Kebaya

I can not say enough good things about this restaurant. The food is incredible. The flavor of the food with the sauces make you want to melt in your seat bite after bite. I met my cousin for dinner and we ordered three appetizers and two entrees and we shared a little bit of everything. It was so delicious! The cocktails are delicious too! We will definitely be back. Have you ever had a delicious meal and it just made you feel so happy while you were on your way home? And you begin to think about the next time you want to return? THIS IS THAT KIND OF Place!!! The service was top notch! The food was top notch! The cocktails were top notch! I will definitely be back! Please check it out!

Went with my friend because we were in a mood for Nyonya/Singaporean food! The place was quite elegant and all the food is super authentic and tasty. Many layers of flavors for each dish we ordered. The price is definitely on the higher end and tip suggestions are ridiculously high😂so be mindful~

Kebaya is considered a Singaporean restaurant by the owners of Laut (across the street), but i found the food to be a variety of South East Asian dishes from the region. It's very close to Union Square so fairly easy to get to. When you walk in, there's an ornate bar with fancy chandeliers, setting the ambiance for good cocktails and great food. Started with their cocktail called Baba, which was excellent. Couldn't wait to try their food after that. The pork belly was delicious with an excellent flavor and the right amount of spice. The scallops were soft and seasoned perfectly. The prawns were fried, not my favorite, but others loved them. The Duck Curry was the winner in my mind. Everything was excellent and the service was fantastic. Definitely stop by here. Location - 8 Service - 10 Quality - 10 Ambiance - 8

The buceros cocktail was good. The kuih pie tee cups were very unique and trasty. We thought the maain dishes were too salty and the portions were too big. The soup was good for one of them but the meat itself was quite dry and tough to chew. I didn't like the concept of the dessert either; the three separate elements did not connect in flavor for me.

Dinner at Kebaya was unexpectedly incredible!!! I guess I shouldn't have been surprised - NYC raises the bar for restaurants in general. The freshness of the meal, the ambiance, and the unique offerings made it a perfect night. The dessert sampler was a special standout. Very worth the money.

Beautiful hidden Peranakan (Singaporean/Malaysian) restaurant tucked away near Union Square To be very honest the food was mediocre. Very big plates and the dishes were practically cold when served. We ordered their popular dishes too, so not too sure what went wrong. We ordered: 1. Hokkien Mee with Crispy Lard ($24) Udon had a good firm texture and was flavorful with a hint of sweetness. However the chicken was old and not tender at all and I couldn’t taste the crispy lard. 2. Asam Sotong ($27) Wouldn’t recommend (the waitress said it’s one of their most popular dishes). Although the sour tamarind sauce was quite flavorful - sweet and a little spicy, the squid’s texture and flavor was not anything special. There were tiny spikes that pricked us too! We had to spit them out of our mouths (not the most pretty scene)😭

As a Singaporean, I’m very proud of how good this restaurant is, not just in featuring Singaporean dishes but also exploring creative ways to express the flavors and take advantage of ingredients! The babi pongteh is hearty and tasty, probably my favorite dish had.

Phenomenal food, service, and aesthetic!! This Peranakan establishment in Union Square is a solid 10/10, and might I add it is superior to the Peranakan food I tried in Singapore. From the moment I walked in, I was wowed. The elegant decor draws you in. We were seated near the back in a comfortable hybrid arrangement (one side booth, the other side chair), so I could observe all the artwork on the way to the table and throughout the meal. But that's just the beginning. Once we were seated (promptly) and given menus, I wanted to try everything. However, we settled for seafood with some side dishes. We ordered the charred squid, Ikan Bakar, sate lilit, and cucumber mango salad. Everything was fantastic. From the efficient service to the luxurious decor to the mindblowing food, I can't recommend this place enough.

Can't believe this place shut down shortly after we dined here on Jan. 6. We enjoyed our dishes - good for group dining as the dishes were very shareable. Cocktails were fun to watch, but a bit too pricey for what you get. Service was a bit slow.

