Orang Laut SG opens its first pop-up cafe at Clarke Quay serving Southern Islander dishes

From October 23 to December 26, the first pop-up cafe by Singapore's Orang Laut community, called Terumbu, will open at Chef X in Clarke Quay Central. This marks the first time the public can sample traditional Southern Islander dishes in the city. Orang Laut SG, a community-led organization founded in 2020, has been selling its dishes through deliveries and pop-up events since then.

Terumbu, meaning "coral reefs" in Malay, is a 15-week residency at Chef X, an initiative by Far East Organisation that allows home-based and private-dining cooks to operate a commercial restaurant temporarily.

The menu features two signature dishes: Pulau Bowl (S$15.90) and bubur lambuk tenggiri (S$11.90). Pulau Bowl is a savoury dish featuring three seafood offerings with jasmine rice and vegetables, while bubur lambuk tenggiri is a fish porridge made with a variety of ingredients and cooked with lemongrass, coconut milk, and black pepper. The cuisine highlights the unique ingredients, fishing traditions, and techniques of the coastal communities who have since moved to the mainland.

Orang Laut SG founder Firdaus Sani, a fourth-generation Orang Pulau and Orang Laut from Pulau Semakau, shared that the dishes are a reflection of the community's heritage and a connection to their history. The resident team includes Firdaus's mother cooking and his aunt assisting in running the pop-up. The recipes come from Firdaus's grandmother, guided by the family's philosophy of following one's heart rather than strict measurements.

The menu showcases how coastal dishes differ from the broader Nusantara canon and reinforces the importance of preserving these culinary histories as Singapore continues to develop.