We’ve sussed out the most smashing ayam penyet spots in Singapore.
There are many variations of the humble chicken rice in Singapore. One of our favourites is ayam penyet, a multi-textured and flavour-packed Indonesian dish. We’re talking specially prepared fried chicken that’s smashed till tender, spicy sambal belacan, and all other goodies. Hungry yet? We’ve listed the best places in Singapore that serve a filling plate of ayam penyet. Let’s makan!
Our recommended ayam penyet places:
- Our top choice: Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut
- For an affordable plate: Rayyan’s Waroeng Upnormal
- If you want a spicy kick: Ayam Penyet Ria
- The most savoury smashed chicken: Impian Wahyu
Best places for ayam penyet in Singapore
1. Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut
Okay, hear us out. Even though this restaurant is famed for its crispy duck, you shouldn’t turn a blind eye to ayam penyet. Each juicy chicken is marinated in a savoury blend of secret spices before being deep-fried to perfection. There are five spiciness levels to choose from, so you can go easy on your tongue with the sweet option or go all the way with the picante sauce.
Must-try dishes: Original smash fried chicken with rice, original crispy fried duck with rice
How much: From $9.90
Opening hours: Daily, hours depend on location
Address: multiple locations including Lucky Plaza, Westgate, and SingPost Centre
Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut website Bebek Goreng Pak Ndut menu
2. D’Penyetz
If you can handle the heat, you’ll love D’Penyetz. This halal restaurant imports its chilli from Indonesia, which is probably why it has up to seven levels of spiciness. Heed the fiery warnings if you don’t want to burn your tongue! Instant noodle fans should get the Indomie goreng ayam penyet, a fascinating fusion offering that’s exclusively available here.
Must-try dishes: Smashed chicken, Indomie ayam geprek, fried marinated beef ribs
How much: From $8.90
Opening hours: Daily, hours depend on location
Address: multiple locations including Downtown East, Jem, and Pasir Ris
D’penyetz website D’penyetz menu
3. Nasi Putih Ayam Penyet
A cardinal rule everyone in Singapore abides by is that if there’s a long queue, that usually means the place is good. This ayam penyet stall tends to draw a snaking line, particularly during lunchtime, so you know what that means. Each serving is replete with so much flavour that you’ll gobble everything down in a flash. A typical plate of ayam penyet comes with white rice, though you can swap that for fried rice if you prefer.
Must-try dishes: Ayam penyet, ikan penyet
How much: From $6.00
Opening hours: Daily; 8am to 11pm
Address: #01-26, ABC Brickworks Market and Food Centre, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150006
4. Dapur Penyet
It doesn’t matter if you’re craving ayam penyet for lunch or dinner – Dapur Penyet welcomes you to its restaurant anytime. The food joint is all about offering quality food at reasonable prices. Diners can look forward to crispy yet juicy chicken and a fresh serving of sliced cucumbers and cabbage. If you’re looking to add sides to your order, the satay comes highly recommended.
Must-try dishes: Ayam penyet, sate ayam, kangkung belacan
How much: From $10.50
Opening hours: Daily, hours depend on location
Address: multiple locations including Tiong Bahru Plaza, The Centrepoint, and City Plaza
Dapur Penyet Website Dapur Penyet menu
5. Impian Wahyu
Tucked away in Crawford Lane is this nondescript food stall that dishes out authentic Indonesian cuisine. Its menu is extensive, but of course, we zeroed in on the ayam penyet. We hear the chicken is boiled in broth before being deep-fried. This explains why the skin is savoury and crispy while the meat is soft and tender.
Must-try dishes: Ayam penyet, nasi rawon pasuruan
How much: From $6
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 6pm
Address: #01-29, 462 Crawford Lane, Singapore 190462
6. Rayyan’s Waroeng Upnormal
Amoy Street is a treasure trove of food spots, and one that constantly sees high traffic is Rayyan’s Waroeng Upnormal. Each serving is packed with all the good stuff. Expect golden-fried smashed chicken, flavoursome soup, a good amount of sambal belacan, and rice topped with a pinch of serunding (spiced grated coconut). Once you’ve sampled Rayyan’s offering, you might not go back to other stalls.
Must-try dishes: Ayam penyet, Baliness gyudon
How much: From $5.50
Opening hours: Daily, 9am to 2.30pm
Address: #02-86, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111
Rayyan’s Waroeng Upnormal Instagram
7. Ayam Penyet President
This halal-certified casual dining chain can be considered a presidential candidate for one of Singapore’s best ayam penyet. Crispy fried chicken, fried beancake, tempeh (fermented soybean cake), and signature chilli paste – stomach-pleasing goodness all in one plate. Not keen on getting out of the house to grab your order? Just a few taps on your favourite delivery service, and ayam penyet will be delivered to your home in no time.
Must-try dishes: Ayam penyet, fried tofu and beancake
How much: From $9.50
Opening hours: Daily, hours depend on location
Address: Multiple locations including Bedok, Bukit Panjang, and Clementi
Ayam Penyet President Website Ayam Penyet President menu
8. Ayam Penyet Ria
Ask anyone in Singapore about ayam penyet, and they’ll most likely suggest this restaurant. Pioneering the ayam penyet trend here, you can get an authentic plate at this popular eatery as it’s made using marinades and spices imported directly from Indonesia. What makes it a winner is the spicy yet addictive chilli. You’ll find it hard not to submerge the satiating chicken meat into the sambal!
Must-try dishes: Ayam penyet with nasi, Ikan dori penyet with nasi
How much: From $9.50
Opening hours: Daily, hours depend on location
Address: Multiple locations including Lucky Plaza, Jurong Point, and Rivervale Mall
Ayam Penyet Ria Website Ayam Penyet Ria menu
9. Sri Bistari Changi Village Famous Ayam Penyet
We hear nothing but good things about this ayam penyet chain. What keeps us going back for more is the moreish sambal belacan, which perfectly complements the rice and smashed fried chicken. Punchy and dangerously spicy are a few plus points about the chilli that make it totally appetising. Pro tip: have a glass of iced milk tea and a few packets of tissues just in case you get a runny nose or teary-eyed.
Must-try dishes: Nasi ayam penyet
How much: From $5
Opening hours: Daily, 9am to 12am
Address: #01-03, 101 Yishun Avenue 5, Singapore
Sri Bistari Changi Village Famous Ayam Penyet Facebook
10. Nur Indah Kitchen
Voracious eaters, this one’s for you. Rack up an appetite, as Nur Indah Kitchen is known for dishing out a huge serving of ayam penyet at an affordable price. No pocket-sized chicken cuts here, just big chunks of juicy, tender smashed fried chicken for you to relish delightfully. Also, the chicken is accompanied by a big plate of flavourful rice cooked with chicken stock. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Must-try dishes: Chicken penyet drumstick
How much: From $8.30
Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 9pm
Address: Stall 7, Bedok Food Centre, 1 Bedok Road, Singapore 469572
Go on and enjoy a smashing plate of ayam penyet in Singapore.