Manhattan's abundance of Southeast Asian fare has long been distinguished by Thai cuisine, but the borough's Vietnamese eats have improved markedly in recent years, and lately we've been seeing some strides in the realm of Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian options. The restaurateur Salil Mehta deserves considerable credit for those strides, having famously won a Michelin star at Union Square stalwart Laut, and winning subsequent headlines for opening nearby Laut Singapura, UWS Malaysian spot Wau, and now the Peranakan restaurant Kebaya, which is right across the street from the OG Laut. It's important to note that this growth is a renaissance of sorts, given that Manhattanites once had a good number of similar spots, such as the now-defunct Penang and Fatty Crab, where plates came enthusiastically adorned with belacan shrimp paste, tamarind and dried anchovies. Like its aforementioned predecessors, Kebaya is as much about fun as food; expect dance music and thumping bass vibes as the soundtrack to your meal. Even if you might prefer a mellower mood, there's no denying that the energetic ambiance matches the vibrancy of the vittles. The fried jackfruit is a great example of that vibrancy: meaty wedges are a vegan vehicle for warm spices, toasted coconut, crisp curry leaves and a spicy-sweet sauce. It's a real stunner of a starter. Speaking of spicy-sweet, the panang curry is pretty exemplary; we ordered it with both tofu and shrimp, and we were wowed by the amount of the former and the size of the latter. The bok choy is also distinctive, served in a big bowl of broth, topped with crispy bits and stewed till the white ribs are spoon-tender. The quality and quantity more than justify a ~$15 price tag that had made me wary. All in all, Kebaya is an excellent addition to Manhattan's diversifying roster of Southeast Asian eats, and one more reason to hope the roster keeps growing.

Came here twice with friends. Very friendly staff and authentic food. Large fish dish is delicious and flavors are on point. The drinks are good tooI recommend the one that has egg white. Service is a bit slow and difficult to order drinks when they get busy but beside that everything else is great.

I went here yesterday for my friend's birthday and the food was actually really good. I'm kinda skeptical sometimes going to new restaurants but the food here was amazing. The steak was delicious, the squid was also amazing. We also had the curry duck which is really surprising to hear since I'm Caribbean and never had curry on duck before but it tasted sooooo good. They were really good portion sizes too. I'm not really a bourbon drinker but decided to get their paper plane drink and they were able to make the Smokey taste of the bourbon taste really good. The restaurant looked really nice and high end like a lot of thought was placed into it. The staff were really nice and helpful as well, I'm just sorry I didn't get their names to give them a shout out. Would def recommend trying this place out.

Good but I like Wau better. I splurged and ordered the Buceros $18. Definitely the highlight. It was so good!!! And so pretty. I ordered the duck curry since it's a signature and one of their most popular. I had to pick away the bones and fat to get to the duck meat. It definitely took some work but was worth every bite! The service was excellent. They seated me even though my friend was running late and at no point did we really feel rushed by the staff. They were helpful with ordering.

10 out of 10! No notes. Perfection. I cannot remember how I found this place, but I'm glad I did! I was in the city on a day trip and was in charge of picking the restaurant and being that I truly believe Southeast Asian food was handcrafted by God himself, I booked reservations here. We were seated immediately. The restaurant space is intimate and dimly lit with a full bar. The staff were so excellent. Attentive and just truly nice people who took the time to ask us how we found their restaurant and to thank us for dining. We ordered two appetizers and a noodle dish to share, and the three of us all selected our own entree. Ranked in order of fave to least fave (though I didn't dislike anything!): 1) Asam Pedas Daging (Slow cooked beef cheeks in turmeric, tamarind and fresh chili, served with hopper)-- absolutely f*cking delicious! I ate my leftovers earlier today, but I haven't stopped thinking about this dish. 2) Penang curry with shrimp-- I mean, you cannot go wrong with Penang curry. I liked that they included the shrimp heads on the place. (Suck the fat out of shrimp heads! It's so yumma.) 3) Breakfast Economy Noodles (Thin rice noodle, dry shrimp, chili, curry leaf)-- I can imagine eating these on a lazy Saturday. Loved the sambal that paired with it and I loved the curry leaf! 4) Cucumber mango salad-- So refreshing and delicious! 5) Charred squid-- great char flavor. 6) Corn fritters-- These are served in orders of two, but they were nice enough to give us three as there were three of us. Will absolutely be making my family come here with me the next time I'm in the city. RUN, don't walk, to Kebaya!

Was really excited to try a Singaporean place! They're the same owners as Laut from right across the street. Not surprised the dishes was kinda a disappointment. Meat dishes were overall very dry... The server highly reco the sate lilit with kibat Sambal and yes it had a lot of flavors but meat was DRY - do not get this. Nyonya duck curry was a popular dish but that was meh too Assam pedas daging tasted good at first but when you keep eating it you notice how rough the texture rly is Kerabu beehoon was probably the most appetizing dish here - sour and spicy but not amazed

Came here for early dinner with my partner on a Thursday night (around 5:45) and was seated right away, it was pretty empty but started to fill up by the time we left but not packed. We tried Laut Singapore and weren't totally impressed but given the reputation of Laut/Laut Singapore, we were still open to trying Kebaya and we are so glad we did. We loved every single dish here and look forward to returning. The laksa fried rice and Hokkein Mee noodles were packed with flavor. The laksa fried rice seafood included scallops that were super fresh. The chicken in the noodles was very tender and not overcooked like in many other noodle dishes. I loved the broth of the meatball soup. The duck curry had plenty of duck (but beware there's lots of bone, you'll have to deal with that yourself) and had good flavor, slightly sweet, not spicy at all. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of their menu!

