• How lucky are we in Singapore to have access to so many diverse cultures? Thanks to the fact that we are situated right within Southeast Asia, we get to taste various authentic colourful cuisines such as Thai, Malay or Indian food whenever we want.
One of my favourites is Indonesian cuisine with its many savoury flavours and spices. A chance visit to the humble Bumbu Desa Javanese restaurant at Novena Square 2 left me longing for more!
Bumbu Desa translates to “Spice Village” in English. Sure enough, the menu is filled with a galore of spicy dishes. That totally suits my liking!
Ayam Panggang Bumbu DesaS$8+ (80 cents more for steamed rice)
Rating:
The Ayam Panggang Bumbu Desa may resemble your regular chicken curry, but the taste is totally different. On first whiff I swear I smell Tom Yum, which is odd, this being an Indonesian restaurant! The soup is in fact mostly sweet and spicy, and hardly sour at all! I like it so much I lap up all of it. Slurp!
Stewed in the spices are four sizable pieces of chicken including a drumstick. It would have been nice if the chicken was more tender.
Nasi RamesS$10.90+
Rating:
The Nasi Rames comes with chicken, beef and fried noodle. (They ran out of fried noodle and hence substituted it with Gado-gado, which is really just keropok!)
The best part of this mixed combination is the beef that is covered in peanut gravy, similar to satay sauce.
Both dishes come with an extra spicy chilli dip that would satisfy spice lovers!
Dining at Bumbu Desa is fuss-free. A nice perk is that there isn’t an additional 7% tax added to the bill, just service charges. UOB card holders enjoy a 10% discount (not applicable for set meals though).
Do you like Indonesian cuisine? What is your favourite Indonesian food? Share with us in the comments!
Halal certified)Square 2
10 Sinaran Drive #B1-01
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6397 2783
Service:
Bus services: 21, 56, 57, 131, 166, 851, 980
Nearest MRT: Novena
Opening hours: 11am – 9:30pm daily
Apr 21, 2010
137
Quite surprised to read that the chicken wasn’t tender. Normally if the chicken is simmered for a while, the flesh would be tender.
Thanks for sharing this find. Now I know where to go the next time I visit Novena!
Apr 21, 2010
3472
I was surprised, too, but I am no cook. Maybe the meat would be most tender when it is freshly cooked? We were there at the end of the day, near to closing time.
Apr 21, 2010
19
The food sure looks spicy..Would have been better if there are some nice desserts
Apr 21, 2010
3472
The food portions are huge. Finishing another dessert would be a challenge!
Apr 21, 2010
5
Ah! My friend invited me to eat there this Saturday, can’t wait to taste these spicy foods
Apr 21, 2010
3472
Come back and let us know if you like it. Enjoy!
Apr 21, 2010
51
I don’t care for the decor but the food looks very nice. Salivating already…
Apr 21, 2010
3472
Ah, the typical guy ;) If I’m not wrong, Bumbu Desa is run by a lady boss, which may explain the pretty curtains.
Apr 22, 2010
11
wow!! looks really nice! i must try the next time i am at novena! thanks Veron :)
Apr 26, 2010
13
All looks too good. Simply LOVE spicy foods.
Apr 26, 2010
3472
You and I both :)
Feb 7, 2011
1
Lastest Chinese New year Promo. Only at $48.80+
With 5 dishes . wow….Cheapp…Nust Try…..