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Old fashioned nasi padang that is finger licking good! In the wonderful food haven of Joo Chiat Road arises yet another eatery that you mustn't miss: SCAN JANGGOT NASI PADANG. You can't miss it as the shop is dressed in striking red! |
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Imagine this: a generous portion of beef rendang that melts in your mouth, swathed in rich rempah, sitting on a bed of rice that has been doused with his secret concoction of all the kuah (gravy) - kuah from various Padang dishes. Achar and vegetables add much needed relief to the richness of each mouthful, but it's the chilli (three different types!) that will send you to heaven ! This is the main staple that we always order (cannot resist lah!). But there is also typically, a wide range of other fare that you must also try: the sweet and tender black sotong, a spicy ( though not very hot) fish dish called pepes and the fried chicken.
One other favourite that you musn't miss: Sop Buntot (oxtail soup) - a clear rich soup, chockfull of flavour, and generous servings of buntot topped with celery…mmmm! Well, I can't skip describing the three types of chillies too! They're the sambal belacan, sambal assam and sambal ketchup (red cut chillies with black sauce). Though the three types are to be eaten with different types of food, I just put all three into my packet of rice and sweat it out! Idros Omar, is the name of the proprietor. "Janggot" is his nickname because he sported a beard all these years. His delectable range of dishes has consistently wowed my family clan through the last three decades. His grandfather first started the Nasi Padang Shop at Arab Street in 1924. In l942 the shop was closed during the war. His father then started again at Arab Street after the war and later in 1963 moved to Jalan Pinang. It was not till 1970 that Janggot took over from his father at Jalan Pinang. He then moved to the Malay Village, City Plaza and now finally at Joo Chiat Road. We have hunted him down through all his various re-locations. Don't be discouraged if you can't find parking along the road - there's a small public car park along Joo Chiat Place if you enter from Tembeling Road. Then simply cross over to Scan Janggot on Joo Chiat Road.
One peculiar trait that regulars do in this eatery: they ask Janggot to bungkus (wrap up) their nasi padang in his banana leaf packet, even if they intend to eat there. Partly because one of the joys in eating at this place is the aroma that hits you when you open the packet - aiyo, so shiok lah! And of course, his secret concoction of all the kuah, although it's oily and rich, it makes the rice so nice that I can eat it on its own ! This one, die die must try ! Article by
Quek Li Huan
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