Higher price point but it's worth the price in my opinion. The duck curry is the BOMB! Friendly service and the beautiful interior.

You must checkout NYC's newest Peranakan restaurant!! Very cute spot! Perfect t for a date or special occasion. The dishes uniquely blend ingredients and traditions from Malay, Indonesian, and Chinese cuisines, and we loved every bite! Their food and drinks are so flavorful and delicious. Staff was friendly and welcoming, so we felt right at home. Just a bit pricey. We Tried: *Ikan Bakar *Crab Roast *Baba *Bombalai DELISH! Can't wait to come back!

I thought the food was ok. Nothing blew my mind and considering the prices, would not come back. They also charge a ridiculous amount for still water. The total was about $200 for 4 people. The best part was that the inside is very beautiful. The pandan drink was also pretty good.

Walking into the cozy unique interior , I love the vibes at this place. Sat at the bar and ordered two cocktails that were unique, strong, and delicious. The bartender is amazing and made great conversations. The efforts and love that he put into each drink can be tasted at the corner of my lip. When it was time to dine, we sat at a cozy table and ordered away. Started with caramelized pork which was flavorful and delicious. Then for entrees duck curry and pad thai was very filling. The duck curry had immaculate flavor while the pad thai was unique and different. Food is very good and the service is A+. The servers were very attentive in refilling us with water. Just when we were about done, our favorite bartender surprised me with a birthday dessert. Super caring and thoughtful. Definitely will be back because of the friendly staff and amazing food.

Came here on a date with my husband. We had a reservation and were seated pretty quickly. Interior is nice, has a lovely mural and the bar was well stocked. I ordered the chicken curry and my husband the duck curry as they were the ones recommend. Chicken curry was very oily was just chicken with sauce, pretty disappointing for the price tag and my stomach. No discernible taste for my dish. The duck was large and also very oily. Would not recommend either dish. We also ordered a sampler platter of sauces and dip which was unique but also pretty oily and unappealing. What stands out about this place was how bad the service was. Unsure if they were understaffed or something else was going on because the staff seemed confused. I ordered a drink twice before it was brought to me, our food came out super delayed, and they couldn't really tell us about the dishes. When it was time for the check, it took a shocking amount of time for it to come out given the restaurant was pretty quiet. Overall, would not go back and would not recommend. Disappointing, especially given we really like Wau. Maybe they'll work out the kinks in the future!

5.28.2023 I had been eager to try Kebaya ever since they opened, and I finally had the opportunity during the Memorial Day weekend. Located in Flatiron, NYC, Kebaya takes pride in being a restaurant that emphasizes Peranakan cuisine, a culinary tradition developed in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. Peranakan food is a fusion of Chinese and Malay cooking techniques, resulting from the intermarriage between Chinese and Malay communities, known as Baba-Nyonya. The cuisine offers a delightful blend of Chinese flavors and ingredients with Malay spices, creating a rich and aromatic culinary experience. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and were impressed by the bartenders working on their new cocktails. Their passion for their craft was evident. We were promptly seated, and after walking around in the hot weather at the Taiwanese festival, I opted for a refreshing glass of fizzy bubbles. To start our meal, we ordered sate lilit, Kway Chap, and oysters with citrus sambal. All three dishes were delicious! The sate lilit consisted of juicy and tender minced beef marinated and wrapped around lemongrass stalks, grilled to perfection. The oysters were fresh, and the citrus sambal complemented them perfectly with its hint of citrus, fish sauce, and pepper--balanced and not overpowering. The Kway Chap brought back great memories from my childhood, and Kebaya's version, consisting of pork intestines, stomach, and ears braised in a caramelized soy ginger sauce, had a rich and savory flavor profile. Each internal organ offered a unique texture to the dish, making it a must-try for offal enthusiasts. Our feast continued with the kerabu beehoon, a thin vermicelli noodle dish tossed with citrus, fish sauce, traditional Malaysian herbs, and topped with torch ginger flower, mango, and onion. The sweet and sour flavors of the noodles were incredibly appetizing. We also savored the Ikan bakar, a grilled whole fluke topped with the chef's special sambal, fresh herbs, and lime. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish--the pungent, sweet, and spicy sambal combined perfectly with the fish, and the addition of lime provided a delightful finishing touch to the bold flavors. For dessert, we indulged in the Nyonya dessert sampler, which included Kaya cup and pulit inti. The Kaya cup featured a crispy shell filled with Malaysian-style coconut custard and cherry, while the pulit inti showcased butterfly pea-infused coconut sticky rice topped with shredded coconut cooked in palm sugar. Overall, I was delighted with the meal and the opportunity to share my culture and cuisine with friends. We bid farewell with a toast of Fernet, and I'm already plotting my return to Kebaya! -- at Kebaya.

