Straits Curry Co - Penang Soul Food in Singapore

Nasi Kahwin at Home

Let me start by saying that Straits Curry Co has a cult following and every time there is a food drop, the slots are taken up within minutes. What exactly are we talking about here?

Straits Curry Co is the brainchild of Penang native Edwin Lee, a chef who brings Malaysian curries to Singaporeans. By day, Edwin is a trained chef in a restaurant, but his passion project, Straits Curry Co, has rapidly become an IG sensation. Every dish is single-handedly cooked, packed, and delivered by Edwin himself, reflecting a deeply personal approach to food.

The menu at Straits Curry Co changes every month, with the Nasi Kandaq Bantal remaining a staple on the menu. At $28 per pack, you get combinations of beef and prawns or chicken and tumeric squid, okra, green chilli, half a salted egg as well as rice soaked in a mix of curries and gravies. Alternatively, there are set menus as well such as the Nasi Kahwin which is priced at $88 for 2 pax:

Half the portion of the standard Nasi Kahwin

We typically go for the Nasi Kahwin when we are at home. Nasi Kahwin, literally translates to "wedding rice", and is a beloved dish traditionally served at Malay weddings and festive gatherings across Malaysia. At Straits Curry Co, their Nasi Kahwin set is a wedding feast fit for royalty. It includes:

• Ayam Masak Merah - Chicken in Rich Tomato Gravy

• SCC Beef Curry - Beef Curry in a House-made Rempah

• Spicy Prawn Sambal

• Achar Timun - Cucumber, Starfruit and Pineapple Pickle

• Mango Sambal

• Nasi Minyak - Fragrant Spiced Rice, Raisins and Cashew

Straits Curry Co portions are extremely generous and picture aboved is only half othe serving of a standard 2 pax portion of the Nasi Kahwin and we were definitely feeling extremely well fed by the end. I think a set would be good for around 3 people or even 4 if they are small eaters.

Nasi Kandaq

Sometimes, Straits Curry Co does kitchen takeovers. Just this month, they were hosted at Orh Gao Taproom, which is moving out of their home in Serene Centre. During the takeover, the folks at Orh Gao comes in with coupons for the food you had preordered and you can then exchange it for meals at the serving station. Our meal included a Nasi Kandaq of Chicken and Squid for $28 and we also had a serve of SCC Fried Chicken for $12:

• Ayam Masak Merah

• Sotong Kunyit

• Nasi Minyak

• Salted Egg

• Ladies Finger

• Green Chili

• Mango Sambal

• SCC Fried Chicken

Tbh, I prefer the home packaged Straits Curry Co meals. I think they are more generous with their serves. Whilst we enjoyed this whole concept of a kitchen takeover, it left us slightly underwhelmed by the amount of food for the price, especially considering the fact that we know Chef Edwin is incredibly generous in his portion sizes.

On saying that, we loved the experience at Orh Gao and our Nasi Kandaq was spot on. We loved that the folks at Orh Gao Taproom were incredibly welcoming and generous. We went slightly earlier and was having a chat with the bartender and he very generously offered us a glass of his KC Moutai. For those who know us, we can never say no to a KC Moutai. In addition, their craft beers are also delicious, we had a very light lager, nice fruity, easy to drink and my eating buddy had a guava sake on tap.

SCC Fried Chicken

Booking

Slots for orders open about a month in advance on Straits Curry Co's IG and typically sells out within minutes (or hours if you are extremely lucky) so planning and fast fingers are essential. Reservation windows typically open at 9 pm, and our strategy is typically to just eliminate the need for discussions and alignments and book what sounds delicious for a particular date.

Accessibility

Straits Curry Co does deliveries for a fee, so that is always an option. If you prefer doing a pick up, the location is at Yong Siak in Tiong Bahru, which is approximately a 10 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT station. Purely takeaway only, there is no eat in available. Chef Edwin will bring your food to you if you drive.

The Damage

It depends what you have. For us, we have been getting the Nasi Kahwin sets for 88 SGD, which we thought was extremely good value considering we had 4 meals out it. If you take the Nasi Kandaq option, it would set you back 28 SGD.

Would We Recommend?

Yes! Straits Curry Co operates as a home-based business in Tiong Bahru, with pick-ups at Yong Siak Street. The experience is intimate and unfussy. The food is delivered in paper-wrapped bundles, and the overall aesthetic is one of heartfelt, communal eating, think vibrant curries, aromatic rice, and the joy of sharing with friends and family. For those seeking a taste of Penang without leaving Singapore, Straits Curry Co is a must-try. Just remember: set your alarms, plan ahead, and be ready to pounce when those reservation slots drop. This is one culinary experience you’ll want to savor again and again.