PappaRich Review: Malaysian Dishes From Penang To Johor All Under One Roof

Taking Malaysian recipes off the streets – and this statement is no hyperbole – is PappaRich . Passionate in bringing the true taste of Malaysian hawker favourites to their diners, the owners are known to literally camp for months at famous hawker stalls to woo the hawkers for their beloved recipes.

Crazy story but it’s the literal truth, and you can taste it in their dishes to believe it. Papparich - Malaysian Dishes From Penang To Johor All Under One Roof Food at PappaRich’s Plaza Singapura outlet When I sat down to look at the menu, I had a slight panic attack – they were so many pages of Malaysian dishes, with each looking as sumptuous as the next, I didn’t know which to choose!

First up was their Hainan Steamed Bread with Butter and Kaya ($3.90++) . So I was delighted with the divine texture of PappaRich’s steamed bread – it was pillowy-soft like cotton candy. “It’s too sweet” is a phrase I commonly say when I have kaya.

Unlike the delicate Teochew fish head soup found in our hawker centres, this umami, oceanic broth had a sharp, tangy twist from the pickled vegetables and fresh tomatoes. I’m all for generous portions, and the red snapper fish head came in huge chunks too. To go with this noodle dish is a house-made green chilli condiment made with ginger and garlic that added a little heat to the dish.

Arriving to our table with a wave of strong, tangy aroma laced with floral notes from ginger flower and mint, the Penang Assam Laksa ($10.90++) certainly teased my appetite. Prepared hours in advance , the broth was an intense mix of sweet, sour and spicy flavours, and had me caving in on my diet.

Instead of just taking a bite to taste, I completely devoured the entire bowl. #notsorry There were also thick shreds of fresh mackerel hidden in the heady broth, justifying the price of the dish. This is his dish: Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken + Sambal Prawns ($14.90++) .

Fried up until all the fats of the chicken melted into the meat, this golden fowl boast a crackling skin and melt-in-your-mouth tender flesh. Be sure to dip it in the sambal, which is more sweet than spicy.

Featuring Sri Lanka tea with milk and a layer of gula melaka, the palm sugar, which is directly sourced from a supplier in Melaka, enlivens up the robustness of the tea. Natural light floods in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, and together with the gorgeous marble-top tables, you can rest assured photos of their food is worthy for the ‘gram. All the dishes were a delight to savour and can rival, if not beat, those served at a hawker centre.

Plus, with a newborn baby in my life, eating at a hawker centre is tough as it can be real hot and dirty sometimes. So PappaRich is a good alternative whenever I’m craving for good ol’ hawker food in a comfortable setting.