Hidden Gem! Drinks were amazing very well made and you can taste every ingredient. The pad thai was extremely flavorful and my boyfriend ate all of his friend rice. He did not leave a grain on that plate. We stopped by on a Friday and it's unfortunate to know we were the only ones there, because it is aesthetically pleasing inside and server was so nice.

4.5/5. Been here twice and tried several of the items on the menu. Their dishes are flavorful, colorful, and presented well. Favorites are the laksa fried rice, hopper with coconut chutney and sambal, and prawn vadai. Their cocktails are interesting and tasty. If you like mushrooms, definitely try their Umami cocktail. It's unique, a little bit savory, and delicious!

Short review: Order the Ikan Bakar. Kway Chap and Laut Prawn are good. Most of the menu is pricey. Not many vegetarian options as expected. I went to this restaurant with one of my less common groups with a little bit of apprehension but I'm very pleasantly surprised. I previously hated Laut (as I found the flavors were both bland and well I got cold food,) and Laut Singapura which was better flavored but way too pricey. Outside of a few faults, my only complaint is that I do wish the lighting was better as it was way too dark inside which makes no sense as otherwise this restaurant is rather pretty. The service was very friendly. To drink, they have a mix of normal cocktails (which are all $18,) wine, some beer, some fancy Peranakan teas, and their specialty cocktails which range from $18 to $21. I went with the "Umami" with Japanese whiskey infused with shiitake mushrooms, bua kiuwak, Cynar, Montenegro, Aperol, lemon, and umami bitters which was $18. As expected with the ingredients, this was a cocktail on the biter end with a definite amaro focus (and a slight whiskey end) and I would definitely suggest it for people like me who prefer Negronis and the like. There was also uniquely a pickled shiitake mushroom which went with the theme. The first two dishes that arrived were the Kerisek Kulit Timun ($18) or spicy cucumber skin and coconut salad with onions, fresh chili, lemon zest, and herbs and the Kway Chap ($19) with pork intestine, stomach and ears braised in a caramelized soy ginger base. The former was likely the blandest of the dishes we ordered even with the sauce to add onto it and I wouldn't recommend it much. The latter was delicious. A little warning with the offal flavor (especially from the intestine which was expected) but it had a delicious texture with the pieces thin enough to be easy to chew but thick enough to distinguish and the sauce almost reminding me of star anise outside of the soy and ginger. We soon got the Laut Prawns which I can't find on the current menu but it's listed on their Instagram page as "prawn crisp fried on a beach of tempura sand & curry leaves." Presuming from the size it's either one of the more expensive appetizers or alternatively a small main dish (presumably costing something around $30.) The prawn was absolutely massive with the last one I saw remotely that size being in Thailand. The fry was very light so the sweetness from the prawn could still be tasted and depending on the price I would recommend it heavily if you want a lighter main dish. We also got the best dish of the night which was the Ikan Bakar ($48.) Consisting of a grilled whole fluke topped with chefs special sambal, fresh herbs and lime, this was a perfectly cooked massive fish. The only bone to worry about is the spine which is easy enough to remove and the sambal had a good amount of heat with some sweetness. As was just about everyone else who has reviewed this place, order this if you like fish as this is easily the best dish here. We also got the Nyonya Duck Curry ($32) with Long Island duck braised in coconut milk, lime leaf, and tomato. The curry was on the lightly sweet end though I think it could have been a bit more spicy (perhaps this style of curry isn't but I'm not exactly sure as there's many different Malaysian curries.) The closest thing I could describe it to would be a Thai red curry but the spices are slightly different. The duck was cooked nicely and there were also I believe pieces of ketupat; a type of rice cake. The Laksa Fried Rice ($25) or sauteed rice in pineapple with Malaysian herbs, chili, and choice of seafood or vegetable was alright. Surprisingly the vegetarian version is the same price and the latter includes a small shrimp on top and a bit of shrimp and scallop inside. There isn't much of the latter though I was happy that for once in an ASEAN spot, mixed seafood doesn't mean squid as I can eat that. It was well spiced but I'm not sure if it was worth it for $25. Aunty Margaret's Babi Pongteh ($28) or Teochew braised pork belly with caramelized onions is a dish that can be found for somewhat cheaper prices in spots like Nyonya and the meat was tender. The sauce was very similar if not the same as the Kway Chap so if you're not looking for offal, you can order this as the substitute. The Chap Chye ($26) consisted of shiitake mushroom, bean curd skin, wood ear fungus, cabbage, carrot, and glass noodles braised in red and white fermented bean curd. This is one of the few veggie dishes on the menu and compared to the salad, this was more interesting. The bean curd added some nice funkiness to the vegetables. Overall it was tasty as well and if there is some vegetarian in the party, they'll likely like this. The food overall here was very tasty. While some of the dishes are definitely overpriced, there's definitely some thought to everything being served here. Mid 4 and rounded up due to the fish primarily.

