5 Best Indonesian Restaurants in Singapore Right Now

Tambuah Mas offers classic Indonesian fare in a clean, air-conditioned environment. Founded in 1981, it is considered the Indonesian restaurant with the longest history of catering the best Indonesian food for locals and tourists in Singapore.

Highlights:

MENU: Tambuah Mas’s menu is of decent size, covering 10 food categories, including salads, soups, satay, chicken, beef, seafood, vegetables, rice, desserts, and drinks. All of the dishes are of high quality and well-presented. Set menus for large groups are also available.

RECOMMENDED DISHES

• Tahu Telor (fried beancurd and eggs)
• Rendang Lembu (beef rendang)
• Ikan Pedas (grilled seabass in banana leaves)
• Kepala Ikan Istimewa (fish head simmered in spicy-sweet-sour asam sauce)
• Sop Buntut (spicy ox-tail soup)
• Udang Belado (fried succulent prawns in chilli gravy)
• Gado Gado (mixed vegetables with tofu, crackers and spicy peanut dressing)
• Kangkong Belacan (stir-fried water spinach with chilli shrimp paste)
• Sayur Lodeh (cabbage, long beans & beancurd in spicy coconut milk)
• Es Chendol Kacang (green bean jelly & red kidney beans in coconut milk)
• Air Seri (homemade lemongrass drink)
• Young coconut

PRICES:

• Satay: S$10.50
• Vegetables: S$5.50 – S$14.50
• Chicken: S$8.50 – S$15.50
• Beef: S$8.50 – S$11.50
• Rice and Noodles: S$10.00 – S$17.00
• Salads: S$5.50 – S$7.00
• Soups: S$6.50 – S$14.50
• Seafood: S$20.00 – S$37.00

NOTES:

• Reservations are highly recommended.
• It is possible to place an order while waiting in the queue to reduce waiting time after being seated.

Cumi Bali Indonesian Restaurant is a casual Indonesian restaurant with a rich history of serving authentic Indonesian cuisine. This old-school restaurant is traditionally run by a family who has been successful in maintaining the high quality of their food for decades.

Highlights:

MENU: Cumi Bali Indonesian Restaurant offers a decent-sized menu with all dishes freshly prepared after the order is placed. Food portions are generous and suitable for sharing.

PRICES:

• Meats: S$18 – S$28
• Vegetables: S$6 – S$20
• Soups: S$16 – S$28
• Fried dishes: S$5 – S$36

LOOK & FEEL: Cumi Bali Indonesian Restaurant is a small, casual restaurant located in a shophouse along Tanjong Pagar. Ground-level seating is quite limited, while there is more space upstairs. The restaurant features a simple and basic interior with plastic-covered tables.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: Bus 80 and 145 (Walk 1 min from bus stop B05271)
• Nearest MRT station: Tanjong Pagar MRT (EW15) (Walk 5 mins from Exit A)

Bara Food, located at Tanjong Pagar, features flavorful Indonesian dishes, particularly grilled rice wrapped in banana leaves. The restaurant’s name, ‘bara,’ literally translates to ‘coal’ in Bahasa, so you know you’re in for the ultimate Indonesian grilled food experience.

With a well-rounded menu, this restaurant has a little bit of everything, whether you’re in the mood for something light or a filling meal with plenty of sides.

Highlights:

MENU: Bara Food  boasts a simple menu where diners can find

• Bara Sets (7 items) that combine proteins with rice and side dishes to make a hearty, complete meal
• an a la carte section with 16 items of protein, veggies, soup, and salad
• a drink menu with traditional Indonesian freshers like Lemongrass Drink, Ice Calamansi, and Teh Botol. 

MUST-TRIES:

• Ayam Goreng Serundeng
• Ayam Bakar Bara
• Sate Lilit
• Sambal Udang Ketang
• Soto Betwai
• KangKung Belacan
• Nasi Bakar
• Perkedel

PRICES:

• Sets/Bento: S$13 to S$18.50
• Salad: S$10 to S$13
• Mains: S$8.50 to S$13
• Side dishes: S$3 to S$5
• Drinks: S$3 to S$4.5

LOOK & FEEL: The restaurant is located in Icon Village Altez and has a seating capacity of under 20. This self-service restaurant has a very casual vibe, with pictures depicting life in the Indonesian islands. There are loads of plants that add greenery, perhaps inspired by the jungles of Sumatra.

Rumah Makan Minang has been in business since 1954, founded by a passionate family from Indonesia. Since then, it has become one of the best places in Singapore to enjoy a plate of Nasi Padang.

Highlights:

MENU: Rumah Makan Minang’s menu is quite small, with around 15 non-vegetarians and 5 vegetarian dishes. Despite the small-sized menu, this restaurant still serves up some specialties like Botok-Botok (fish marinated in a variety of grounded spices then steamed in banana leaf) and Paru Belado (fried marinated cow’s lung served with chili slices).

RECOMMENDED DISHES:

• Beef Rendang
• Paru Belado (fried marinated beef lung)
• Tahu Telor (large fried tofu mixed with eggs)
• Sayur Lodeh (mixed vegetables in spicy coconut milk)
• Bagedil (mashed potato patties, coated with egg and fried)

LOOK & FEEL: Rumah Makan Minang is a two-storey shophouse restaurant located in the heart of the Malay heritage district, next to Sultan Mosque. The ground floor is an open-air area with outdoor seating that offers a scenic view of the mosque. Upstairs, diners can enjoy air-conditioned comfort in the dining room, away from the heat. The restaurant has a simple interior design with basic decorations.

Pondok Jawa Timur is a famous Indonesian restaurant in Singapore dedicated to Javanese food.

The restaurant’s proprietor, Madame Indah, opened the first Pondok in the Indonesian Embassy in 2006. She expanded it to other locations, offering a taste of East Java, home to cities like Surabaya and Yogyakarta.

This certified Halal restaurant uses fresh ingredients to create a rich flavor profile that will transport your tastebuds to the island of Java.

Highlights:

MUST-TRIES:

• Nasi Kuning Ayam
• Nasi Campur Surabaya
• Pecel Kederi
• Soto Ayam
• Ayam Penyet
• Kare Ayam
• Udang Pete Balado
• Mie Goreng Jawa
• Es Campur

PRICES:

• Rice Platter: $15.44 to $18.04
• Vegetables: $7.85 to $11.77
• Meat: $10.57 to $13.93
• Seafood: $11.77 to $40.66
• Rice & Noodles: $1.94 to $12.96
• Side Dishes: $3.56 to $12.96

LOOK & FEEL: Pondok Jawa Timur has recently been renovated to feature contemporary seating and tables in a brighter space. However, it still maintains that air of tradition with subtle marks of Indonesian culture.