Rayyan's Waroeng Penyet (also known as Rayyan's Waroeng Upnormal) is a pioneering halal-certified Indonesian restaurant located at 7 Maxwell Road (#02-86) in the prestigious Amoy Street Food Centre, operating Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 2:30 PM and earning Michelin Guide 2017 recognition for their innovative Balinese-Japanese fusion approach to traditional ayam penyet. This Muslim-owned establishment has built a devoted following in Singapore's CBD, consistently drawing snaking queues during lunchtime as office workers seek their acclaimed combination of authentic Indonesian flavors with creative fusion elements.
Their signature menu features the acclaimed Jumbo Penyet Classic ($6.50) showcasing massive fried chicken thighs served on separate plates due to their size, topped with crispy battered lengkuas (shredded galangal), special sweet sauce, chili sauce, and onion bits, delivering musky turmeric flavors throughout perfectly spiced meat and fragrant skin. Their innovative fusion offerings include the Balinese Gyudon ($6.50) that transforms classic Japanese beef rice bowls with exciting Indonesian spices, while traditional preparations feature golden-fried smashed chicken with flavorsome soup, sambal belacan, rice topped with serunding (spiced grated coconut), and generous servings of crispy crumbs that enhance both texture and flavor.
Despite relocating several times over the years before settling at the famous Amoy Street Food Centre, Rayyan's has maintained their loyal following through consistent quality, creative menu development, and authentic Indonesian cooking techniques that have established them as the gold standard for halal ayam penyet in Singapore. Their success in combining traditional Indonesian comfort food with Japanese fusion concepts, while maintaining affordable pricing ($5.50-$6.80) and halal certification, has positioned them as essential for Muslim diners seeking innovative Indonesian cuisine and CBD workers exploring authentic Southeast Asian flavors during lunch breaks.
Got a chance to try this out without the long queue and immediate jumped on it - this was around 113
Got a chance to try this out without the long queue and immediately jumped on it. This was around 11:30 AM when I was queuing.
Ordered the jumbo penyet set and added another tempura just to try that too, which brought the total for the meal to $9.
The chicken was definitely tender, and the crisps atop it were heavenly. But unfortunately, the praises end there. I didn’t quite like the chilli as it wasn’t very spicy, the noodles weren’t well-seasoned, and the tempura just tasted very breaded.
I probably wouldn’t return having tried it, but it’s definitely worth the money if you opt for the regular meal which costs $5 and comes with rice and chicken.
Tan Wei
I was told that they introduce themselves as "formerly air stewardesses” and you will know why as yo
I was told they introduce themselves as "formerly air stewardesses," and you'll understand why as you stand near their stall to look at the display! On a Friday at Amoy Street Food Centre, the queue was long, a testament to their popularity. I opted for the chicken cutlet noodle, which came with a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg. It's a deliciously indulgent dish with just the right portion size. My colleague went for the ayam penyet, and if you prefer noodles over rice, you can request that swap too!
Rennie Tan
Super value for money. Big portions at a good price. Queue moves pretty fast actually! I tried the j
Super value for money. Big portions at a good price. The queue moves pretty fast actually! I tried the jumbo penyet bami goreng set. The chicken was crisp, but I felt for chicken thigh, it wasn’t as tender as I liked. The noodles were overcooked and too soft, so I didn’t quite enjoy this despite loving Indomie. It comes with an egg, which is a plus! The chili is quite spicy! Overall, the food was average, but for the portion size, it's a good price!
Ken Lim
I think I had too high expectations from this stall as I saw a very long queue for it.
Generally it
I think I had set my expectations too high for this stall, especially after seeing the very long queue. Generally, it was okay, but I guess my expectations overshadowed the experience. The goreng was alright, the chicken was acceptable, and the chilli was underwhelming. I had expected it to be spicier and not sweet, or perhaps the owner gave me sweet sauce instead. The reviews were generally quite positive, so I suppose my experience should have been better. I might try again in a few months to see how it goes.
Positive Reviews
Randall
Pretty decent food! You definitely need to get more chili tho, I love it so much. Tasty and not spic
Pretty decent food! You definitely need to get more chili, though; I love it so much. It's tasty and not spicy. I got the chicken cutlet for myself since I was too lazy to deal with bones, but an actual thigh would probably be nicer. The place is in Amoy Food Centre, so it's also super warm.
S.Y.
Honey glazed Ayam Penyet – $6.50
Honestly, the takeaway didn’t look very appealing at first, so I w
Honey glazed Ayam Penyet – $6.50
Honestly, the takeaway didn’t look very appealing at first, so I wasn’t expecting much. But wow, it turned out delicious!
The sauce on the chicken was really shiok, and even the sambal was very tasty. The chicken portion was surprisingly big too, and I was so full after finishing. Definitely worth it!
The Lone Eater
Tried the Chicken Eggbowl Cheesesteak. Sinfully thick and bursting with flavor, I tasted what seems
Tried the Chicken Eggbowl Cheesesteak. Sinfully thick and bursting with flavor, I tasted what seemed to be peanut sauce along with the cheese. The chicken was not dry, but honestly, the taste of the sauce and cheese overwhelms everything, and you're just enjoying the texture of the ingredients. It's not something you can eat often, or even rarely, due to how heavy this meal is.
Extremely filling, the rest of the menu also looked really good, and I'm definitely trying other items from this store. There's often a really long queue and the food takes a while, so either come early or be prepared to wait.
Jovy Tan
I wouldn’t claim to be a connoisseur of Ayam Penyet but I do enjoy a good chicken and sambal. The ch
I wouldn’t claim to be a connoisseur of Ayam Penyet, but I do enjoy a good chicken and sambal. The chicken was nicely cooked with a crispy outer skin, yet it was really moist inside with a nice balance of seasoning (not too salty). The surprise was the sambal, which tasted mild at first but came with a nice medium kick at the end and didn’t overpower the chicken. All this for $6.80 for a jumbo (whole leg quarter). Would eat it again! Definitely better than KFC.
Wei Chen
The ayam penyet was delicious and came in generous portions for $6.50, while the chicken cutlet was
The ayam penyet was delicious and came in generous portions for $6.50, while the chicken cutlet was priced at $5.50. The chicken was tasty - well-marinated, tender, and succulent, and the rice had a distinct aroma and pleasant taste. The sambal was great too, though I would prefer it with a bit more kick.
