A miniature banquet of meats, fish, vegetables, and spicy sambals eaten with plain white rice, it is Sumatra's most famous export and the Minangkabau people's primary contribution to Indonesian cuisine.

[1] A Padang restaurant is usually easily distinguishable with its Rumah Gadang-style facade and typical window display.

Such displays usually consist of stages and rows of carefully arranged stacked bowls and plates filled with various dishes.

Nasi padang is a vital part of the Indonesian workers' lunch break in urban areas.

[2] Nasi padang is found in various cities in Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua as well as neighboring countries Malaysia, Singapore,[3] East Timor and Australia.