The Place A household name for Peranakan food in Singapore, Chilli Padi Nonya Restaurant along Joo Chiat Place needs little introduction. Located deep in the heart of Katong’s heritage enclave just a few doors down from the one of my favourite bakeries Petit Pain, the restaurant recently underwent a much-needed facelift. Step inside and you will find a bright, modern, and clean space that successfully blends contemporary furniture with traditional Peranakan accents. It is unpretentious and casual, making it highly popular for family gatherings. 

The Food Expect the predictable staples from a classic Nyonya kitchen on the extensive menu here. 

My meal started with the Cabbage Roll With Otah Filling in Lemak Sauce (S$7) sounds promising on paper but I felt that the taste fell short of expectations. The otah was not flavourful enough and the sauce was not as lemak as I expected. 

Similarly, the Bak Wan Kepeting (S$18) – minced pork and crabmeat balls soup – lacked oomph. 

Ayam Buah Keluak (S$19) is one of my favourite Peranakan dishes and this version is pretty decent. The chicken pieces are infused with slightly bitter notes of the black nut paste. 

For greens, the Nonya Chap Chye (S$14) is decently stewed and comforting, though it borders slightly on the plain side. 

The most enjoyable and value for money dish for me is probably the Curry Assam Fish Head (S$27) which features golden snapper fish head in a fragrant curry sauce.   

For carbs, the Claypot Buah Keluak Fried Rice (S$15) is a decent plate of fried rice in terms of flavour although I did not get much hint of the buah keluak notes. 

Rants Hits and misses in terms of the dishes for me.   

Will I Return Again? While it may not offer the most elevated or avant-garde Peranakan experience in town, Chilli Padi Nonya Restaurant is ideal for gatherings at a very fair and reasonable price point in Joo Chiat. There is also ample parking for drivers in the open space carpark opposite the restaurant. 

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5 

Chilli Padi Nonya Restaurant 
11 Joo Chiat Place 
#01-03 
Singapore 427744 
Tel: +65 6275 1002 

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Friday: 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 9:30pm 
Saturday and Sunday: 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10:00pm 

Ranted by The Ranter