I almost walked past it.
The Yellow Mansion sits quietly on 73 Sultan Gate, set back from the noise of Kampong Glam, its pale gold walls catching the late afternoon light. You could mistake it for a museum. In a way, it once was a home for royalty. Now it holds Permata Singapore, and I'd come to see whether the food could live up to the building around it.
I wasn't sure it could. Grand settings often carry grand disappointments, but I was ready to be surprised.
What Permata Singapore Actually Is: A Halal Buffet with a Twist
Permata is a halal buffet restaurant, but that phrase undersells what's happening here.
Permata also offers private dining, with a private room for up to eight guests and a larger Private Dining Hall for groups of up to 26
It sits inside Gedung Kuning, the historic Yellow Mansion in Kampong Glam, a building that predates most of what surrounds it. The restaurant serves progressive Nusantara cuisine, a term I approached with some suspicion. Progressive can mean thoughtful. It can also mean a kitchen chasing cleverness for its own sake.
Here, it leans toward the former. Culinary Director Chef Mel Dean has built a menu of over 50 dishes across seafood, Nusantara-inspired mains, a grill section, appetisers, and desserts. The idea is simple in theory: take the recipes of the Malay archipelago and present them with a little modern intention, without losing the soul of what they were.
It's a place that has fed diplomats, dignitaries, and celebrities. That's usually a warning sign to me, the kind of detail that means style over substance. I tried to leave that expectation at the door.
First Impressions Inside the Mansion at 73 Sultan Gate
The room does a lot of the talking before the food arrives.
There's a warmth to old wood and high ceilings that no new restaurant can fake. Louvred windows. The sense of a house that has held generations of stories. I understand why couples choose this place, why families gather here, why a birthday feels bigger inside these walls.
I'll be honest about one thing. Not every past diner has left glowing reviews. I'd read reviews mentioning tired décor in corners, service that wavered on busy nights, moments where the grandeur of the setting outpaced the polish of the experience. Some of that is fair. A heritage building shows its age, and a buffet on a full evening can strain any team.
But sitting there, with the light softening through those windows, I found the atmosphere earned more forgiveness than it needed.
Exploring Nusantara Cuisine: The Menu and Where I'd Begin
The current themed menu runs through the Flavours of the East Coast, a journey across Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, on until the end of October 2026.
That framing matters. Instead of a scattered buffet, there's a sense of place, of a table travelling through the coastal kitchens of Peninsular Malaysia. The rich flavours here aren't accidental. They carry the character of specific regions, the bold aromatics of one, the seafood traditions of another.
With over 50 dishes, there's a real risk of grazing without direction. So let me point you toward the ones that stayed with me.
The Dishes That Topped My List and the Flavours I Enjoyed
The Rawon Risotto is the one I keep thinking about. On my earlier visit, Permata's menu included Rawon Risotto, Rusuk Percik, Nasi Ulam Cakerawala and Kerabu Daging Sri Mersing. These are not among the dishes highlighted on the current Flavours of the East Coast buffet, which runs through 31 October 2026
It takes rawon, the dark beef stew of East Java built on buah keluak, and serves it over creamy risotto rice, finished with a soft ramen egg. It sounds like a gimmick. It isn't. The earthiness of the stew and the comfort of the rice meet somewhere honest, and the innovation feels like it's in service of the flavour rather than the photograph.
Then there's the Rusuk Percik, the percik lamb ribs. Braised for four hours before hitting the chargrill, the meat gives way without a fight. It's a modern rendering of a familiar Malay idea, and the patience shows in every bite.
For something rooted deeper in tradition, the Nasi Ulam Cakerawala brings herbed rice alive with sambal, salted fish, and crackers, a dish that tastes like it remembers where it came from. The Kerabu Daging Sri Mersing, a beef salad with grilled chateaubriand and green mango in a ginger flower lime dressing, cuts through the richness with a sharp, bright edge.
The current buffet reflects the varied culinary traditions of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, with bold spices, seafood dishes, sambals and tempoyak preparations.
And the desserts. Save room. The Cek Mek Molek is the reason. Sweet potato fried golden, dusted with sugar and crushed almonds, then dipped in espresso caramel and served with cold vanilla ice cream. It's the kind of dessert you don't find easily anywhere else, warm and cold and bitter and sweet all at once.
The Service, Honestly: A Few Problems but Mostly Warmth
This is where I'll hold two truths together.
On the night I imagine most, the service can be warm, attentive, the sort where someone explains the story behind a dish without being asked. Chef Mel Dean's presence gives the place a soul, and a good server carries that through to your table.
But I won't pretend it's flawless every evening. Some diners have described moments of stiffness, a plate cleared too briskly, a rule enforced without much grace during the crossover between lunch and dinner service. On a packed night, a buffet team gets stretched. If something feels off, a quiet word usually sets it right.
Warmth is the intention here. It doesn't always land perfectly, but it's there.
Practical Things to Know About Dining at Permata Singapore in Kampong Glam
Permata sits on 73 Sultan Gate, in the heart of Kampong Glam, a short walk from the Sultan Mosque.
The buffet pricing works in seatings.Under the current 1-for-1 promotion, lunch costs S$88++ for two adults, effectively S$44++ per person. Dinner costs S$108++ for two adults, effectively S$54++ per person, served Monday to Friday and Sunday from 6pm to 9:30pm. Saturdays split into two seatings, 5pm to 7pm and 7:30pm to 9:30pm.
There's genuine thought given to senior citizens too. Guests over 60 pay $38++ for lunch and $44++ for dinner, and children are priced by age, which makes this an easier place to bring the whole family across generations.
Reservations go through SevenRooms, and you can call ahead on +65 9082 9941. I'd book, especially for weekends.
The Verdict: Would I Miss Permata Singapore?
I went in braced for a beautiful room hiding ordinary food. What I found was more honest than that. Yes, the mansion is the headline, and yes, the service can waver. But the cuisine concept is sincere, and a handful of dishes, the rawon risotto, the percik ribs, that espresso-caramel dessert, carry real conviction.
Come for a celebration. Come with family, with elders who'll appreciate the seating and the flavours of home. Come curious about what Nusantara cuisine can become when someone treats it with care.
Just come knowing it's a heritage building doing something ambitious, not a polished machine. That's part of its charm, and part of its story.
FAQ
Is Permata Singapore halal?
Yes. Permata is a halal-certified buffet restaurant, so Muslim diners can eat freely across all 50-plus dishes.
What are the standout dishes at Permata Singapore?
Current highlights include Nasi Dagang with Gulai Ikan, Ayam Tempoyak Daun Kesum and Cek Mek Molek. At dinner, the grill station also serves Char-grilled Striploin. These dishes showcase a rich blend of traditional flavours and contemporary presentation, with the Cek Mek Molek dessert standing out for its unique combination of espresso caramel and vanilla ice cream.
How much does the buffet cost and how do I book?
Under the current 1-for-1 promotion, lunch costs S$88++ for two adults, effectively S$44++ per person. Dinner costs S$108++ for two adults, effectively S$54++ per person. Reserve through SevenRooms or call +65 9082 9941.
Can I expect Indian influences in the dishes?
Yes, the current buffet focuses on the culinary traditions of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, including aromatic dishes, seafood, sambals and tempoyak preparations
Are photos allowed inside Permata Singapore?
Permata's own content openly discusses guests photographing the food and promotes Gedung Kuning as a photogenic venue. For professional shoots or special equipment, check with the restaurant beforehand.
Did diners enjoy their experience at Permata?
Many diners have enjoyed the blend of traditional and progressive flavours, though some mention minor problems with service on busy nights, which are usually addressed promptly.
