Malaysia
Singapore
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There is a plethora of Western food stalls in Singapore specialising in selling various grilled meats, but SALAI by MeatDrop was a stall that instantly stood out to me.
Located within Commonwealth Crescent Market and Food Centre, SALAI by MeatDrop is a Muslim-owned establishment selling premium meats like whole chickens, lamb ribs and steak.
You’ll spot SALAI by MeatDrop when you look out for its bright white signage on the second floor of the hawker centre. With offerings ranging from single servings of meat to giant sharing platters, we were excited to dig in.
What I tried at SALAI by MeatDrop
We had SALAI by MeatDrop’s Platter (S$60), a giant dish that came with a Whole Grilled Chicken, Smoked Lamb Ribs and Grilled Angus as its proteins. The Platter also came with all four side dishes offered by SALAI by MeatDrop, the Smoked Charcoal Rice, Grilled Pita Bread, French Fries and Aromatic Salad.
Finally, the Platter came with four sauces: the White Salai Sauce, Assam Salsa, Garlic Chili and Hickory BBQ.
We started off with the Grilled Angus, which had been cut into slices. Each piece of meat was cooked medium rare, with a soft pink centre.
SALAI by MeatDrop’s Grilled Angus was tender and juicy. I loved how it was not tough at all, and it was definitely one of the best steaks I’ve had from a hawker stall!
The Whole Grilled Chicken was cut into two halves and served with a light black pepper sauce brushed on its golden brown surface.
Similar to the Grilled Angus, the meat of the Whole Grilled Chicken was very soft and easy to tear apart. Taste-wise, it was smokey and well-marinated, and it tasted just like a rotisserie chicken.
The skin of the chicken was flavourful too, with a slightly caramelised profile complementing the light kick of the black pepper.
The Smoked Lamb Ribs were the biggest surprise. My knife slid through the meat effortlessly, and as I was picking up a piece to put on my plate, the bone of the lamb fell out on to the table. What a testament to the incredible tenderness of the lamb!
Prior to this, most lamb meats I’ve tried have been on the tougher side, so SALAI by MeatDrop’s Smoked Lamb Ribs blew me away with their amazingly soft texture. The meat had a rich and gamey taste, and was smokey and well-marinated.
Moving on to the sides, the Smoked Charcoal Rice was soft and not mushy. I had expected it to taste like regular bland rice, but it had a slight smokey profile that made it more aromatic and exciting.
The French Fries were crispy and well-fried, and though they weren’t as exceptional as the other dishes, I liked how well they paired with the proteins.
The Grilled Pita Bread, on the other hand, was fluffy and soft with crispy edges. Personally, it was my favourite of the four sides as it had a slight charred flavour and a lovely texture.
Finally, the Aromatic Salad was made with a mix of coriander, red cabbage and shredded carrots. It was very fresh and crunchy, and acted as a great palate cleanser.
Of the four sauces, served, the White Salai Sauce and Assam Salsa were made in-house. I loved the White Salai Sauce, which tasted like mayonnaise, but with a zesty citrus flavour added to it.
The Assam Salsa, on the other hand, was not spicy, like I had expected it to be. However, it was a delightful mix of sweet and sour, and added a tanginess to the Platter.
Final thoughts
I was thoroughly impressed by SALAI by MeatDrop’s Platter. Though S$60 may initially seem like a steep price to pay at a hawker centre, the generosity of the portions certainly make it worth the price. Plus, each element was impressive in its own right.
Considering how the meat tasted good enough to be served in a restaurant, I would certainly think that this humble hawker stall is deserving of its praise, and I would most definitely return in the future to share a Platter with friends and family!
Expected damage: S$13 – S$30 per pax
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