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Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
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. Butter Kaya Kopitiam: Chinatown's must-visit coffee shop for pandan kaya lava toast, buttermilk clam noodles & jumbo rojak rolls 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 Arimau Nasi Lemak: Fragrant basmati pandan rice with tender beef rendang even tigers would weep for The post Kam's Nasi Lemak: Go-to nasi lemak spot for bouncy assam prawns & spicy sambal with crazy queues appeared first on
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arimau Nasi Lemak: Fragrant basmati pandan rice with tender beef rendang even tigers would weep for
Arimau Nasi Lemak — a playful nod to the Malay word 'harimau' (tiger) — wears its name proudly, with an adorable, eye-catching logo and stylish typeface that makes it hard to miss. One thing about me: I'm a total sucker for thoughtfully crafted, clean signage. I mean, we do feast with our eyes first, right? My judging starts way before the food hits the table — sometimes even before I step through the door. What reeled me in as well was their bold claim: their nasi lemak is so good, it could make tigers fly. They even have a quirky little promo — Buy 1 Free 1 from Fri to Sun if you show up in a Liverpool jersey. Now, I don't own one myself (mainly because I don't really have a favourite team — I just root for whoever's got the cuter players. You feel me?), so I didn't qualify to test out the offer. Still, I made the trip all the way to Kota Damansara, so it better be worth the drive. I went with my usual go-to: Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah (RM11.50). You can opt to have it on its own, or go the extra mile with their signature satay if you're feeling a little extra hungry. According to the menu, basmati rice was used for the coconut rice, with pandan taking centre stage — evident from the gentle green hue of the grains. The 'lemak' came through nicely in each bite, thanks to the santan, and the fragrance was unmistakable from the get-go. That said, if no one had told me it was basmati, I probably wouldn't have noticed — it looked like regular rice, just a little longer and plumper. No complaints there, though. Now, the sambal. From the first bite, I was greeted with a strong hit of umami from the anchovies. Each flavour element — sweet, spicy, and savoury — was well balanced, with nothing overpowering the rest. My only gripe? It was a tad salty on its own, which meant I had to go easy when mixing it with the rice. I also wished the portion was a bit more generous. KOPIHUT: KL Gangster actor's kopitiam with crispy chicken nasi lemak, superb curry mee & cute ice bear drinks Then came the chicken. While it looked promising and was decently juicy on the inside, it was unfortunately served cold. The rempah leaned heavily on fennel, and the seasoning didn't quite seep into the meat. The crispy bits on the outside were tasty — light and crunchy — but mostly just flour and onion, rather than the spice-forward marinade typical of a proper ayam goreng berempah. It honestly reminded me more of the crumbly bits that come with pisang goreng — which isn't a bad thing, just not what some people would consider traditional. A quick note on the ikan bilis: they were extremely tough, and the taste of unremoved guts left a rather unpleasant aftertaste. I instantly regretted taking a bite. Overall, it was a lukewarm plate of nasi lemak — figuratively and literally. My next dish was the Nasi Lemak Daging Rendang (RM12), which came with a generous heap of beef rendang. Right off the bat, the beef was falling apart on my fork — a clear sign it had been cooked to tender perfection. The texture was beautifully soft, and flavour-wise, it struck a lovely balance. Both kaffir lime leaves and turmeric leaves were used in the recipe, and they played together harmoniously to create a rendang that was deeply aromatic and satisfying to the taste buds. While I wasn't exactly disappointed with Arimau Nasi Lemak's take on the beloved dish, I can't say I was particularly impressed either. It sat comfortably in the realm of painfully average. That said, I do understand the appeal — it's a popular spot among locals, likely thanks to the generous portions and wallet-friendly prices. Would I go out of my way to return if I happened to pass by the area again? Honestly, probably not. Expected damage: RM11.50 – RM19 per pax 100 Years Nasi Lemak: Exquisite nasi lemak & juicy fried chicken in century-old building with Merdeka 118 view The post Arimau Nasi Lemak: Fragrant basmati pandan rice with tender beef rendang even tigers would weep for appeared first on
