Location: The White House, 35 Scotts Road, Singapore 228227
Cuisine: Peranakan
Price Range:$-$
Special Promotion: 1-for-1 Signature Tasting Menu ($68) – December 2025, weekdays only
Overview
Tucked away in the charming colonial-era White House along Scotts Road, INDOCAFÉ Peranakan Dining has quietly earned its stripes as a six-time MICHELIN Bib Gourmand awardee. Under the stewardship of Penang-born Chef Heng Eng Ho, who brings over two decades of culinary expertise to the table, this restaurant offers an authentic taste of Peranakan heritage in a setting that seamlessly blends nostalgia with elegance.
During my second visit to INDOCAFÉ, I had the pleasure of experiencing their limited-time Signature Tasting Menu, and I’m pleased to report that the food was even more impressive than my first encounter. This restaurant truly deserves more recognition in Singapore’s competitive Peranakan dining scene.
Ambience & Setting
The dining space at INDOCAFÉ is truly one of its strongest assets. Housed within The White House, a beautifully preserved heritage building, the restaurant exudes an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and refined. The colonial architecture provides an elegant backdrop that enhances the traditional Peranakan dining experience. Unlike many modern restaurants that can feel sterile or overly commercialized, INDOCAFÉ manages to transport diners to a different era while maintaining contemporary comfort standards.
The intimate setting makes it suitable for various occasions, from romantic dinners to family gatherings. The maximum booking size of 8 guests for the promotional menu suggests a focus on maintaining the quality of service and dining experience.
The 5-Course Signature Tasting Menu
Trio Platter ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
The meal commenced with a trio of quintessential Peranakan appetizers: Ngoh Hiang, Kueh Pie Tee, and Otah Otah. This selection serves as an excellent introduction to the fundamental flavors and textures of Peranakan cuisine.
While all three items were executed well, the Ngoh Hiang emerged as the star of the platter. The five-spice meat roll demonstrated textbook perfection in its preparation, boasting a juicy, well-seasoned interior with a satisfying meaty texture. The Kueh Pie Tee crispy shells were fresh and properly filled, while the Otah Otah delivered the expected aromatic blend of fish paste and spices wrapped in banana leaf.
Rating: 4.5/5
Fish Maw Soup ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Soup of the Day featured a comforting Fish Maw Soup that embodied the essence of homestyle Peranakan cooking. Light yet flavorful, this soup provided a gentle transition between the bold appetizers and the heartier mains to follow. The fish maw was properly prepared with a pleasant texture, and the broth carried subtle depths without overwhelming the palate.
While not groundbreaking, this soup succeeded in its purpose: offering a moment of respite and cleansing the palate in preparation for the main courses ahead.
Rating: 4/5
Main Course: Babi Pongteh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Babi Pongteh represents INDOCAFÉ’s mastery of traditional Peranakan braised dishes and stands as the highlight of the entire tasting menu. This dish exemplifies everything that Peranakan cooking should be: deeply flavorful, richly aromatic, and impeccably balanced.
Chef Heng’s version elevates the classic preparation by using premium Spanish Iberico pork, which brings an inherent richness and superior marbling to the dish. The pork is marinated in fermented soybean paste (taucheo) and stewed with potatoes, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, aromatic spices, onion, and garlic until it reaches melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
What impressed me most was the restraint exercised with the fermented soybean paste. Many restaurants fall into the trap of over-salting their Babi Pongteh, but INDOCAFÉ has achieved a harmonious balance that allows the natural sweetness of the pork and the complexity of the spices to shine through. The Iberico pork delivered on its promise with excellent flavor and an ideal meat-to-fat ratio that provided both substance and luxurious mouthfeel.
The accompaniments were equally well-executed. The potatoes, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots were cooked until tender and had thoroughly absorbed the rich, savory gravy, making each component a pleasure to eat. This is comfort food at its finest, executed with professional precision.
Rating: 5/5 – Must-try
Optional Upgrade: Wagyu Beef Rendang (+$10) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For those who opt for the $10 supplement, the Wagyu Beef Rendang offers an excellent alternative to the Babi Pongteh. Described as a crowd favorite, this dish lives up to its reputation.
The wagyu beef was succulent and gelatinous, indicating hours of careful slow-cooking that transformed the meat into something sublime. Each piece carried robust, deep flavors with an aromatic richness that characterizes authentic rendang. The spice paste clung beautifully to the beef, creating an intense flavor experience that remained balanced rather than overwhelming.
The $10 upgrade is well worth considering, especially for rendang enthusiasts or those who prefer beef over pork.
Rating: 4.8/5
Side Dish: Sayur Lodeh ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Sayur Lodeh served as a vegetable accompaniment to the main course, featuring a thoughtful addition of fried tempeh that provided textural contrast to the softer vegetables in the coconut milk-based curry.
