Name: Colin H.

Rating: ★★★★★ 5

Date: 10/18/2023

The stall has gone through a complete transformation, but they still serve the same awesome tasting nasi Padang. Every dish you see in my photo taste incredible, especially the beef rendang and the chili peanut/Ikan bilis. Only the taste of the fried fish was a little off and it was over fried. I am always so happy dining at this coffee shop.

Name: Eu Fei Foong

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 2

Date: 8/28/2023

I used to eat this almost every week, it used to be the best nasi Padang around this area. Unfortunately, with the change of ownership things have gone down hill. You are no longer able to choose the dish you want and if you want extra dishes, you have to pay exorbitant prices. Will be my last visit to this place.

Name: Jeffrey C

Rating: ★★★★★ 5

Date: 7/11/2023

Excellent Malay food. The ayam goreng is famous (fried chicken), they keep frying it so if you are lucky enough to get one that is just fresh of the wok, that’s an extra bonus. I love their beef rendang too although some of my friends have commented that it is on the salty side. My other 2 favourite dishes are the sambal goreng (fried with tempeh) and assam pedas (fish). There is a 20 cents charge for takeaway sambal belachan but well worth it. Go early for lunch at the food is sometimes gone by 1pm.

Name: Feliz

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 2

Date: 5/3/2023

Finally after 2 days of eating Istimewa Nasi Padang to me is not really that special , I realized their flavor of the dishes are not consistent. The business now is taken over by their son and daughter in law ,now is different compared to times when their parents cook . My first day I tried the chicken set $5.50 , it comes with 1 vegetables so I took egg plant (long brinjal) cook with sambal belado ,it was so happened they were frying the chicken and I have to wait for 4 mins but is ok. I had the chance to eat hot fried chicken drumsticks. The chicken tumeric was quite crispy and slightly salty . Carlos the staff gave me try a small portion of the beef rendang, greatly appreciated , not bad with the rendang gravy. I kind of enjoyed my first day of the meal. (2nd May) Today (3 May) I came again for the chicken set and change the vegetables to egg sambal. Today my meal was disappointed because the chicken , I guessed was cook too long and the chicken became hard and dry. You can see the photo below . I also pack rendang set for my hubby, he didn't like it , it's too much lean meat and it makes the rendang dried no taste , gravy not enough. I also bought 1 portion of lodeh, the lodeh not enough spice so he told me quite tasteless.. It cost me $7.80 for the pack meal - $0.30 for the box. Istimewa is indeed not consistent in the flavours sometime good sometimes lack of taste , sometimes too over cook and their rice quality also not good . Oh well , like I said before , this review base on my own opinion and my experienced of eating in thi stalls for the passed 2 days. If you ask me, will I come back, my choice will be Java corner at Blk 49 Stirling Rd is still the best. For Istimewa, I won't purposely go there for nasi padang lah, if I happen to pass that area again and longing for nasi padang then, I will drop by and try other dish maybe fish. Meanwhile I wish Istimewa Nasi Padang all the best, definitely lots of room for improvement. Thank you readers for reading my review and my food journey, so click like and follow so you don't miss out for next food reviews. Stay safe, health and happy always. God blessed.

Name: cys edi

Rating: ★★★★★ 5

Date: 1/25/2023

Reasonably priced and really enjoyable Malay food. Used to be extremely good but that comes with a super long Q. Now it is still very good without the super long Q. A good balance. I like their beef rendang. Super soft melt in the mouth with nice gravy. Non stop wanting for more. Other dishes are as nice but I always eye on the beef rendang. Price for the quality is fair and the staff is very friendly too. It is tuck in a rustic coffee shop and have the nice old vibes. Highly recommended.