Tucked away in a quiet corner of Marine Parade, the newly opened Peranakan joint JustB Baba (the second outlet from the family behind Marie’s Lapis Cafe in Bedok North) stands out as a real hidden gem.
Having started as a home-based business specialising in handmade kueh lapis in 2018, the venture was expanded by 84-year-old Marie alongside her son Chris. They launched the cafe in late 2020, before opening their second location in Marine Parade under the name JustB Baba.
Do note a distinction between the 2 concepts — while Marie’s Lapis Cafe operates as a pork- and lard-free establishment, JustB Baba expands the menu by incorporating traditional pork dishes alongside their classic offerings. This allows diners at the new location to experience a broader spectrum of heritage Peranakan recipes, while still enjoying the same warm hospitality.
What to order at JustB Baba
Beef Rendang Nasi Lemak (S$18) comes as a heaping platter that includes their signature beef rendang, fragrant lemak rice, homemade sambal, cashew nut butter, salted egg, crispy anchovies and tempeh.
The large beef chunks were fork-tender from being simmered for hours, and the rendang gravy had a very mild, warming spice that was instantly comforting. Paired with the savoury sambal, it had a slight kick but nothing overly spicy.
I appreciated that the sambal wasn’t overpowering; instead, it complemented all the other items on the plate. It went especially well with their unique cashew nut butter, which is a pretty uncommon ingredient. The nut butter was crunchy and slightly sticky, but not to the point where it sticks to the roof of your mouth.
The same nut butter is served with their Fried Tau Kwa (S$10) in a unique combination that I honestly didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. The fried exterior of the tau kwa retained its crispiness long after it reached our table, despite being smothered in the nut butter.
I loved the textures in this dish and dipped the tau kwa into the sweet Thai chilli sauce to cut through the richness of the butter.
To me, the litmus test of any Peranakan restaurant is their Buah Keluak. JustB Baba serves up a mean Pork Ribs Buah Keluak (S$18) which comes with 2 nuts and soft-bone pork ribs in a deeply savoury, full-bodied gravy.
To end the meal on a sweet note, we had a round of Kueh Kosui (S$7) and Kueh Salat (S$5) with a Sago Gula Melaka (S$6) on the side.
The sago had a gorgeous blue ombre from natural colouring made from blue butterfly pea flowers. It comes with a side of rich coconut milk and gula melaka syrup that you can add to your taste.
The sago itself doesn’t have its own distinct flavour but provides a bouncy textural canvas for the coconut milk and gula melaka.
Similarly, the kueh kosui has the same delightfully chewy texture, before dissolving in your mouth and coating your tongue in gula melaka. It’s a light dessert and I’d recommend going with this if, like me, you’re stuffed after your meal here.
The kueh salat is a masterclass on its own. The bottom layer has a firm, chewy bite of glutinous rice infused with coconut milk and natural blue pea flower dye, contrasting with the smooth top layer of sweet, pandan-scented custard.
The kueh is freshly made at Marie’s Lapis Cafe in Bedok before being delivered to Marine Parade, ensuring you get the same great quality.
Marie’s Lapis Cafe: Hidden gem serving mee siam, buah keluak spaghetti & lapis waffles by Peranakan family
Who is JustB Baba best for?
How to get to JustB Baba
JustB Baba is located at 80 Marine Parade Central, just a quick 5-minute walk from Marine Parade MRT Station (TE26), which connects to the Thomson-East Coast line of the MRT. Take Exit 1 and walk along Marine Parade Central.
If you prefer to travel by bus, alight at Marine Pde Stn/Parkway Pde (92049) along Marine Parade Road. Bus services 36B, 43e, 196A, 196e, 401 do not run on Sat, Sun or public holidays, while bus service 853M runs only on Sat, Sun and public holidays. All other bus services operate daily.
Do we recommend JustB Baba?
For sure! Between the handcrafted rempah pastes, warm family hospitality and robust Nyonya flavours, it offers an exceptionally genuine and comforting dining experience.
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