This passes the Peranakan test, as attested by actual Peranakans I dined with. First off, I detest Laut. I went there before they got their Michelin star and thought it was all kinds of meh--Singaporean flavors dumbed down for Westerners. Apparently, Laut still remains the "Intro to ML/SG" restaurant--but Kebaya is where the same chef goes to really showcase his prowess. And showcase he does. If you got it, flaunt it. We started with the perfectly made Hopper with Coconut Chutney, Tamarind Sambal, Podi Ghee. Only complaint? Not enough hopper. The Kuih Pie Tee Cups reminded me of exactly what I had at a Peranakan spot in Kuala Lumpur a few months ago for Lunar New Year. It's hard to beat the OG version, but Kebaya does a decent job. And the Peranakan Quail Fry is not bad, though it's also too small (thankfully, it's served with a lot of mango salad). It's in the entrees and specials where Kebaya shines brightest like a diamond. The KL Hokkien Mee is probably the best Hokkien Mee you'll find in the city. Chef just needed some more lard to really bring out that umami flavor. And more char. Always more char. The Ayam Buah Keluak made me feel like I was eating at the real Malay restaurants in KL, the chicken was so freakin' tender. And the Ikan Bakar--while heftily priced at $48--is truly a whole, big fluke bursting with sambal flavors. Yes, you can eat the same quality or better for half the price in actual Malaysia--but then you'd have to fly to Malaysia, and that kind of adds up, no? For now, I'm happy to be able to find food this authentic without even having to leave the island. Oh, and the decor is just gorg.

Having been to both Laut and Singapura, I had high hopes for Kebaya being it was by the same chef. Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed. The food was good but not amazing and in my opinion a bit overpriced. The Hopper appetizer which came highly recommended by the waiter was quite disappointing - a single small dosa with 3 chutney like side for $14 that wasn't all that tasty. I had the duck curry which was good but hard to eat considering a good bit of the duck was in there as is - bones and tough skin - making it a bit difficult to eat and messy in the curry sauce. Considering it's an almost $35 dish, I'd have expected the duck to come a bit more prepared as at other restaurants. My wife has the veggie Laksa Fried Rice and rated it average as well, leaving about a quarter unfinished. The restaurant itself is beautiful and well decorated - great spot for a night out with friends or a lively date. Service was - average but friendly. I asked for a bitters and soda and got a Coca Cola with bitters...? Overall I still prefer Laut for the food and Singapura if I were to want the food but with something a bit more upscale.

restaurant is really cute! The flavors in all of the dishes were very tasty. the curry had a great balance between coconut creaminess and a hint of spicy. Aunty Margaret's Babi Pongteh was yummy, but suuper fatty. However, the service was very slow, we ended up having to get our own spoons, and waited for someone to come around for the check for 25 mins :(

Tried this on a Wednesday night and easily got a table. The restaurant was a little less than half full, street parking was relatively easy to find on a week night. We were immediately seated and given menus and water. The restaurant is quaint, with almost romantic dim lighting and a beautiful bar. We went with a party of 6 and ordered a entrees to do family style. We got KL hokkien mee with crisp lard (noodles) which were pretty sweet but good texture. The nyonya duck curry was a favorite with extremely tender and moist duck and an amazing curry that we all spooned over rice. The ugang nanas shrimp was delicious and a do not miss as long as you're okay getting your hands dirty and like shrimp heads. The ikan bakar was also delicious, the sambal sauce was tasty and the fish barely has any bones outside of the spine. All their cocktails are excellent but the table favorite was the girl from ipoh. A great milk punch that's sweet almost a dessert. The nyona martini was smooth ans refreshing as well as the baba. Overall I loved the experience and would definitely recommend going. The cocktails are all great. Cute spot right off 14th.

Ugh the girl from ipoh was amazing. The milk punch is so smooth and easy to drink and so well balanced. The umami wasn't as umami as I expected. I expected a bit more savory with it but it kinda just tasted like a cynar/Montenegro drink. Nothing really stood out. The boceros (mango sour) was good as well, sweet but tart and the froth was great. The female bartender working that night was killing it, she did amazing with all the drinks and was super good at handling everything and took really good care of us. Friend got some food and was warning about the spice in the sauces but thought it was good. I tried a bite of the minced beef satay and it was OK, the spice was actually in the meat itself and the sauce was sweet. I'd definitely love to come back and honestly just for that milk punch.

