Baba Peranakan Truly – Serving Cheap Homestyle Peranakan Food

Maureen
Maureen
January 20, 2015

Baba Peranakan Truly

Baba Peranakan Truly

Baba Peranakan Truly

Baba Peranakan Truly

Baba Peranakan Truly

I always have the perception that Peranakan food is expensive, until I came to know about Baba Perakana Truly which sells very cheap nonya cuisine. Located at the basement of Katong Plaza (beside Roxy Square), I wouldn’t have know about this place if not for LeeAnne who introduced me to the stall. Can you believe it, we frequent Katong very often but have never notice its existence.

Don’t expect to be seated in a traditional Peranakan setting restaurant filled with phoenixes and peonies motifs. You are probably just paying more for their ambience and rental space. Here, the tables are arranged neatly along the dimly lit shopping mall corridor, with all the shops just beside you. I turned my head and I could clearly see the receptionist in the music school. I am sure she can see what I am eating as well. Duh.

Serving cheap homestyle Peranakan food, the kitchen is headed by Chef Aloysius Tan, who used to be a chef at Peramakan Restaurant along East Coast Road. We started our dinner with a bowl of Bakwan Kepiting ($5) – a comforting bowl of Peranakan meatball soup made with minced pork and crabmeat served wt fine slices of bamboo shoots and mushroom. The meatballs pack a punch and we love the soup that we finished it.

We thought the portions are going to be small just like other Peranakan restaurants I visited, hence we ordered slightly more. But it turned out to be more than enough for both of us. The chap chye ($4) itself is enough to fill us up. Thankfully, it is not overpowered with taucheo (preserved soy beans). There’s just enough to give this simmer of mushrooms, cabbage, glass noodles and lily bulbs in classic flavour. But we didn’t quite like their ngoh hiang ($8) which are handrolled with minced pork, prawns and water chestnut. It’s kinda dry and loses its inner juices. Wished the fillings were more seasoned which will pair better with the sambal belachan.

Probably one of the most expensive dishes in the menu is Ayam Buah Keluak ($10) seasoned with tamarind juice and kaffir leave. The tanginess from the tamarind juice makes it more appetizing then usual. And we love the nutty flavour of the black nut which goes well with white rice!

I won’t consider this eatery to have the best Peranakan flavours, but it is really very affordable and great for quiet dinners with family.

 

Baba Peranakan Truly

Address: 1 Brooke Road B1-K3/K4, Katong Plaza
Opening hours: 9am-9pm, closed on Mondays

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