Meatballs Corner is an authentic Indonesian hawker stall with a homely touch

Few things are as comforting as a home-cooked meal, and at Meatballs Corner, Retna serves that up to her customers, with a side of homely warmth.

For the 44-year-old hawker, cooking is deeply personal. “What I cook here is what I eat at home,” she says. 

In a quiet corner of Bukit Merah Central Food Centre, Meatballs Corner has been a labour of love for Retna and her husband for the past eight years.

The stall specialises in bakso — Indonesia’s beloved beef meatballs — served in a variety of ways. Some options include yellow mee, silky bihun (rice vermicelli) and rice. The meatballs also come with different fillings, such as the bakso cheese and bakso telur (egg).

Each dish is simple, hearty and satisfying — just like what you’d expect from a home kitchen.

Handmade with care

At Meatballs Corner, everything is made from scratch. Retna does not use frozen ingredients and ensures that every element, from the chilli to the meatballs, is freshly prepared.

Even after the stall closes for the day, her work continues at home, where she prepares the bakso soup by simmering beef meat and bones for eight hours to achieve a rich, full-bodied broth.

As you might expect from the stall’s name, Retna’s handmade bakso meatballs are a crowd favourite. (She also fields requests from customers to buy them separately!)

However, she cautions that since they contain no preservatives, they must be consumed quickly.

The star of the stall: Bakso meatballs

The beef meatballs are firm, yet tender, while the accompanying broth is light and deeply savoury, infused with the essence of slow-simmered beef. It’s no surprise that we finished every last drop.

The mee ayam bakso (S$6.50) comes with a generous portion of ingredients: Yellow noodles, diced chicken, crispy fried shallots, vegetables, and sauce. Mix them all up together well to get a simple, yet oh-so-flavourful dish.

What makes it stand out is the sauce — a blend of fiery sambal and tangy-sweet ketchup.

We recommend pairing each bite of bakso with a spoonful of spicy mee ayam — it’s just so satisfying and addictive.

For those who prefer rice, the nasi ayam bakso (S$6.50) is another option. The chicken is tender and comes in a good portion. Just like the noodle version, you’ll find similar ingredients here, but the chili served with the rice has added soy sauce.

The rice is plain and simple on its own, but when paired with the rich bakso broth and tender meatballs, it transforms into a comforting, home-style meal.

Another must-try: Nasi ayam penyet

Aside from bakso, the stall also serves nasi ayam penyet (S$6.50), featuring deep-fried smashed chicken. This dish is another popular choice at the stall. It is served with traditional sides, such as tempeh and sambal. But the stall adds an additional component: Tang hoon.

The chicken is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and pulls apart effortlessly — just as every ayam penyet lover hopes for. The handmade chilli delivers a bold, spicy kick to the dish and is a must-try for spice lovers.

If you prefer a milder option, you can request a less spicy or chili-free version to suit your tastebuds.

For those planning to visit on a Wednesday, the stall rotates between serving lamb and chicken rendang every other week, so that returning customers have more options to choose from.

They operate only until 5pm on weekdays. So whether you’re looking for a hearty breakfast or a comforting lunch, be sure to drop by early to enjoy their homely Indonesian flavours.

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You can also book a ride to Bukit Merah Central Food Centre for these delicious bowls of bakso.