Oh, I was so excited about Kebaya, and so underwhelmed by it. Peranakan food is incredibly difficult to come by. Kebaya in fact claims to be the city's first Peranakan restaurant, which it may be (although some Malaysian spots in the city do have some Peranakan dishes). In particular, I had been searching fruitlessly for a restaurant that has ayam buah keluak, this chicken dish I had in Melaka a few years ago. It's accompanied by this rich, black, truffly nut (that's poisonous if you don't cook it right, yum). Kebaya has it, and that's why I bookmarked it, but I wasn't feeling like chicken when I went, so I figured I'd get something I felt like and then come back another time for the ayam buah keluak. I ordered the nasi ulam with mackerel. The nasi ulam was incredibly strong-tasting, sweet-sour and herby, with a gingery kick. However, it was also chock full of... mushy tomato chunks? Like a salsa. Why? The mackerel, typically an oily rich fish, tasted like almost nothing, which I'm not sure how they pulled off. How do you make mackerel taste like, I don't know, tilapia? After awhile I just got bored and stopped eating not because I was full, but because I was bored of tasteless fish and chunks of random tomato. This is not a standard reaction to good Peranakan food, I promise. It's possible I'll go back for the ayam buah keluak, but I'm certainly less excited to at this point.

3 stars because it's an overly priced restaurant. You can get authentic Malaysian food in Chinatown or Queens for a lower cost. Most drinks costed a minimum of $20. I understand it's NYC pricing but it made me not want to order a second round of drinks. Asked the waiter if he had nearby bar recommendations and he told us to order another round at the restaurant. Staff English was limited but very professional. Ambiance was dark and quiet for a restaurant in the middle of union square. Food tasted mediocre. Would not return.

Stopped in to warm up on a cold rainy day and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant wasn't super busy for a Sunday afternoon, but the food was delicious. I ordered the mango salad and pork belly entrees. The mango salad was light and refreshing, and the pork belly was rich and fatty in the best way possible with a delicious gravy to spoon over rice. The service was great, with very attentive servers. Can't wait to go back!

I first found Kebaya while looking for spots to take my in-laws to during their respective trips next month. I wasn't quite what I was looking for, but I bookmarked it as a spot to go to with friends. Fast forward two weeks and we were looking for a restaurant to grab dinner to catch up and I suggested Kebaya. I was able to make reservations the week of for 6pm and we were seated upon arrival. To start, I had the Baba cocktail, which was delightful. It has shrub with laksa leaf and pomegranate and it was nice and tart. For starters, we opted to split the Hoppers, which honestly, wasn't a big enough portion to warrant the price point. I'm not sure why they call it Hoppers if there is only one hopper in the order? It was good, but I also don't see myself ordering this again. It just didn't feel like good value for your money. For my main, I had the Yee Mee, or wheat stick noodles braised in soy sauce, with shrimp, scallop, gizzard, and hearts. I loved it. It's such a huge portion and unlike the appetizer, a great value for your money. The noodles were good perfectly and packed with goodies. I tried the braised pork belly that my friend ordered and it was great as well. Super comforting and very flavorful. We were all full so we opted out of dessert. I'm docking off 1 point because our waiter never explained the menu or the restaurant to us. Other tables seated after us got the whole sales pitch. Not sure if it's because two of us were Asian and every other party were white - and they thought we didn't need the sales pitch?

I've never been to a Singaporean restaurant before and this one did not disappoint! We got the Phuket noodles with chicken which we lovely as well as the duck curry which was out of this world. The couple we came with had a ground chicken dish with okra which was also lovely and a vegetarian noodle dish. The ambiance was lovely and the service was very quick. We will definitely be back, particularly to try some of the beautiful drinks that we decided to not go for this time around.

The food was delicious. We ordered a bunch of stuff and everything was flavorful. The restaurant has really nice decors. The staff here are super friendly too! Recommend this restaurant for everyone.

Unfortunately this just didn't hit. The space and decor was lovely and cute, great date place. The service was attentive and kind, no complaints there. I asked for tea and they said they're so busy they already ran out that day but I was there an hour after opening and there were only 3 tables seated so..... hmmm..? The food is thoughtful given there aren't many other similar cuisines in Manhattan. The food looked great on paper but fell short on the tongue. All and all I wouldn't recommend nor go again especially for the price point. I have been to Singapore and I love me my Queens offerings far more. So take this review as you will. =) Prawn Vadai with Coconut Chutney - way too overly fried in taste, over fried and dry prawn that could have been anything. The chutney needed more contrast .. like acid, lightness or spice. I'd skip this 100% Kerabu Beehoon was pretty darn good and spicy but nothing better than what I've had in queens for half the price Ikan Bakar is a showstopper since the sambal has so much depth but again .... Wouldn't guide me to coming back for it Asam Pedas Daging, beef cheeks were super tender, the crepe was perfect to eat with as your utensil but the flavor overall was bland. Needed vinegar or salt or something that elevated this.