While the dish was enjoyable and demonstrated good flavor balance, I would have preferred the vegetables to be simmered longer for a softer, more traditional texture. In authentic Peranakan cooking, vegetables in sayur lodeh are typically cooked until quite tender, almost melting into the curry. The vegetables here retained more of their structure, which some diners may actually prefer for a fresher bite, but it deviated slightly from the traditional preparation.
Rating: 3.8/5
Optional Add-on: Fish Head Curry (+$48++) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
If you’re visiting INDOCAFÉ with a group or have a particular fondness for Fish Head Curry, the add-on option represents exceptional value. At $48++ (discounted from the usual $58++) for a whole fish head, this dish punches well above its price point.
The fish was impeccably fresh, arriving moist and flaky with flesh that easily separated from the bone. The curry struck an ideal balance, delivering robust flavor without the excessive richness that can come from overuse of coconut milk. This restraint allowed the natural sweetness of the fish to come through while still providing that characteristic curry depth.
The accompanying vegetables, including brinjals (eggplant) and lady’s fingers (okra), were cooked to the right doneness, remaining intact and fresh rather than disintegrating into the curry. This attention to vegetable preparation is often overlooked but makes a significant difference in the overall dining experience.
For groups of 3-4 people or more, this add-on is highly recommended and provides excellent value for money.
Rating: 4.8/5
Dessert Options
Kueh Salat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Kueh Salat emerged as the superior dessert choice, offering a masterclass in this beloved Peranakan-Malay sweet. The light and creamy pandan custard layer sat perfectly atop sticky glutinous rice, with the two components maintaining distinct textures while harmonizing in flavor.
The pandan flavor was pronounced without being artificial, and the sweetness level was perfectly calibrated. The glutinous rice base provided the necessary textural contrast and gentle sweetness to support the more assertive pandan layer. This is traditional kueh-making at its finest, showcasing why this dessert has remained popular across generations.
Rating: 5/5
Bubur Cha Cha ⭐⭐⭐
The alternative dessert, Bubur Cha Cha, was decent but leaned toward the ordinary. While there was nothing wrong with the execution, it lacked the distinction that characterized most other dishes on the menu. The sweet potato, yam, and sago pearls in coconut milk were properly prepared, but the dish didn’t elevate beyond a competent rendition of the classic dessert.
Rating: 3/5
Value Proposition
The 1-for-1 Signature Tasting Menu at $68 represents outstanding value, particularly given INDOCAFÉ’s MICHELIN Bib Gourmand status and the quality of ingredients used. When you break down the offer:
- Five well-executed courses showcasing signature dishes
- Option to upgrade to Wagyu Beef Rendang for just $10
- Excellent add-on value with the Fish Head Curry at $48++
- Dining in a heritage setting with impeccable service
This promotion makes refined Peranakan dining accessible without compromising on quality. The timing (December weekdays, excluding public holidays and eves) is strategic for those looking to enjoy festive dining experiences without the premium pricing that typically comes with the season.
Service & Accessibility
Location & Transport:
INDOCAFÉ is conveniently located just a 6-minute walk from Newton MRT station (Downtown Line and North-South Line). Exit from Exit A, turn right onto Scotts Road, and walk toward Orchard Road.
Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 3pm (Lunch), 6pm – 10:30pm (Dinner)
Contact:
Tel: +65 9430 7307
Reservations recommended, especially for the promotional menu
Final Verdict
INDOCAFÉ Peranakan Dining is genuinely underrated in Singapore’s Peranakan dining landscape. While other establishments may garner more publicity, INDOCAFÉ quietly delivers excellence through careful attention to traditional cooking methods, quality ingredients, and a setting that honors the heritage of the cuisine.
The improvement I noted between my first and second visits speaks to the restaurant’s commitment to consistency and refinement. Chef Heng Eng Ho’s two decades of experience are evident in every dish, from the balanced seasoning to the proper cooking techniques that bring out the best in each ingredient.
Strengths:
- Exceptional Babi Pongteh using premium Iberico pork
- Outstanding Kueh Salat dessert
- Excellent value with the 1-for-1 promotional menu
- Heritage setting that enhances the dining experience
- Consistent quality across multiple visits
- Thoughtful ingredient selection and restraint in seasoning
Areas for Consideration:
- Sayur Lodeh vegetables could be cooked softer for a more traditional texture
- Bubur Cha Cha, while decent, is less memorable than other offerings
- Promotional menu only available on weekdays (may limit accessibility for some diners)
Who Should Visit:
- Peranakan cuisine enthusiasts seeking authentic flavors
- Diners looking for value without compromising quality
- Those who appreciate heritage settings and traditional cooking
- Anyone seeking a more intimate, less commercialized dining experience
- Groups interested in sharing the excellent Fish Head Curry add-on
Overall Rating: 4.6/5
INDOCAFÉ Peranakan Dining deserves its MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recognition and, in my opinion, merits greater recognition among Singapore’s dining community. The December promotional menu provides an excellent opportunity to experience Chef Heng’s refined approach to Peranakan cuisine in one of Singapore’s most charming dining settings.
Review based on visit during December 2025 promotional period. Prices and menu items subject to change.