Spice It Up At These 11 Best Rendang Spots

While it originated from Indonesia, the popular spicy dish of rendang has gained much popularity in Singapore too! With its yummy mixture of spicy chillies and the buttery sweetness of coconut milk, rendang is a hot favourite among many – not just the Muslim community! SO whether it’s beef, mutton or chicken, read on for our top picks of the best rendang places in Singapore to hit up this 2024!

Where to find the best rendang in Singapore (2024)

Best rendang restaurants in Singapore (2024)

1. Hjh Maimunah

Address: 20 Joo Chiat Road, #01-02, S(427357)
Check out their other outlets here
Opening Hours: Tues – Sun, 8am – 7pm

2. Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen

Hands up if you’re all for wallet-friendly food! At Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen, you’ll never have to burn a hole in your wallet. Each rendang set meal, which is affordably priced around $15, comes with a fried egg, tangy nyonya achar and power-packed belacan chilli. Price aside, we love how their rempah sauce is blended daily and made using the freshest ingredients. On top of that, their beef is slow-cooked for hours to ensure that the meat is fork-tender and fully infused with the flavour of the rendang. Boy, we’re hungry already! 

Address: 328 Joo Chiat Road, #01-02, S(427585)
Opening Hours: Daily, 11.45am – 9.30pm

3. Rumah Makan Minang 

Tucked in the heart of the Malay heritage district, lies Rumah Makan Minang, a multi-generational restaurant specialising in Minangkabau cuisine. But Rumah Makan Minang isn’t your average Indonesian restaurant. Having represented Singapore at an international food festival held abroad, we can count on Rumah Makan Minang to offer some drool-worthy beef rendang! Cooked over a slow charcoal fire, you’ll be served beef rendang consisting of tender meat and captivating flavours. Yummy!

Address: 18 & 18A Kandahar Street, S(198884)
Check out their other outlets here
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 9pm

4. Cumi Bali 

Founded in the late 1980s, Cumi Bali has since been a household name. While it might come with a hefty price tag of over $20, we assure you that their rendang is worth every cent. After all, they’ve gotten their stamp of approval from the Michelin guide; being featured with a Bib Gourmand too! With a generous ten pieces of meat doused in a flavourful gravy, this best beef rendang delivers in both quality and quantity. Additionally, it uses over 25 spices and is cooked to perfection for over eight hours before serving. Do note that unlike other rendangs, no coconut milk is used so their rendang is more on the watery side.  

Address: 50 Tras Street, #01-01, S(078989)
Opening Hours: Daily, 11:30am – 2.30pm, 6 – 9:30pm

5. Violet Oon Singapore

Address: 2 Orchard Turn, ION Orchard, #03-28/29, S(238801)
Check out their other outlets here
Opening Hours: Daily, 11.30am – 10pm

6. Rempapa

There’s no doubt that Rempapa ticks all our boxes in terms of getting a taste of some authentic rendang! It’s an award-winning restaurant helmed by the renowned Chef Damian D’silva who’s also one of the judges on Masterchef Singapore. So rest assured that you’re in good hands with Rempapa’s rendang. It featured succulent beef cheeks that have been braised in a flavourful broth; one that contains 15 different spices and herbs! You’ll be asking for seconds faster than you can say “Sedap”! 

Address: Park Place Residences at PLQ, 2 Paya Lebar Road, #01-01/02/03, S(409053)
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat – Sun: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm

Best rendang stalls in Singapore (2024)

7. Sabar Menanti II

Address: 719 North Bridge Road, S(198687)
Opening Hours:
Tues – Sun: 6.30am – 5pm

8. Istimewa Kitchen 

Believe it or not, the folks at Istimewa Kitchen require at least 25kg of boneless mutton meat for cooking daily – that’s a testament to how popular the stall is! With such a huge fan base, Istimewa Kitchen does put in effort to live up to its name as one of the best mutton rendang stalls. The lean mutton pieces are carefully braised for two hours to ensure that they melt in your mouth instantly. ​​And if that still doesn’t satisfy you, try eating it with their popular assam fish. Infused with tamarind sauce and red chilli, the fish has the perfect balance of tanginess and spiciness!

Address: 3014 Bedok Industrial Park E, S(489980)
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat, 7am – 3pm

9. Warong Nasi Pariaman

Having been around for the last seven decades, Warong Nasi Pariaman has definitely made its mark as one of the best beef rendang stalls. In fact, the owners predict they take in around 500kg of beef monthly – that’s how popular their beef rendang sells! Their secret? Using a charcoal stove to slow cook the meat. This is because the heat from the charcoal unites and adds flavour to the dish, producing a strong aroma that will leave you craving for more. If you still have qualms, you can put them to rest because even footballer Fandi Ahmad and ex-President Halimah Yacob have visited the stall and given it rave reviews!

Address: 738 North Bridge Road, S(198706)
Opening Hours: Daily, 7.30am – 3pm

10. Sinar Pagi 

Another frontrunner for the best beef rendang has got to be Sinar Pagi. While it is known for its scrumptious servings of nasi padang, their rendang is worth a shot too! If anything, its snaking long queues are proof of its popularity, but we assure you that it is worth the wait. In particular, we are in love with their chicken rendang that comes with intense spicy flavours. The tender barbecued chicken is dipped in a coconut curry sauce that is so finger-licking good. What’s more, the rendang is served alongside generous portions of tauhu goreng, braised brinjal and a plate of ruby-red sambal. 

Address: Geylang Serai Market, 1 Geylang Serai, #02-137, S(402001)
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am – 7pm

11. Maimon Nasi Padang

As its name suggests, Maimon Nasi Padang delights with its lavish servings of nasi padang. But as with most Indonesian stalls, it also offers some of the best beef rendang. The meat is soft and tender, making it easier to chew and more enjoyable. It helps that the accompanying rice is fragrant, and the gravy is rich. We suggest adding chilli sambal belacan for an extra spicy indulge! Oh, and did we mention that this stall offers catering and delivery services too? Now you can eat rendang in the comfort of your own home!

Address: 49A Serangoon Garden Way, #01-29, S(555945)
Opening Hours:
Wed – Thurs: 11am – 3.30pm
Fri – Sun: 11am – 3.30pm, 5:30pm – 8pm

What is the difference between rendang and curry?

Before you fill your tummies, you need to know exactly what you’re eating. There is a common misconception that people have – that rendang is the same thing as curry. While both dishes contain a certain amount of spices, they are actually not the same.

Rendang is a dish that originated from the Minangkabau region in West Sumatra, Indonesia in the 15th century. It is essentially a dish of meat, most commonly beef or chicken, that has been slow cooked and braised in coconut milk. Most times, it is seasoned with herbs and spices which turns the meat dark brown.

Meanwhile, curry is a South Asian dish dating all the way back to 2000 BC. Curries are essentially a mixture of spices such as turmeric, coriander, ground cumin, ground ginger, and black pepper. They usually contain chicken, fish or poultry. It is a dish popular among the Indian community and is often eaten with rice and vegetables.

Feast on the best rendang in Singapore this 2024

Armed with this list of best rendang places in Singapore, we hope you now know where to get your spicy fix this 2024. Want to try your hand at making your own piping hot bowl of rendang? Follow these beef and chicken rendang recipes that’ll surely impress your family and friends. Otherwise, don’t forget to stock up on the best kueh lapis in Singapore and head down to these best halal dim sum places for some halal siew mai and chee cheong fun. If you need more options, take a look at this list of halal food places in Singapore or check out what to eat in Tanjong Pagar and other food options in Bugis!

This article was updated on 22 February 2024. Additional research done by Caryn Tan.