Came in a group of six and this is a great spot for a group of that size. Definitely get the whole fried fish. It was the highlight for me. The charred squid and laksa fried rice were also great. The duck curry didn't really hit for me and was a little bland and the duck was a little overcooked as well. Still pretty much everything we got was good to great and I'd happily go back.

My friend and I were looking for a good southeast Asian spot in Flatiron for a primetime Thursday night dinner. Kebaya popped up on Resy, and I saw they were associated with acclaimed restaurant Laut across the street, so I grabbed a reservation. We were seated in a 2-top at the window, so we were able to people watch, which was fun. We started with some cocktails, which were very well-made, and the Kuih Pie Tee Cups. There were plenty of non-alcoholic options at the bar too. The appetizer was a perfect little bite of jicama and shrimp served in a crispy edible cup. I loved the spicy sauce on the side. My friend and I shared two main dishes: nasi goreng and turmeric beef cheek curry. Both dishes were so flavorful and I couldn't pick a favorite. We ended our meal with the dessert sampler, which showcased several flavor profiles: sweet, savory, and tart. I'd definitely recommend Kebaya for a chic southeast Asian option.

Very, very hard to find a variety of Peranakan food in America, so I was very excited to try this out. Kerabu behoon: 8/10 Laksa fried rice: 8/10- pretty good, decent range of flavors! Yee Mee: 7/10- also pretty good, it wasn't amazing, it was just.. there lol. Ikan Bakar: 9/10- HUGE. Don't let the pictures deceive you, the flavors are there, and really this was quite enough for 4 or 6 people. Ayam Buah Keluak: 10/10- this was the dish I was looking forward to the most, and yes- very much packed with flavor and complexity. Again, don't let the pictures fool you; the portion is definitely enough for 3-4 people, the fish spans almost the length of your forearm. You can share this amongst two people, but then I'd recommend only getting one other main/special entree. Chap Chye: 8/10- there's more veggies than glass noodle, so it was nice to have the meal broken up with some light stuff. I kinda wanted the Kuih Pie Tee, but $16 seems a lot for just 3 cups. We ordered cocktails too- it was fancy-looking lol and they weren't bad, but I may skip out on those next time. And yes, I'll be back a next time because it's easier to take a trip out to NYC than it is to Malaysia for this food lol.

The food and drinks here were great and the service was on point. I would recommend the duck, scallops, and hopper! The portion sizes were a good amount of food so you won't walk away hungry. The cocktails were pretty creative as well. Would come back again!

We had a lovely dinner at Kebaya. The decor is romantic and perfect for a date night. The cocktails were presented beautifully and tasted delicious. For appetizer we had the scallops which were flavorful and well cooked. Unfortunately, the cucumber salad was difficult to eat and lacked flavor despite the presentation. For mains we got the squid and beef cheeks which were both amazing! I Iook forward to returning and trying something else next time.

Wow, the food here was absolutely incredible. Our server, Bee, was so friendly and welcoming. She kindly gave us recommendations and popular dishes from each section, explaining each dish. We ended up ordering everything that she recommended to us. We ordered: Hoppers and Sate Lilit for starters; Laksa Fried Rice (with seafood), Nyonya Duck Curry and Asam Sutong charred squid for entrees; and towards the end we ordered the NYC Kuih for dessert. The hoppers was a thin crepe-like rice batter pancake that came with various sauces. I love the variety of flavor and texture in the different sauces. The tamarind sambal was mildy spicy, the coconut chutney added a nice earthy flavor and thick texture, and the 'gunpowder' was a dry powder with a paste in the middle. The gunpowder had a nice subtle spicy kick to it. I love that they used lemongrass as skewers for the sate, and it really infused the lemongrass flavor into the meat. The sauce with it gave it a mild sweetness and spiciness. My personal favorite dish was the duck curry. It has such a great flavor with the creaminess of the coconut milk. The laksa fried rice had a seafood or veggie option. We ordered the seafood (scallops and shrimp) option. The seafood was delicious and cooked perfectly. The squid was covered in a thick tamarind sauce and cooked so tender. Everything paired together so well. To finish off the meal, we ordered the NYC Kuih (brownie and vanilla ice cream). The brownie had a cakier texture but was still fudgy and delicious. I loved combining a small bite of everything with the crumble and caramel to create that perfect bite. Everything came out fairly quickly, and Bee was very attentive to our needs - making sure our waters were filled. I love the ambiance and decor of the restaurant as well. The decor was reminiscent of Southeast Asian culture and gave off a very warm atmosphere and lighting. The high ceilings made the space feel very open. I will definitely be coming back to try the rest of their dishes.

