The new Spicy Hubby at The Centrepoint brings Spicy Wife’s signature ayam berempah to a nostalgic setting

Have you tried Spicy Wife Nasi Lemak at Amoy Street Food Centre? It’s the stall that draws snaking long queues from the lunch crowd for its generous platters of fragrant nasi lemak and crackling ayam goreng berempah.

Well, Spicy Wife has gotten married.

Spicy Hubby is the newest concept from the team, now at The Centrepoint Food Street on Orchard Road. It’s their first mall outlet with a proper dine-in space, serving the same beloved dish (and a little more) in a roomier, more relaxed setting.

A trip down memory lane

You’ll get a sense of the place before you even step in — the whole space is a love letter to nostalgia.

Above the counter hangs an old-school signboard you’d spot at neighbourhood provision shops. It reads “balai raya papan”, which is Malay for a town community hall. Red paper dragons hang nearby, echoing the Chinese New Year decorations that somehow never came down.

Inside, the dine-in area is kitted out like a classic kopitiam, with red plastic chairs, lazy ceiling fans whirling overhead, and teal window shutters to complete the picture.

There’s a long counter running the length of the space, lined with childhood treasures similar to the stalls you see at the pasar malam.

Temporary tattoos, Ludo boards, those iconic candy spectacles, and chewing gum pranks — it is all for sale. It’ll be hard to resist when these tug at your heartstrings.

Spicy Hubby’s menu

Despite the name, the dishes served here are not all that spicy, which makes it easy for just about anyone to walk in and enjoy a meal.

The Spicy Wife signature, nasi goreng ayam berempah (S$9.90), has made its way here.

The chicken is shatteringly crisp on the outside and juicy within, coated in rempah — a paste of spices that lends a deep flavour and an addictive crunch.

It’s paired with spicy sambal and fragrant coconut rice. While the rice may not be the star, it’s light, fluffy, and a fine partner for everything else on the plate.

Now, here’s what’s exclusive to Spicy Hubby.

We loved the nasi rendang ayam (S$12.90) for its tender chicken, served alongside keropok (deep-fried crackers), egg, and cucumbers.

This take on rendang leans away from the traditional Malay style, which is typically drier and richer. Instead, it comes in smaller, spoonable pieces bathed in a creamy coconut gravy and finished with coconut shavings.

This gentler interpretation takes nothing away from the flavour. The gravy is sweet with a little spice, easy to eat, and light on the palate. It makes for a great lunch pick as it won’t leave you feeling weighed down.

There’s also the nasi ayam gepuk (S$12.90) worth considering.

Ayam gepuk refers to smashed chicken, and it’s a dish often served with sambal and cashew sauce. Here, the fried chicken is hand-pounded and just as crisp as the ayam berempah.

The sambal is milder, especially when tempered by nutty cashew sauce, and the combination comes together with the rice and chicken for a deeply flavourful plate.

There are plenty of sides to choose from, whether you’re dining solo or sharing at a table.

The long bean sambal (S$2.90) is the one to order for a bit of greens — crunchy long beans cooked in a sambal. Add some into your rice and chicken dish for a nice variety to the whole meal.

To wash it all down, go for the sparkling calamansi (S$4.90), a zesty, fizzy, and refreshing glass that cuts through all the richness of the meal.

The calamansi is prepared in-house, too. You’ll spot big containers of the halved fruits steeping on the counter, which likely gives the drink its tangy base, with a mellow prune-like depth, before the carbonation goes in.

To celebrate the opening, Spicy Hubby is running a one-for-one promotion on all three of its mains from October 16 to 18. If you have been tempted to visit, this is the perfect window to go with some friends or colleagues.

This was a hosted tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat, read on lunch sets at this CBD handroll izakaya and Offtrack’s newest bar concept, Earworm!