The Singapore government has expressed concern over the planned permanent closure of Warong Nasi Pariaman on 31 January 2026 and has reached out to the eatery’s owning family to explore possible forms of support.
This was conveyed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on the restaurant’s final day of operations. The Padang rice eatery has been operating for 78 years in the Kampong Glam area.
According to The Straits Times, URA said the move was made in response to media queries regarding the challenges faced by heritage businesses, particularly those operating within historic districts.
Warong Nasi Pariaman is located in a shophouse at 738 North Bridge Road, near Sultan Mosque, and had previously announced on 21 January 2026 that it would be closing permanently.
Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Faishal Ibrahim, also visited the owner’s family after learning of the impending closure. In a post on his personal Instagram account, Faishal said he had heard directly about the closure and noted that the eatery holds significant meaning for many Singaporeans.
“Upon hearing the news of the impending closure of Warong Nasi Pariaman, I visited the family of its owner last night,” Faishal Ibrahim wrote.
He added that Warong Nasi Pariaman has been part of the lives of many families since its establishment in 1948, and that many individuals and groups have shared memories and expressed their support in hopes that the business can continue.
Rising Rents and the Challenges Facing Heritage Businesses
The owners have not publicly disclosed the reasons behind the closure of Warong Nasi Pariaman. However, rising rental costs in the Kampong Glam area have drawn attention.
According to Channel News Asia, several tenants reported that rents have increased from around SGD 3,000 to nearly SGD 10,000 over the past few years.
In its official statement, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said that based on government rental data, median shophouse rents in historic districts have seen relatively moderate increases over the past two years.
In Kampong Glam, median rents rose by about 2 per cent per year, compared with approximately 2.5 per cent in Little India and around 1 per cent annually in Chinatown.
URA added that heritage businesses face a combination of other pressures, including rising labour and raw material costs, manpower constraints, and shifts in consumer demand.
“The Government recognises that heritage businesses, like all businesses, face a confluence of commercial challenges,” URA said in a statement quoted by The Straits Times, underscoring the importance of such businesses in shaping the identity of Singapore’s historic districts.
To support these businesses, the government established an interagency task force in 2025. The task force is co-led by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Faishal Ibrahim and Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, Low Yen Ling.
According to URA, the task force comprises multiple government agencies and works closely with local stakeholders to review and update land-use policies. The aim is to preserve the character of historic districts while allowing a diversity of business uses that can adapt to evolving visitor preferences.
The government has also updated land-use policies, including prohibiting new souvenir shops and certain types of businesses within the core areas of historic districts.
URA reaffirmed that the government remains committed to supporting heritage businesses and encouraged business owners to approach the relevant agencies should they require further assistance.
Singapore’s Oldest Padang Rice Eatery
Warong Nasi Pariaman was established in 1948 by Isrin, a migrant from the town of Pariaman in West Sumatra. Named after the founder’s hometown, the eatery is known for serving traditional Padang rice dishes and has been run across generations by the founding family.
According to Singapore Infopedia by the National Library Board, Warong Nasi Pariaman is believed to be the oldest surviving Padang rice stall in Singapore. In 2016, it was among the recipients of the Heritage Heroes Awards, which recognise long-standing food establishments that have contributed to the preservation of local culinary traditions.
Some of its most widely known dishes include beef rendang, smoked grilled fish, sambal goreng, kalio sotong (squid cooked in coconut milk), and chicken gulai. In the days leading up to its closure, The Straits Times reported long queues forming outside the eatery.
Second-generation owner Abdul Munaf Haji Isrin said that staff prepared up to five times the usual amount of food to meet demand.
Speaking in Malay, he expressed his sadness over the closure.
“I am very sad. I have run my stall since I was 25. For now, I would like to rest first. God willing, seeing the support from our customers, if given the chance, we will continue in the future,” he said, as quoted by The Straits Times.
