SINGKAWANG CAFE - El Monte, California

notsavinggrace

3.5, half the menu is indonesian and thai. we got yellow curry and nasi lemak with beef rendang. LOVED their yellow curry and it was a good size and came with rice. their beef rendang was tough unfortunately. they have lots of options though so id love to go again. ac wasn't on though so it was hot.

UPDATE: i ordered again and got SKW fried rice and curry laksa, as well as thai tea. SKW fried rice is REALLY good. Didn't like their laksa much though0 it was okay but felt like it lacked a bit more flavor. thai tea was premade so they couldnt alter sweetness but it was ok

龔振勝

I went to this place, and my Dad's first question wasn't who I came with, but, "Do they serve beer?" No, sorry Dad! But they do serve up some pretty decent food! His loss for not trying it out! Pad See Ew was nice! Crab cakes had a nice sear to them. Heck, everything had a nice flavor to it!

Andrian F. F.

A Hidden Gem for Authentic Indonesian Flavors!

Singkawang Cafe in LA brought me straight back home with every bite. The flavors are truly nostalgic and 100% authentic—nothing was missing! From the first spoonful to the last, every dish was packed with that rich, comforting taste I grew up with.

To top it off, they surprised us with a complimentary dessert: bubur ketan hitam (black sticky rice porridge), which was absolutely delicious. Their desserts alone are worth the visit.

If you're craving real Indonesian food that tastes like home, Singkawang Cafe is the place to go. Terbaik!

Valen T.

The best foods.
I order nasi padang, nasi kuning and jam mian
Price is super affordable with lots of flavors and super delicious!!!
I order it togo and they kindly over me to vacum the meal so i can bring on flight with me. Still good even tho its already overnight!

Link C.

fast food restaurant, very tasty and clean, i always come to this restaurant and the employees are nice and friendly, serve you well.. i like the food very tasty and delicious🤤🤤

Em I.

Food: Ordered their curry laksa, nasi lemak, pad see ew, young chicken, and fried calamari. I didn’t see a lot of people get this online but the calamari was really good. They way they fried it made the batter light and crispy. The pad see ew was good but the beef was a little chewy for me-not that big of an issue for me. The beef of the nasi lemak was so tender and juicy. It was served with a fried boiled egg, dried-crispy fish and shrimp. I highly recommend this dish along with the curry laksa. For the laksa you have the option to pick rice, vermicelli or egg noodles. The young chicken wasn’t so bad either. I’d love to come back to try their other dishes.
Service: Staff was really caring and friendly. You feel like you’re at your grandma’s house because of how well you’re being taken care of.
Side notes: DESSERT WAS FREE 😀 They accept card with a minimum of $10. They are a small cafe with a mini-mart. They have daily specials too so look out for that.

L. L.

First time here-Singkawang Cafe.
The food was good, tasty, a little on the salty side.
The waitress was a little inexperience, that is, when we asked if we could relpace the popcorn chicken with regular non-fried chicken. She said, "NO!" They did not have that option.
We should have asked her to check with the cook.
The reason we said that in here, was that the cook/owner came by our table to talk to us.
NOTE: the owner did a "customer experince" gesture which is the utmost customer swrvice, which the "hospitality industry" training classes told the students to pay attention when serving the eating public.
The owner did this well!!!
He told us we could substitute the chicken as we desired.
See - the ower knew how to serve the cystomers. The customer would tell at least 5 friends about this restaurant and its owner. Word of mouth is a powerful tool/public opinion in the restaurant industry. It will sink or make it a "GO" for the restaurant.
Mark this review.
.

Charles L.

I went there with my wife after recommended by my brother who lives in Denver (CO).
We're not disappointed indeed.
Delicious food, esp. Bakso Komplit (1st), Empek Empek (2nd), and nasi padang (3rd).
I haven't tried the bakmie yet.
Friendly waitress and not crowded tables with clean place.
We will visit again if we go to LA.

notsavinggrace

3.5, half the menu is indonesian and thai. we got yellow curry and nasi lemak with beef rendang. LOVED their yellow curry and it was a good size and came with rice. their beef rendang was tough unfortunately. they have lots of options though so id love to go again. ac wasn't on though so it was hot.

UPDATE: i ordered again and got SKW fried rice and curry laksa, as well as thai tea. SKW fried rice is REALLY good. Didn't like their laksa much though0 it was okay but felt like it lacked a bit more flavor. thai tea was premade so they couldnt alter sweetness but it was ok

龔振勝

I went to this place, and my Dad's first question wasn't who I came with, but, "Do they serve beer?" No, sorry Dad! But they do serve up some pretty decent food! His loss for not trying it out! Pad See Ew was nice! Crab cakes had a nice sear to them. Heck, everything had a nice flavor to it!

Zane S.

I had a very pleasant lunch at Singkawang Café, of Singapore Laksa (a type of curry soup). Not overly spicy, with quite a rich broth, it contained two large triangles of fried tofu, three good sized medium shrimp, a whole hard boiled egg cut in two, three slices of fishcake, rice noodles (the type variable on demand), and bean sprouts. And with the bill, a nice surprise of a small bowl of dessert - homemade hot sweet black rice gruel with a few flecks of yellow corn - delicious. Service was pleasant, attentive, and smiling. The canned music not unpleasant, and the atmosphere functional, but fine and clean. I'll be back.

Taco

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Hidden Gem for Indo/Thai Food & Snacks

This mom-and-pop spot is an absolute treasure! Not only do they serve authentic and delicious Indonesian and Thai dishes, but they also have a small Indo grocery section stocked with snacks, chips, cookies, and Indo noodles you must try and take home.

We ordered Tom Yum Shrimp, Nasi Campur, and Kangkong – every single dish was bursting with flavor and cooked perfectly. The Tom Yum soup especially is a must-try, especially on a chilly day – warm, tangy, and comforting.

For drinks, we had Thai Coffee and Thai Iced Tea – both rich, smooth, and perfectly sweetened. As a bonus, they treated us to a red bean dessert that was so delicious and satisfying.

The vibe here is super relaxed – you can even stop by during the day for a drink and snack, bring your laptop, and chill here. Honestly, it’s better than most coffee shops!

Highly recommend this place to support a wonderful small business. If you live nearby, make this your go-to for flavorful comfort food and unique snacks.

Andrian F. F.

A Hidden Gem for Authentic Indonesian Flavors!

Singkawang Cafe in LA brought me straight back home with every bite. The flavors are truly nostalgic and 100% authentic—nothing was missing! From the first spoonful to the last, every dish was packed with that rich, comforting taste I grew up with.

To top it off, they surprised us with a complimentary dessert: bubur ketan hitam (black sticky rice porridge), which was absolutely delicious. Their desserts alone are worth the visit.

If you're craving real Indonesian food that tastes like home, Singkawang Cafe is the place to go. Terbaik!