Latest news with #nasilemak
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
97 Nasi Lemak: $1.20 brown bee hoon & affordable nasi lemak to start your day strong
– if you live in Singapore, I'm 99.999% sure you've had a plate of this coconut rice and sambal combo at some point. Of course, I'm no exception to this unspoken rule. Maybe it's my appetite returning after recovering from the flu, but I woke up starved this morning. So what better way to feast than to stop by 97 Nasi Lemak at Old Airport Road Food Centre for a few choice dishes? With their Old Airport Road outlet open since 2021, the founders have brought plates of Chinese-style nasi lemak to our tables while keeping prices low. Of course, one of the answers is in the name. After scanning the menu, I set my sights on Set C (S$4) with fried chicken and a plate of Brown (S$1.20) with a slice of (S$1.40). Let's take a look at the nasi lemak first. I chose not to include any add-ons, which leaves me with a fried chicken wing and drumette, sunny-side-up egg, rice, cucumber, ikan bilis mix and sambal. The rice is well cooked and fragrant from the coconut milk. I love that each grain is visually separate, yet moist and easy to pack together for a solid mouthful. The fried egg was not as crispy at the edges, but since I was eating it for breakfast, I appreciated the lighter texture. The dish comes together when you take a bite of rice, sambal and ikan bilis mix. 97 Nasi Lemak's sambal is almost jammy in texture and holds a sweetness that most don't include. It's spicy, but not overwhelming. I would call it the perfect beginner's sambal for those unacquainted with spice. Butter Town: Assorted buttery shio pan & decadent sourdough cakes from hawker stall The mellow coconut pairs well with the salty ikan bilis, while the sambal adds both sweetness and spiciness. With a crunch from the fish and peanuts against the pillowy rice, this nasi lemak is a well-rounded contender. The chicken offers a crispy batter around nicely seasoned meat. While the rest of the dish is light, the fried chicken gives a welcome bite and fills you up. Biting off a chunk of cucumber at the end left a refreshing aftertaste in my mouth. The only gripe I have is the difficulty of tearing the meat off the bones. Granted, I was using cutlery instead of my hands, so tissue-covered fingers might be the best option for a mess-free bite. Moving on to the Brown Bee Hoon, I decided to add an otah to make it more filling. There were also cooked vegetables available, such as Long Bean (S$1) or Curry Vegetables (S$1.20), though I think curry might be a bit too exciting at 10 in the morning, lol. The bee hoon was seasoned well with soy sauce and oyster sauce. It was also moist, which is how I like it! This bee hoon tastes just like nostalgia, a comforting simplicity that lingered on my mind and tongue. I was most impressed by the price point: even the otah was 20¢ more than a plate of plain bee hoon. 97 Nasi Lemak also offers or Fried Noodles for the same S$1.20. However, I was a little disappointed by the Nonya Otah. It wasn't as flavourful as I hoped, and since it was pre-cooked, it cooled quickly. That was the biggest impact on the flavour for me. I would have liked stronger seasonings and more char on the otah. As a whole, I enjoyed the two dishes from 97 Nasi Lemak. Since I visited with a friend, the meal was filling but not jelak enough to induce a food coma two hours later. That's definitely important for office zombies out for breakfast or lunch! If you're dropping by with a friend like me, I highly recommend getting these two dishes and splitting the toppings for the perfect breakfast amount. The next time I eat here, I'll choose a vegetable add-on instead and give their curry a try. Oh, and a cup of soymilk to wash it down! I love sweet-and-savoury combinations so, so much. So if you're craving nasi lemak from 7am – 2.30pm, why not drop by for a bite at Old Airport Road Food Centre? 97 Nasi Lemak will give you a boost to get through the day, both at work and at home. Even if you're not near Mountbatten, there are also outlets at Anchorvale, Senja Hawker Centre and Hong Leong Building, so go give 97 Nasi Lemak a try! For a list of locations, opening hours and phone numbers, please click here. Expected damage: S$1.20 to S$6 per pax New cai fan hawker's huge, cheap salmon & free meal games, vouchers & discounts The post 97 Nasi Lemak: $1.20 brown bee hoon & affordable nasi lemak to start your day strong appeared first on
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TTDI's 3 Days Nasi Lemak is up for grabs after business collapse, owner shifts to new venture
