As we all know there is no lack of hotel buffets on our small island and each one must really try their best to differentiate themselves and to ensure sufficient value for money. Kedai Penang buffet at 21 on Rajah needs to get it just right.
21 on Rajah is a Halal-certified restaurant in Singapore located at Level 1 of Aloft by Marriott Singapore Novena East Wing.
Kedai Penang buffet at 21 on Rajah
Penang is known for its food culture and amazing street food. Chinese, Malay, Indian, Peranakan food by themselves or in various combinations that have developed over time. Foodies look for the Wok Hei in Char Kway Teow, the amazing balance of sour, savoury and funk in the Assam Laksa, the complex flavours and spices that go into the Rempah of Nonya dishes and the fragrant, chewy kueh-kuehs that you eat despite being way too full. That sounds like a tall order!
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So, it was surprising when this c! It was a surprisingly complete dining experience, with robust local flavours, generous seafood and meat options, and a good selection of desserts that ended the meal on a sweet note.
What we enjoyed – Good Selection of Well-prepared Mains
The buffet got off to a strong start with the Nonya-style Fish Maw Soup. The soup had a surprisingly deep, savoury umami prepared from a good base stock. Among the cooked food section, the Kam Heong Mud Crab was another highlight.
The mud crabs were of a decent size, stir fried and coated with a fragrant, spicy seasoning. The Kapitan Chicken was also well executed, with a light coconut milk fragrance in a bright curry.
The sambal stingray looked impressive in its entirety and it was cooked well. Smoky, spicy on tender, moist flesh similar to a good hawker centre version.
Carving Station – Interesting Cuts with Good Flavours
The carving station offered Grilled Char Siew Lamb Flap and Teochew-style Braised Beef Short Ribs. I was surprised by how much I liked the Char Siew Lamb Flap. A char siew-style marinade provided a sweet, smoky glaze to the rich, very slightly gamey lamb.
The lamb flap is a cut from the lower belly of the lamb and contains a good balance of meat and fat. There were a few pieces that had a thicker fascia (silver skin) attached that had to be removed but otherwise it was a good dish. The beef short ribs were a bit tough and likely required a longer braise.
Live Station – Aromatic Penang Assam Laksa
One of the live stations served Penang Assam Laksa and it added some welcome acidity and complexity. The fish broth was aromatic and intense, balanced with the complex mix of the different Asam ingredients, Rempah and other aromatics. Top it with some cold, raw cucumber, onions and other toppings of your choice and you get a addictive bowl of contrasting flavours, textures and temperature.
Seafood Selection – Good variety, Mid quality
The only notable disappointment was the cold seafood selection. It was definitely visually appealing with a fairly decent variety, but the seafood were slightly lacking in sweetness and freshness. The prawns and sashimi were okay but the mussels, king crab legs and lobsters tasted somewhat muted. Fortunately, this was not a major issue because the buffet’s strengths lie in its Penang food focus.
Satisfyingly Sweet Desserts
Dessert and durian lovers will enjoy the spread of traditional Malaysian and Nonya treats, including Durian Pandan Cake, Cempedak Cake, Pulut Inti, Kuih Kochi, and Kuih Kaswi (Kuih Kosui). I literally tried everything and I can safely say they were all worth the calories.
The DIY chendol section also gave diners a good selection of ingredients to create their own chendol concoction. A reminder (to myself) to go easy on the durian paste – just because it is available doesn’t mean you need to pile it on. A little goes a long way.
Final Thoughts
Kedai Penang Buffet succeeds in focusing on flavour and avoiding gimmicks. While the cold seafood selection could be improved, many of the cooked dishes were genuinely enjoyable and are as good as or better than some of the hawkers’ versions you can get and that is quite high praise.
Most importantly, the buffet never felt limited by its halal certification even though a lot of Penang dishes are typically non-halal. It presents a broad and satisfying range of seafood, poultry, lamb, local (Penang) favourites and desserts that are enjoyable and importantly, worth the calories.
Pricing for Kedai Penang Buffet
Weekday (Mon-Fri) Lunch: Adults $60++, Child $30++ Weekday (Mon-Fri) Dinner: Adults $70++, Child $35++
Weekend (Sat-Sun, Eve of PH & PH) Lunch: Adults $70++, Child $35++ Weekend (Sat-Sun, Eve of PH & PH) Dinner: Adults $80++, Child $40++
Promotions
Lunch – Dine 4 Pay 2 Dinner – Dine 4 Pay 3
National Day (9 Aug) – Come in red and white to enjoy 50% off!
Do make your reservations as soon as possible!
21 on Rajah
where: 1 Jln Rajah, Aloft Singapore East Wing, Singapore 329133
