Peranakan Cuisine @ Novena Peranakan Cuisine

I first spotted Novena Peranakan Cuisine while I am having WhitleyRoad big prawn noodles at the next door. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but being a nonya food lover I had to investigate.

I enjoyed the homey ambience and friendly service when I savour my 2 persons set lunch.

The 2 persons set meal consist with 3 dishes, a drink and dessert; you can choose the combination you want. We have chosen a ayam buah keluak, assam pedas fish meat and sambal kang kong as our meal combination. This scrumptious meal only cost us around S$30, really ‘cheap and plentiful’.

Ayam Buah Keluak

Ayam buah keluak is a unique dish in peranakan cuisine; but not everyone can accept the flavour of the ‘keluak’ nut. But do you know that ayam buah keluak isn’t a simple dish to make? First you need to scrub clean every nut and soak it for at least a day in water with assam skin. Chop off one end of the nut and scoop the black paste out and mix it with minced chicken and spices. And stuff the buah keluak meat paste back into the empty nut shells. Finally, boiled the stuffed nuts, chicken and rempah until the sauce thickens before present it. This is what we have, and it is ‘adventure’ enough when we try to tasting the paste (as the paste might taste bitter if they didn’t handle well). Hmm… although I can’t say their ayam keluak is the best, but definitely, is one of the best I have tried in Singapore.

Assam Pedas Fish Meat, what an appetizing dish! Bring on rice...

Sambal Kang Kong


Cendol, is definitely is a perfect ending for our meal, but, is it too little? There’s always stomach for dessert although I am so full. hahahah

Address: 273 Thomson Road #01-02
Novena Garden, Singapore

Opening Hours
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Tel: +65 6256 1430