It was a Wednesday. The kind of Singapore afternoon where the heat sits on your shoulders and won’t budge.
I’d been walking around Tai Seng with no real plan, just hungry and a little cranky, when I ducked into Grantral Mall looking for cool air. That’s how I found Warung Ijo. No queue yet. A small sign. An aromatic trail of coconut and chilli drifting out from the open door.
I nearly walked past. I’m glad I didn’t.
First Impressions: Warung Ijo and Its Swing Seats
Warung Ijo isn’t big. Maybe a dozen tables, some fitted with swing seats instead of chairs, tucked into a corner unit off MacPherson Road. The location is easy to reach: about two minutes on foot from Tai Seng MRT (CC11), Exit B. Note that it’s nowhere near Beach Road, so plan accordingly if you’re navigating from the city side.
The place feels lived-in rather than styled. Bright walls, mismatched decor, the hum of a fan somewhere. It’s a homely Indonesian eatery, not a cafe built for page-worthy photos.
Here’s what caught me off guard: the entire menu is vegan friendly. No meat, no pork, no alcohol, and the whole kitchen runs alliums free, meaning no onion, no garlic. I didn’t clock any of that until the auntie at the counter mentioned it while walking me through my choices. Then I looked at my plate and genuinely couldn’t tell.
The Food: Indonesian Vegetarian Culinary Done Right
I ordered the Vegan Nasi Lemak Rendang (S$16.90) because someone in the queue behind me swore by it. Good call, stranger.
The coconut rice came warm and aromatic, not heavy or greasy the way some versions get. The sambal had real heat, balanced with a quiet sweetness. And then came the small thing that most vegan nasi lemak gets wrong: the crispy vegan “ikan bilis.” That savoury crunch was there. Peanuts, cucumber, and a rendang made from what I’m fairly sure was lion’s mane mushroom, soft and soaked through with spice. There were long beans on the side, simply cooked, which added a fresh contrast to the richness of everything else.
It didn’t taste like a substitute. It tasted like nasi lemak.
If you’ve ever wondered how a plate like this stacks up nutritionally, or how coconut rice and fried sides quietly add up, we broke it down in our guide to the calories in nasi lemak. Worth a read before your next order.
Next came the Ayam Penyet Lion’s Mane (S$19.90). This one’s a bit of a magic trick. The lion’s mane mushroom is fried until the edges crisp up, but the inside stays juicy and pulls apart in soft fibres, closer to spicy fried chicken than I expected from a vegetarian dish. Paired with their homemade chilli, it had that smash-it-flat comfort you want from a good ayam penyet. A delicious choice if you opt for just one side dish.
We also shared the Nasi Padang (S$17.90), which is the order to get if you want variety. Rendang, sambal vegetables, tofu, tempeh, a bit of curry and egg, all served on one plate. Each component tasted like it was cooked on its own terms, not scooped from the same pot.
Not everything landed perfectly, and I’d rather be honest. The Gado Gado we tried on a return visit came out cooler than I’d have liked, and the peanut sauce could’ve been richer. The Chendol was good but the gula melaka didn’t hit as deep as I hoped. Small things. The savoury dishes are clearly where the kitchen’s heart is, and where the experience really shines.
Service: Warm, Genuine, No Fuss
The staff here made the meal better. There’s counter ordering, so you queue, choose, and grab your own cutlery.
But when I hesitated over the menu, the lady walked me through it, explained the spice levels, commented on what people tend to love, and pointed me toward the best choices. No rush, no upsell. Just someone who clearly wanted me to eat well.
That warmth is a big reason people keep coming back, hand over fist.
Essential Details: Your Guide to Location, Hours, and Reservations at Warung Ijo
Address: 601 MacPherson Road, #01-61 Grantral Mall, Singapore 368242
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng MRT (CC11), about 2 minutes from Exit B
Phone: 8857 8600 (call ahead or email for group reservations)
Price: roughly S$15 to S$25 per person
Hours: 11:00am to 3:00pm, then 5:00pm to 9:00pm on weekdays (Tue to Fri); weekends run through to 9:00pm with a shorter afternoon break. Note that Warung Ijo is closed on Mondays.
A few practical tips worth posting here. The space is small, so it fills up fast on weekends and Fri evenings. During peak lunch or dinner, expect some waiting time, around 15 to 25 minutes, since food is served fresh. I’d make a reservation ahead for weekends or larger groups.
Bring cash too. Card isn’t always accepted, so a bit of cash or GrabPay saves you the awkward shuffle at the counter.
For a quieter experience, go on a weekday, either before noon or after 1:30pm. Nearby parking is available within Grantral Mall if you’re driving.
Why I’ll Be Back Again and Again
I came in for the air-con. I left thinking about the sambal.
Warung Ijo isn’t trying to be trendy. It’s a small, family-run restaurant doing Indonesian comfort food that happens to be completely vegan, and doing it with real care. Whether you’re vegetarian by choice or just curious about how far plant-based cooking can go, this is one of the more convincing spots in Singapore.
Order the nasi lemak. Grab a swing seat. Take your time.
That’s the whole point of a place like this. And if Warung Ijo has you curious about what else Singapore’s vegetarian and vegan dining scene has to offer, our roundup of the best vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Singapore is a good place to keep exploring.
