If you've been an Eastie kid long, the name Afghanistan Family Restaurant rings a bell! Especially popular as a breakfast spot during the weekends, this humble restaurant has been serving delicious local eats at affordable prices since 1967! Last week, the owner of Afghanistan Family Restaurant, 73-year-old Mahmood Abdullah, passed away due to pneumonia, taking social media by storm. Tributes poured in almost immediately, proving Mr Abdullah was loved by many ? If this is your first time checking out this food haunt, or you need a little refresher on what's good, we got you covered right here!
1. Murtabak
Credit: @petersohkoonchong for Instagram
Zam Zam and Victory Restaurant might be the first few names that pop to your mind if you're craving some murtabak. Still, Afghanistan Family Restaurant's crispy version has a spot in the hearts of Easties alike. It's generously filled with your meat of choice (chicken or beef) and pan-fried till golden-brown perfection. Dip it with chilli sauce, which I love to do, or their curries, and it's simply comforting food at its best ?
2. Prata
Another breakfast favourite would have to be their prata. It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside; all the makings of a tasty prata! With a bowl of curry to accompany, you'll realise that the simplest meals like these satisfy you the best!
3. Lontong
I'm not sure about you, but whenever I head to the restaurant for breakfast, I will make a beeline to the only store selling lontong (hint: it's the stall with the longest queues!). It's a hefty breakfast - rice cakes paired with chunky pieces of paru (fried beef lung), tempeh (fried fermented soybeans), bergedil (fried potato patty), all drenched in a creamy, spiced broth (lodeh) with additional toppings such as tofu, vegetables, before the icings on the cake to top it all off: a perfectly sweet, spicy sambal and serunding (fried coconut flakes). After a long work week, you deserve to treat yourself to a savoury breakfast like this! ?
4. Nasi Briyani
Afghanistan Family Restaurant is also known for their scrumptious plates of Nasi Briyani! Fragrant rice drenched with mutton curry (or any other curry of your choice) with pickled vegetables - it's THE meal suited for whatever occasion calls for it! ?
5. Kacang Pool
If you prefer something lighter but equally satisfying, nothing beats a bowl of kacang pool (ful medames, consisting of beans topped with sunny-side-up and baguette slices to accompany). It's nutty, flavourful, all in one small bowl - guess the best things come in small packages, after all! ?
6. Nasi Sambal Goreng
Nasi Sambal Goreng is an Indonesian dish that's hard to beat. Named after the side dish Sambal Goreng, a rich and spicy mixture of herbs, spices, tempeh and veggies, Nasi Sambal Goreng's tasteful blend of rice, spicy sambal chilli, and an assortment of side dishes sprinkled with serundeng, will leave you craving for more ?For a large portion like this, each packet only costs $4.50! Other rice dishes are worth mentioning, such as nasi lemak, nasi jenganan and more!
7. Nasi Ayam
This is the place to go if you're looking for a decent chicken rice meal priced under $6! It's simplicity at its best - fried chicken, flavorful rice and a sweet chilli sauce with a soup to accompany ?
8. Naan & other North & South Indian dishes
Freshly-made naans & chapati, savoury rich butter chicken, and saucy keema are only some of the many dishes on offer! While prices here are slightly higher than the rest of the food on this list (~$8), you'll be promised a meal that will satisfy all your naan cravings in an instant ?
9. Goreng Pisang
These golden fritters will be your option if you're heading there for your post-afternoon snack! You already know what to expect, so all that's left to do is head down there and try it for yourselves ?
10. Putu Piring
If you prefer something sweet instead, these putu piring are simply a delight! At $2 for 5 pieces, you'll be gobbling them up in no time!
Suppose there's one thing that binds us all together. In that case, it's our deep affinity for local eats like these! There's something special about neighbourhood food outlets like Afghanistan Family Restaurant that reminds us about home and our best memories growing up! ?