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Sabar Menanti along North Bridge Road near Kampong Glam is a renowned nasi padang spot that first operated as an unknown street stall in the 1920s. It later transitioned into a dine-in eatery in the 1960s. Current owner, Iszahar, a 3rd-Gen who took over his mother’s business in late 2022 has just opened a new food court stall over at Apex @ Henderson called Surya.
Iszahar, an ex-shipping broker with 15 years in the industry, traded his sharp business suits and cologne for casual wear and the aroma of rendang after hours spent in the kitchen. “Setting up Surya, which I named after my late sister, has always been on my mind,” he shared.
He added, “She meant a lot in our family and her legacy and spirit will continue to live on through Surya.”
Iszahar wanted to ensure that Sabar Menanti was stable and running properly before proceeding to make Surya a dream come true.
“Coincidentally, my late sister was staying at Henderson and teaching at a school nearby. When there was an opportunity to open at Apex @ Henderson, I grabbed it!” He exclaimed.
Another reason he opened Surya was to keep up with the times and veer away from old, traditional cooking methods his mother still practices to this day at Sabar Menanti. Iszahar partners with Rudy who also owns ASAP & Co, an award-winning Halal steakhouse at Far East Square.
Muslim-owned Surya features the same signature dishes from Sabar Menanti, but at lower prices. Feast on their signatures like the Beef Rendang (S$5), Ayam Kalio (S$5), and Ayam Bakar (S$5).
To promote healthier eating, Iszahar has future plans to offer more greens on the menu which will be rolled out in the upcoming months.
You can also choose an array of chillies to add some heat to your plates of nasi padang like sambal balado and belacan.
For the first plate, I chose Beef Rendang (S$5), Asam Pedas Stingray (S$5), Tempeh (S$1.70), and Sambal Goreng (S$1.70).
The stingray was exceptionally tender and the tangy, spicy notes of the sauce was well balanced. It was my first time trying stingray prepared this way, and I highly recommend it!
Though the beef rendang was rich in flavour and the spices were well-balanced, I found myself wishing the meat had been a touch more tender.
We also tried their Ayam Kolio (S$5), Sotong Sambal (S$6), Pucuk Ubi (S$1.70) and Telur Dadar (S$1.70).
If you’re like me and have no idea what Ayam Kolio is, it turns out to be a dish similar to Thai red curry, infused with the warm, earthy notes of turmeric. It was creamy and reminded me of a more robust version of ayam kurma — 2 thumbs up!
Seafood fans will love the tasty Sotong Sambal and I loved how textural the pucuk ubi (cassava leaves) was.
Bukit Merah residents who find North Bridge Road a bit too out of the way can now enjoy Surya at the more convenient Chill Bar food court, located at Apex @ Henderson.
Do note that Surya only opens from Mondays to Fridays (8am to 4pm). You’re advised to drop by early to avoid disappointment. Happy feasting!
