Looking for something more exciting than the usual restaurant in Batam? Make your way to Penuin. Just a short trip from Harbour Bay Ferry Terminal, Aroi Cafe brings the bold, comforting flavours of Thailand to the area.
The menu is developed in collaboration with a Thai restaurant partner in Thailand, with many ingredients and seasonings sourced directly from the country, so the flavours stay close to the real thing rather than a localised version. The cafe itself is small and simple, but the food does the heavy lifting.
Why Thai Food Works So Well as a Cuisine
Thai cooking is built around balancing four core tastes, sour, sweet, salty, and spicy, often within a single dish. That balance is part of why dishes like Tom Yum and Som Tum have travelled so well beyond Thailand’s borders: they hit multiple flavour notes at once instead of leaning on just heat or just sweetness. It’s this same balance that ran through everything we ordered on our visit to Aroi Cafe, from the richer, creamier dishes to the sharper, more acidic ones.
Start With Creamy Tom Yum
Tom Yum is one of Thailand’s most recognisable dishes, and it was the first thing we ordered. Unlike the clear Tom Yum commonly found around Batam, the bowl we got combined the familiar sour-and-spicy character of Tom Yum with a creamy base, giving it a richer texture without losing its refreshing acidity. The prawns in our bowl were notably large and fresh-tasting, adding a satisfying bite between spoonfuls of broth. If it’s your first visit, this is the dish we’d recommend starting with too.
Something Fresh and Spicy: Som Tum
Next, we tried the Som Tum, and it pulled us in a completely different direction from the Tom Yum. This Thai green papaya salad came out crisp and juicy, with garlic coming through strongly alongside a lively mix of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy notes. It was the dish on our table that felt the most bright and energetic, and a good contrast to order alongside anything heavier.
Thai Basil Chicken for a Comforting Main
For our main, we went with the Thai Basil Chicken. The minced chicken was tender and well-seasoned, soaking up the savoury sauce, while the basil added its unmistakable herbal aroma on top. Served with rice, it was the most filling dish we ordered, and one we’d suggest if you want a proper main without piling on too many separate plates.
Thai Chicken Wings
We also ordered the Thai Chicken Wings to share. The seasoning went beyond just the surface, with a gentle sweetness followed by Thai spice, making the wings easy to keep reaching for between conversations. They worked especially well placed in the middle of the table alongside our Tom Yum, Som Tum, and rice.
Don’t Skip the Thai Morning Glory
We rounded out our mains with the Kangkung ala Thai, or Thai-style morning glory. If you’re familiar with kangkung cooked with belacan, there’s a familiar savoury note here, though the version we had leaned slightly sweeter with a gentle kick from Thai chilli paste. It was a good side to pass around alongside the stronger-flavoured dishes on our table.
Save Room for Mango Sticky Rice
We saved the Mango Sticky Rice for last. The mango was fresh and naturally sweet, the rice kept its soft, chewy texture, and the coconut sauce added gentle creaminess without feeling heavy. We split it between two of us, and it was the right way to close out a meal full of chilli, garlic, and acidity.
More Than Just Thai Tea
To drink, we tried a few options beyond the usual Thai Tea. The Thai Tea itself was creamy and smooth without being overly sweet, and paired easily with the spicier dishes we ordered.
We also tried the Nam Dang Soda, which combined Thai sala syrup with fizzy soda for something sweeter and more refreshing. The one that stood out most, though, was the Pineapple Smoothie Pik Kuea Thai Style, pineapple, salt, and spice sounded like an odd combination on paper, but it came together as a tangy, slightly savoury drink, distinctly different from a typical fruit smoothie.
Getting to Aroi Cafe
Location: Ruko Penuin Centre, Blok Ya No. 06, Batu Selicin, Kec. Lubuk Baja, Batam City
Opening Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Aroi Cafe is a solid lunch stop if you’re already exploring Penuin, with enough on the menu to justify a second visit. Planning a Batam food trip from Singapore? Book your ferry with Horizon Fast Ferry and start exploring Penuin from Harbour Bay.