3.5. The restaurant environment is very nice and the food was good. They serve traditional peranakan food that is supposedly very authentic. I think peranakan food is just not super up my alley so no dish really stood out to me. I liked the noodles. The grilled fish is a popular dish but I thought it was meh - had a sweet tint to it. The quail was dry. If you like peranakan food you should give this place a try.

Incredible food!! We came here on a Friday night and it was packed, so I highly recommend a reservation. Even with a reservation we had to wait a bit, but they were super nice and accommodating. For drinks we got the martini service and cocktails. The drinks were the only miss of the evening. For food absolutely get the prawn appetizer, the fish entree, and crab entree. Everything was absolutely amazing and I can't wait to go back

JFC GET THE WHOLE FISH But really. It was tender, extremely flavorful, large enough for two people and spicy but not "I want to die" spicy. Drinks are excellent - get the Langawi's Retreat, The Girl From Ipoh and the Nyonya Martini.

This décor at this place is beautiful & great for some upscale IG snaps. This was my first authentic Singapore experience, though a little pricey I will return to get another experience under my belt.

Came here on a Saturday lunch with my parents and we were surprised how empty it was. Nonetheless, the food was great and very unique. The banana leaf rice brunch options were very beautifully plated and photo-worthy. Flavors and the taste were great as well. It's a great spot that deserves more attention!

This restaurant surprised me. Did not expect much and ended up being very good. I will be back to get the pork belly again. The squid was good but probably not something that I would get again. I recommend skipping the scallops and the dessert. The service here was certainly prompt. We never were left alone for long but those that worked here were nice enough and eager to give recommendations. Nice interior that did not go unnoticed.

Food was okay - very similar to Laut/Singapura as other reviewers have noted. However, the food:money ratio is low. The nooldes with shrimp for example only had 2 shrimps. Probably they will evolve as they get more reviews/feedback.

This is a sister restaurant of Laut on the opposite side of the street. Ambience is fancier and cost is about 30% higher. See people wearing suits and jacket to eat there.

Was there for dinner with a few friends and man we had a feast ! Loved the ambiance . Service and drinks were awesome and most importantly the food was beyond good !! Very selective but all tasty menu choices. We ordered a wide range of food A definite repeat for us. For the quality of the food and service it was very reasonable priced The crab is definitely the star and can be shared Check out the the hoppers too ( with egg)

The food was decent but not amazing like Malaysian/Singaporean food can be. Tried the chicken and the curry fried rice. Not much curry flavor in the rice and it was not really anything special. The chicken was better, but still not outstanding. I felt it was a bit overpriced for what it was. But the cocktails (at $20 each) were interesting. Also the Malaysian servers were very kind and friendly.

Fish with sambar sauce was soooo good. Really distinct flavor and super tasty and savory. Scallops in the mango salad were mediocre. I barely tasted the scallop, if it was scallop. But the mango salad was fresh and although lacked seasoning or proper dressing, one can really taste the natural flavors of the mango. On the note of not heavy seasoning, I think that wagyu could use a bit more salt. But in saying that I really taste the natural beauty of the wagyu with the smoked smell of lemongrass. I think being able to taste the ingredients with a little flare is quite worthwhile. Kuih cups is the appetizer with jicama. To be honest, I did not notice the jicama. But I did like the crispy shell and it was a fun bite size appetizer to eat. Nothing super exciting though Def try the fish

Absolutely amazing. The service and ambience is incredible. The hopper, laksa fried rice and squid was too good. Can't wait to go back!

Tried it for the 1st time during my work trip to NYC in June. The dishes are delicious and good to Peranakan/Nyonya standards. On the pricey side but that's expected of the Laut Group of restaurants and it's NYC as well!!!

Phenomenal food! Every dish we got was a hit, and the dessert was reminiscent of a brownie sundae but better. Service was great, especially knowing they've only been open for 3 weeks. This place is a must visit for tapas

Went with a group of 4 for dinner and got dishes to share. The Ikan Bakar (fried fish with sambal) and squid were our favorites! They were a little spicy and very tasty - the sambal was excellent. We've had a lot of Malaysian/Indonesian food both in NYC and back home in SE Asia, and this is definitely a great local option. The Girl from Ipoh cocktail (pandan rum milk punch) was really nice. Service was friendly. We'd come back!