There are grilled chicken dishes… and then there’s Baba Chicken, grilled over high heat in a Josper oven and infused with the soul of Southeast Asia.
At Nanyang Blossom, our Josper-Grilled Baba Chicken is one of those under-the-radar dishes that surprises guests the moment it hits the table — smoky, juicy, complex, and packed with Nanyang flavour. If you’re a fan of grilled meats or rich marinades, this dish is a must-try in Knightsbridge.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes this modern classic so irresistible.
🔥 What Is Baba Chicken?
“Baba” in this context refers to Baba-Nyonya (Peranakan) heritage — a fusion of Chinese and Malay cooking traditions. It also nods to Baba-style rempah (spice paste), the rich, aromatic heart of Peranakan cuisine.
Our Baba Chicken is:
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Marinated in coconut-based rempah, spiced with lemongrass, turmeric, and ginger
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Grilled in a Josper oven, a charcoal-powered grill-oven hybrid known for its intense heat and smoky flavour
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Finished with a brush of mango kerisik — a coconut and mango reduction that adds sweetness and texture
The result? Chicken that’s crispy at the edges, juicy in the centre, and full of smoky, tangy, sweet, and savoury layers.
🧂 What Is a Josper Oven and Why Does It Matter?
We use a Josper grill — a state-of-the-art Spanish oven that combines the benefits of a closed oven with the searing power of a charcoal grill.
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It locks in moisture
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Adds natural wood-fired smokiness
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Cooks at extremely high temperatures, ideal for meat with a marinade
This isn’t your average grilled chicken — it’s a dish cooked with technique and intention, bringing out both flavour and texture like nothing else.
🥥 About That Rempah…
The marinade for our Baba Chicken is hand-blended in-house using Peranakan spice traditions. It features:
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Fresh turmeric for earthiness
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Lemongrass and galangal for citrusy spice
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Shallots and garlic for body
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A hint of chilli, balanced with coconut milk for creaminess
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Topped with mango kerisik — made from toasted coconut and mango purée, giving it a rich, nutty finish
The rempah is massaged into the chicken overnight for maximum depth and tenderness.
🍚 What to Enjoy It With
Our guests love pairing the Baba Chicken with:
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Egg fried rice — for a savoury base
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Char-grilled okra with salted fish — for added crunch and salt
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Seafood sambal fried rice, if you’re after bold, spicy layers
It’s also part of our Bintang private dining menu, perfect for sharing with friends or family.
🍷 Pairing Recommendations
To match the grilled flavour and spice complexity, we suggest:
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Chardonnay with oak aging – rich, buttery, and a great complement to rempah
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Light Pinot Noir – fruity and fresh, especially if you’re adding spicy sides
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Or for something Southeast Asian, try the Nanyang Sling cocktail — cucumber, lime, elderflower, and gin to cool the palate
🌟 Why You’ll Love It
This dish is comfort food with character. It’s not flashy, but it’s deeply satisfying — and it shows how even simple ingredients can become something extraordinary with the right care.
Guests often say:
“It’s grilled chicken, but done at a whole new level.”
“Smoky, creamy, sweet, and spicy — so many flavours in one dish.”
“A must-order every time we visit.”
📍 Come Taste the Smoke & Spice
👉 Book Now to try our Josper-Grilled Baba Chicken.
📞 Call us at 020 4529 3643 to book your table or private dining menu.
📍 Visit us at 12 Knightsbridge Green, London SW1X 7QL
Nanyang Blossom — home of Southeast Asian heritage, grilled to perfection.