The Matriarch

In the 1940s, the family matriarch, the late Hajjah Rosemah Bte Mailu migrated to Singapore from Padang along with her son, Yusman. Here she married a local, Haji Bagido Bin Marlian and together they had 4 children, Lizar, Maryulis, Tarmizi and Zulbaidah.

Humble Beginnings

The first stall was setup along Kandahar St, between the current Malay Heritage Center and directly opposing the present Rumah Makan Minang. The lives of the 5 Marlian children revolved around the store and this meant helping out each day, even after school.

Nasi Padang Batu Nihsan

After the government eradicated street hawkers in the 1970s, the business continued from a rental coffeeshop and this became a staple for bona fide Indonesian foodies. The stall was named 'Nasi Padang Batu Nihsan' for its close proximity to a tombstone maker.

Expansion

In the early 80s, the youngest of Hajjah Rosemah's children, Mdm Zulbaidah Bte Marlian, along with her husband, Mr Zin Harun, branched out and started another stall at 15 Bussorah St, specializing in Minangkabau dishes. Rumah Makan Miang was born.

New Beginning

Following the saying, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, Rumah Maka Minang's success closely mirrored it's parent. The prosperity brought the opening of another store and the pull of customers far and wide, including then Malaysian Foreign Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Overseas Trade Shows

Trade shows and food fairs followed, including those organized by the Singapore Tourism Board in Cape Town, South Africa and Taipei, Taiwan. Rumah Makan Minang was invited to showcase her wide palate of Minang cuisine that reflects Singapore's melting pot of diverse cultures.

Legacy

Rumah Makan Minang continues to be the watchword for Minang cuisine, the real McCoy so to speak. As Violt Oon noted in her review, "Having feasted in Padang itself, I can truly assert that the cooking at Rumah Makan …represents the best of this culinary tradition."

Branching Out

Branching out to corporate caterig in 2005, Rumah Makan Minang is humbled to include Nike Singapore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore Airlines and the National Library Board as part of her regular clientele list.

New Generation

Hard work, long hours and dedication are the recipes for success for this close knit family run business, currently running well into her third successive generation.

Heritage Trail

Rumah Makan Minang is also part of the Singapore Tourism Board's heritage trail, a constant stop for tourists and regional celebrities alike. Having gone through a restaurant makeover in Sep 2009, she aims to continue a legacy that has stretched for more than half a century.