25-04-2025
Kam's Nasi Lemak: Go-to nasi lemak spot for bouncy assam prawns & spicy sambal with crazy queues
It's not entirely unusual for my food hunts to land me in an office building, but what is unusual is that it's happened twice now. The first time was for my long-awaited Penang CKT fix at The Kopi Pot. The second? A little adventure to Kam's Nasi Lemak at G Tower — just a breezy 4-minute stroll from the aforementioned kopitiam. Gotta love Ampang Park, right?
Lately, I've found myself just a tad envious of the office crowd and their access to such tasty lunch spots. Then again, I'm not exactly jealous of the daily price tags that come with them. My dining partner and I were lucky enough to order without much fuss, but by the time we were halfway through our plates, a queue had already snaked its way in front of Kam's Nasi Lemak, leaving the other stalls in the quiet little food court looking a bit… lonely. If that's not a sign of a crowd-favourite, I don't know what is.
(And to the office folks who already struggle to score a seat during lunch — my deepest apologies if this post gains traction. Truly. Oops.)
The menu here is refreshingly simple. Two main staples — nasi lemak and mee hoon — with a variety of side dishes to pair with. I started with the Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah (RM14.50).
Now, remember what I said about the price point for office lunches? Yeah… at RM14.50, it does feel a bit steep for a daily meal. That said, the chicken portion was generous, so there's that. Surprisingly, even with no additional service or tax charges, the food was brought to our table.
One bite into the warm, fluffy rice had my mouth watering. Some clumps made me pause, but it turned out they were just too fluffy for their own good — almost reminiscent of nasi dagang, with its subtle stickiness resembling the signature mix of regular and short-grain rice. The santan richness was full-on, though the usual aromatics like ginger were a little shy in the background.
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The sambal, striking in its deep red hue, was finely ground but still left a few chilli bits clinging to my teeth. It delivered an assertive heat and a punch of shrimp paste, mellowed out by a sugar-induced sweetness. It seems the lack of onions was masked with extra sugar, which left a caramelised bitterness lingering at the end.
The ikan bilis and roasted peanuts, despite being cooked without oil, held their crispness beautifully — light and satisfying.
Now, about the chicken — while it appeared juicy, the inside told a different story. Slightly dry, likely from being pre-cooked and reheated. The seasoning was balanced but nothing particularly memorable. I did wish for more of that kerak crunch though — it was a little too sparse.
On to my 2nd plate: Nasi Lemak Assam Prawn (RM14.50). Assam isn't something I get to try often, so this was a bit of a treat.
The gravy leaned on the drier side, coating the prawns and long beans just enough to mix well with the rice. To my surprise, it ended up being the star of the show — tangy, aromatic, and absolutely addictive. I found myself spooning up the sauce all on its own.
The prawns struck a delicate balance between bouncy and just a touch too soft, though they held their shape and colour nicely. Some were completely deshelled, while others came with their tails intact — variety, I suppose. Every bite was full of flavour, though.
The nasi lemak at Kam's Nasi Lemak was, to me, just average — not forgettable, but not exactly memorable either. None of the components were outright disappointing; they just felt like they needed a little more finesse. Still, I completely get why the office crowd flocks here — it ticks enough boxes for a quick, satisfying lunch.
Expected damage: RM9.80 – RM14.50 per pax
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