Rempapa: Beloved heritage food restaurant launches new nasi lemak lunch set at S$24 per diner

When it comes to hearty local flavours and nostalgic heritage dishes, not many restaurants do them with the same poise as Paya Lebar’s Rempapa.

The restaurant, located in Paya Lebar Quarter, is opened by none other than chef Damian D’Silva, one of Singapore’s most esteemed chefs who boasts decades of experience.

Some may also recognise him as one of the judges on MasterChef Singapore.

Chef Damian’s restaurant specialises in all manners of heritage flavours, ranging from Hakka to Malay cuisine.

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On top of that, Rempapa is also particularly known for its Eurasian and Peranakan specialities — after all, Chef Damien was one of the trailblazers behind the rise of Peranakan food’s popularity while working at establishments such as Folklore and Kin.

Now into its third year of operations, after having opened in December 2021, Rempapa is looking to spice things up with a new lunch set that offers a nice deal for those working in the area.

Rempapa’s weekday set lunch

Only available during lunch time for weekdays, the new weekday set lunch (S$48 for two persons) comes with an ensemble of set dishes and a choice of two proteins. Should there be more in your party, it’s an additional S$24 each.

Essentially, each guest gets a plate of nasi lemak, sayur lodeh, homemade acar, a choice of protein and dessert.

Those who’ve been to Rempapa before will probably be familiar with the nasi lemak (usually S$19 a la carte), a popular staple on the menu.

Each plate is set around a mound of moist and fragrant rice that takes three hours to prepare, and comes with cucumbers, a fried egg, homemade sambal and fried silver fish (instead of the usual ikan bilis).

The sides of sayur lodeh and acar were also equally tasty — the former was nicely bathed in an elegant coconut milk perfume while the latter was addictively piquant and a superb palate cleanser.

But you might be thinking what should you order when it comes to the hero protein dishes?

At a glance, Rempapa’s weekday set lunch offers the following protein options:

• Ayam berempah (spiced fried chicken)
• Opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut milk)
• Beef cheek rendang (+S$8)
• Ayam pelencheng (spiced grilled chicken)
• Sambal udang (prawns in chilli paste, +$5)
• Garang assam fish
• Hakka fried pork

If you’re looking for classic nasi lemak comfort, the ayam berempah is the perfect choice with everything you’ll want in a fried chicken — crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and hella fragrant.

There’s also the Hakka fried pork, for a good alternative for those hankering for something fried and crunchy. Tender and served with umami and punchy chilli, it also pairs nicely with the rice.

Should your palate call out for something heftier and richer though, Rempapa’s beef cheek rendang is a must-order. 

It’s drenched in the most aromatic and most decadent gravy, while the outrageously soft beef cheek falls apart effortlessly, while also sporting a nice melt-in-the-mouth fattiness.

On the other hand, guests can also consider the garang assam fish — its bright tanginess makes for an efficacious contrasting dish against the heavier flavours of all the other proteins.

Our favourites? The beef cheek rendang, despite the additional cost to add this on, was probably the standout. But the garang assam fish is also pretty good value since you don’t just get fish, but also an assortment of vegetables!

Kueh’s the way to go

Besides all the hearty savouries, Rempapa’s weekday set lunch also offers a choice of cheng tng or kueh as the dessert.

The choice is a no-brainer: Rempapa is renowned for its exceptional kueh.

The assorted heritage kueh comes as a selection of four different kuehs that can be shared and the selection changes daily, drawing from a repertoire of over 20 varieties.

Mainstays include kueh kosui, kueh salat, kueh bengka, sarang semut and kueh bakar pandan. 

While the set lunch doesn’t include any thirst quenchers, there’s an option to add on S$6 to get free-flow assam boi (sour plum and lime juice) or coconut water.

The beverages cost S$7 a la carte so it’s still pretty good value, considering you pay a dollar less for more drinks!

At S$30 per person with free-flow drinks added on, Rempapa’s weekday set lunch is a really solid deal — consider it if you’re in the area and hankering for some really well-done heritage flavours.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the best spots to head to for a satisfying Japanese dinner and steakhouses to indulge in the juiciest, smokiest steaks.

Rempapa is on the GrabFood delivery service and offers free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited. 

Do explore the new GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.

You can also book a ride to Rempapa for the new weekday set lunch.