Does Hjh Maimunah’s Iconic Nasi Padang Still Hold Up Today?

Hjh Maimunah is a famous nasi padang restaurant in Bugis

One of the most famous nasi padang restaurants in Singapore is undoubtedly Hjh Maimunah. While several sister outlets have sprung up across the island in recent years, the flagship restaurant near the Kampong Gelam cultural enclave is still the most iconic. It has also retained the Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade on multiple occasions, before dropping off the list in 2025. 

The restaurant has a rich history behind it, having been founded by Madam Mahiran Abdul Rahman, who inherited many of the recipes from her late mother. What began as a humble shophouse along the once-quiet Jalan Pisang has since grown into a thriving enterprise with numerous outlets, a frozen food manufacturing arm, and catering services.

Food at Hjh Maimunah

Things at Hjh Maimunah move quickly. Once you step into the shop, you’re greeted by rows of dishes displayed behind glass casings. In typical cai fan and nasi padang style, you simply point to what you want, and the dishes are plated over white rice before you head to a separate counter. 

We have heard plenty of good things about the Ayam Goreng ($4) here, so it was naturally the first dish we went for. The rugged chicken was a decent size and immediately caught the eye with its deep golden-brown, craggy crust, giving it an appetising, crackling exterior. 

A slightly thinner crust allowed the chicken’s flavour to stand out, while still delivering a satisfying, crisp crunch. The meat inside was well-marinated, carrying fragrant notes of lemongrass and turmeric that gave it the savoury character typical of Malay-style fried chicken.

However, the chicken was on the drier side, likely from sitting out for an extended period of time. As a result, it lacked the juiciness needed to fully complement the bold flavours of the marinade, which diminished the overall experience. 

It’s hard to go wrong with Sambal Telur ($2.50)—hard-boiled eggs with a soft texture simmered in a savoury sambal chilli sauce. The sauce delivered a pleasant tangy heat with a gentle kick of spice. Its thick, slightly chunky consistency allowed it to cling well to the eggs, coating each bite with flavour, but we did wish there was a little more of it. 

We moved on to the beloved Bergedil ($1.50) AKA fried potato patty, which was soft and creamy on the inside. Crucially, it was made with potatoes that weren’t overly starchy, which can be common at other places. The exterior was also nicely crisp, with a slight natural sweetness coming through. 

The Beef Rendang ($4.50), one of their pricier dishes, was what we were looking forward to. It did come in a decent portion with its huge chunks, and the gravy carried good depth and complexity, but the beef was tough and didn’t quite melt in your mouth as expected.

The vegetable-based dishes were nothing much to write home about, but did the job. The Sambal Goreng ($1.50) tasted robust enough with its stir-fried long beans and cubed tofu in sauce, while the Sayur Lodeh ($1.50) had vegetables were of decent quality, but once again it was slightly on the drier side and needs to be more generously drenched in gravy. 

Ambience at Hjh Maimunah

The two-storey Hjh Maimunah offers a decent amount of air-conditioned seating, though it can get quite crowded during peak hours, especially with many diners travelling from across the border via the nearby Queen Street Bus Terminal. Fortunately, tables turn over fairly quickly, so finding a seat is usually not too difficult. 

High Maimuah is an eight-minute walk from Bugis MRT. 

Hjh Maimunah – Eatbook review

While it is important to note that we only sampled a small portion of Hjh Maimunah’s extensive menu, some of the dishes that are often regarded as highlights—such as the Ayam Goreng and Beef Rendang—did not quite live up to the lofty expectations. It is entirely possible that we visited on an off day, and tasting a fresher version of the dishes could very well change our perception. That said, given the slightly higher prices, it may be worth considering other better value-for-money nasi padang options out there.

For other options, check out our guide to the best Malaysian food spots in Singapore, or read our Mee+ feature for affordable Malay dishes in Tampines.

Address: 11 Jalan Pisang, Singapore 199078
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am to 7pm
Tel: 6297 4294
Website
Hjh Maimunah is halal-certified.

Photos by Paula Formantes.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.