inside – with a few lumps here and there, which I’m not mad about at. All in all, it was another excellent addition to my nasi padang.
Lastly, the achar – a blend of pickled cucumbers, pineapples, red onions, and carrots with spices. It was a perfect way to end off the meal with a refreshing and tangy bite. I saved this for last to act as a palate cleanser, and it did the job perfectly.
Just a heads up: they add fresh chilli slices, so watch out for those because they’ll burn like a *inserts expletive text here*.
Final Thoughts
Although I was slightly disappointed not to get my usual picks, the quality of the dishes more than made up for it. I can definitely see the hype, and it’s impressive that Pondok Indah’s cult-favourite status still holds strong after such a long hiatus.
Note to self: come back earlier next time to try my luck at snagging that chicken lemak and paru.
Expected damage: S$6 – S$10.50 per pax
Pondok Indah – 5 years on, cult favourite nasi padang spot reappears at ulu area
