Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the lack of basic hospitality. No greeting
Upon entering the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the lack of basic hospitality. There was no greeting, not even a simple smile. It set the tone for what would become a very unpleasant experience.
When it came time to order, the server's demeanor was noticeably unhappy. I pointed to a specific dish and asked what type of meat it contained, as I have allergies. Without answering, he proceeded to place the dish on my plate. I asked him to stop, but he ignored me completely. Once the dish was on my plate, I repeated my question. His response was curt and angry. When I told him I didn’t want the dish, he raised his voice at me.
Stunned, I asked why he was scolding me for simply inquiring about the ingredients of a dish due to health reasons. Instead of de-escalating, he continued raising his voice in front of other customers. I was shocked and embarrassed.
The manager eventually stepped in, but instead of addressing the issue professionally, he told me to relax and excused the server’s behavior, saying “that’s just how he speaks.” I explained that I was calm and that such conduct is unacceptable in any service setting, let alone a restaurant. Defending this kind of behavior only reflects poorly on the management itself.
Reading other reviews, it appears this kind of poor service isn’t a one-off incident but part of the culture here. That is a shame because the food is actually decent. Unfortunately, no quality of food is worth being disrespected or publicly humiliated. I won’t be returning and I wouldn’t recommend anyone subject themselves to the same.
Lee
I have both at their shop a coupel of times over the years and the standard is not consistent, unfor
I have visited their shop a couple of times over the years, and unfortunately, the standard is not consistent. Because of the lack of choices for Muslim or Malay food here, you might end up at Spice Affair.
First of all, it's always crowded at lunchtime, and the space between seats is really tight. So, we decided to pack this time. They only serve individual packets, where you choose your rice and dishes. They do not allow buying dishes individually, which shows a total lack of flexibility.
Next, they are on the pricier side. Begedil or a tofu dish is almost $2, while meat dishes are around $4, with beef rendang being slightly more. So, a meal there easily costs $10 per person without a drink.
The beef was a huge disappointment. A few of us ordered it, and it was tough, leaving an unpleasant sensation on the tongue, a bit tart. The spices had not infused into the meat chunks, and it was really tough to chew. Even tearing it with utensils was difficult.
The tofu was relatively good in comparison.
Begedil was tasty, but really small for the price paid – like a ping pong ball smashed flat.
There are better Padang stalls out there.
Zhi Yong
Flavorful, but below average Malay food standards, more when kitchen uses frozen old ingredients. Es
Flavorful, but below average Malay food standards, especially when the kitchen uses frozen, old ingredients. The chicken, in particular, is always overcooked, dry, and rubbery, which is hazardous to gums and health. Expensive, $$
S. Tan
Staff was polite and service was good. We ordered Ambeng Light :Fish Sambal and Chicken Lemak ; Amb
Staff was polite and service was good. We ordered Ambeng Light: Fish Sambal and Chicken Lemak; Ambeng Solo Beef Rendang. Unfortunately, we were there 45 minutes before closing at 8pm on a Sunday night, so the food was not warm enough and side dishes were not available. The serving portion was large. It is value for money as there is no service tax and GST. The food was a tad salty for my liking. There will be no return visit for me.
Yusri Bahri
Everything was good except the lady in front with glasses . She served with unwelcome voice . Try to
Everything was good except for the lady at the front with glasses. She served us with an unwelcoming voice and seemed to ignore us when we arrived. She also made a bad gesture with her hand when I made a mistake with an order, as if asking me to leave, even though I wanted to pay. Please, just treat us the same as others. This is a famous restaurant!
Positive Reviews
Gary Tan
Came when they were almost closing but still could get something to bite . Liked the Briyani , was f
Came when they were almost closing but still managed to get something to bite. Liked the Briyani; it was flavorful and not too spicy.
Golden Bear
My friend had the Beef Briyani set. She said it’s good. I only had the Bandung drink as I don’t eat
My friend had the Beef Briyani set and said it was good. I only had the Bandung drink as I don't eat meat.
Jonathan Lim
Good selection of Malay food. The taste is good and it could be long queue at lunch time. I had Nas
Good selection of Malay food. The taste is good, and there can be a long queue at lunchtime. I had Nasi Lemak, and the taste was great. The portion is average but overall just enough for lunch.
Gin Poh
Went around 11.45am and already long queue. Waited for 10 mins and my turn. The dishes show the labe
Went around 11:45 am and there was already a long queue. Waited for 10 minutes for my turn. The dishes were clearly labelled, so you know what you are ordering. They served three types of rice: white rice, biryani rice, and nasi lemak rice (bright green colour). I ordered the biryani rice - it was very flavourful and delicious. The mutton curry was soft and tender. The curry chicken was hard and dry. The sambal goreng tasted fantastic. The sambal chilli was hot and spicy, and blended well with the food. The price was reasonable, as we know the price range for Nasi Padang. Overall - can eat.
Heng Tong Seng
This is the place to go when you're craving spicy food. The spices are unique and very flavorful! It
This is the place to go when you're craving spicy food. The spices are unique and very flavorful! It can get crowded during lunchtime. Prices are around $10, not including drinks. Drink options are listed in the photo. Please return your plates to the designated area after finishing your meal. Highly recommended!
