Today’s lunch was something that I do not often have—Indonesian food!
I usually go for Chinese food whenever I visit a hawker centre because it is familiar, comforting and there are always plenty of choices. However, since it is the weekend, I wanted my lunch to feel a little more adventurous. Indonesian food is known for its rich flavours, colourful dishes and generous use of spices, so I thought it would be a nice change for my palate.
I had this meal while visiting the Upper Boon Keng area. Since I was already there, I decided to explore the large hawker food centre nearby and see whether I could find something interesting. Walking around a hawker centre without knowing what to eat is always exciting because one attractive stall can suddenly change all your plans.
True enough, I found a stall called Qis Rio.
The first thing that caught my attention was the impressive selection of ready-cooked dishes displayed behind the glass counter. There were trays of curries, vegetables, fried items, fish and different kinds of meat. Everything looked colourful and full of flavour. All I had to do was point at the dishes that I wanted, which sounds easy—until there are too many tempting choices in front of you!
One thing I immediately noticed was the amount of chilli used in several dishes. For someone like me who cannot really handle very spicy food, the display was both attractive and intimidating. Indonesian food is known for having a serious level of spice, so I knew I could not take it too easy, LOL.
After looking through the choices, I selected squid, eggplant and a fried egg to go with my rice.
The squid was probably one of the pricier items available, but since it was the weekend, I decided to treat myself. I really enjoy squid because of its unique combination of flavour and texture. When cooked properly, it has a satisfying bite that makes every mouthful enjoyable.
The squid came in a dark, glossy sauce filled with visible pieces of chilli. Just by looking at it, I already knew that it was going to be spicy—and I was correct! The heat immediately reached my palate, but the sauce was also savoury, rich and deeply flavourful. Even though the spice level was challenging for me, I continued eating because I enjoyed the squid’s texture and the bold taste of the sauce.
The eggplant was another highlight. It was cooked simply until soft and tender, then covered with a delicious chilli mixture. I liked how the eggplant absorbed the sauce, making every piece juicy and flavourful. The fried egg helped balance everything. Its familiar, comforting taste gave me a small break from the fiery squid and eggplant.
Of course, the rice was very important too. It soaked up the sauces nicely and helped make the spice more manageable. Mixing the rice with the egg, squid sauce and a little eggplant created a satisfying combination of soft, chewy, savoury and spicy textures.
The entire meal cost SGD 8.00, which I found reasonable considering that I chose squid and received a filling plate of food. It was definitely one of the spiciest lunches I have had recently. My palate was practically burning, but in a good and memorable way!
Overall, my lunch at Qis Rio gave me the unique weekend food experience I was looking for. I may still need more training before I can confidently handle Indonesian chilli, but I would gladly return and explore more of their dishes.
Bon appétit!
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