One of the most well known restaurant in Kampong Glam is a real favourite on our food tours. Rumah Makan Minang or as the locals just call it Minang is our go to place for Beef Rendang.
The restaurant, like so many of our Singapore food heroes is family run. Back in 2003 when Singapore was going through another pandemic (SARS) the restaurant was struggling. Azmi (the present co-manager) received a call from his parents asking him to quit his cabin crew job. They needed him back at the restaurant to help make it all work. Fast forward 17 years and we are now in another Pandemic, although this time Minang have become a well recognised brand amongst the locals.
Azmi and his brother Arriff run this Indonesian restaurant which sits perfectly on the corner of Kandahar street and Muscat street. Arriff is trained at the Culinary Institute of America and takes great pride in bringing his family recipes to the masses. His grandfather began selling Nasi Padang over 80 years ago. So these guys have a great pedigree when it comes to Sumatran food.
Minang has in recent years grown exponentially. They have another outlet in Tampenines and their catering department is always busy with wedding and event catering.
A lot of the guests on our food tours enjoy sitting on the outdoor tables of Minang. Situated right opposite the Masjid Sultan mosque, it is a great spot to people watch and take in the local way of life.
The best beef rendang in Singapore
For us, the beef rendang is what makes us keep coming back. Rendang is originally a Sumatran dish. It is a coconut enthused beef stew. The dish is time consuming to make and Ariff told us that you actually need the beef to be slightly more chewy than you normally would have. This is release all of the spice and flavours in your mouth when you chew. They have a great selection for Nasi Pandang options, one we always go for is the Achar which is pickled vegetables.
The staff always have a smile on their face and are happy to talk you through different dishes that you might not have tried before.
Go and pay them a visit at 18 Kandahar street, right opposite the Mosque and the Heritage centre.
If you’d like to find out more about Singapore’s amazing food scene book your food tour with us. www.singabites.com