If you've been anywhere near the nasi lemak discourse on social media these past couple of years, chances are these names ring a bell: Village Park, Nasi Lemak Shop, Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu, and of course, 3 Days Nasi Lemak. All of them have one thing in common; they're proudly rooted in or around TTDI, earning their stripes as go-to spots for Malaysia's beloved dish. Among them, 3 Days Nasi Lemak has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the best, evident from the multiple visits from top local food influencers. But as it turns out, the story behind the scenes wasn't quite as glamorous. Recently, the owner, Zack, took to social media with a surprise announcement: the entire brand is up for sale, starting at RM160K. That includes the whole package such as assets, branding, staff, and operational rights. Naturally, the internet had questions. Why the sudden decision? Amid the speculation, Zack stepped in to clarify. While things started strong, he admitted that the direction of the business became muddled over time. The turning point, however, was the ambitious menu upgrade. The introduction of premium side dishes like king crab and lobster is fancy, yes, but not exactly what fans were craving. The higher prices didn't sit well either, and customer feedback quickly reflected that. Instead of letting the business flounder, Zack made the bold choice to move on. And it paid off! According to him, nearly 10 interested buyers, including a few big-name brands, have already come knocking. But don't worry, this is not even close to a sad ending. Zack's entrepreneurial spirit is very much alive and kicking. He's now more active in Kulai, Johor, with his latest venture: Zack's Burger & Chicken, where you can grab a burger for just RM3.90. As for 3 Days Nasi Lemak, who knows what's next? One thing's for sure: we'll be seated to see it unfold. What about you? Nasi Lemak Tanglin (77y.o) vs Nasi Lemak Shop (2y.o): Experienced pro or fresh talent does it better? The post TTDI's 3 Days Nasi Lemak is up for grabs after business collapse, owner shifts to new venture appeared first on
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nasi Lemak Al-Aisy: Underrated JB eatery serving fragrant nasi lemak with spicy sambal petai & fried chicken
Much like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru is a hub of nasi lemak spots featuring both well-known and underrated ones. As someone who's not local, more familiar names would be mainstream joints like Yummy Nasi Lemak House and Nasi Lemak Lobster. But where's the fun in simply riding the wave of current trends? Let me point you toward Nasi Lemak Al-Aisy in Iskandar Puteri — an unknown name to outsiders, perhaps, but a beloved staple among locals. With a 4.7-star rating from over 1.7K Google reviews (at time of writing), it's clear this spot isn't flying under their radar. They're temporarily closed at the moment, so make sure to do a quick check before you drop by! Each basic plate at Nasi Lemak Al-Aisy starts at RM5, where you'll get a choice between a sunny-side-up egg or a hard-boiled one. From there, the price gradually climbs as you add your protein of choice. While the place is known for its sotong and kambing bakar, I've always believed that the truest test of a nasi lemak lies in its simplest form. So, naturally, I went with the Ayam Goreng (RM5.50). The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that the cucumber slices were deseeded. Didn't change the game for me, but definitely a plus for the more picky folks out there. Their rice was, for the lack of better word, undeniably tasty. Fluffy without being mushy, just the right amount of starch, and packed with flavour. You could taste the richness of the santan and the gentle aroma of ginger and onion woven through each bite. Kelab Kopi Lama: Cosy JB kopitiam serves all-day buttery kaya toast, fresh kampung eggs & laksa Johor under RM10 The sambal was vividly red with a glossy ring of oil. It struck a balance between old-school and modern in terms of the flavour. There's a touch of sweetness and tanginess, but the smokiness and heat from the dried red chillies definitely dominated the entire flavour profile. If your spice tolerance isn't great, prepare for a full-on waterfall on your face. As for the fried chicken, it was served cold (sadly), but made up for it with solid seasoning. The rempah was spot-on without being overwhelming, and the flavour carried through to the meat beneath the skin. That said, a crispier crust and juicier insides would've taken it to the next level. The rest of the accompaniments were fairly standard. The sunny-side-up was cooked all the way through, the peanuts and cucumber were decent — but let's talk about the real issue: no ikan bilis. I'm not trying to sound like a Karen, but come on. Unacceptable! For my friend's plate, she opted for Sambal Petai Ikan Bilis (RM6). The taste of the sambal was leaning more on the sour and savoury side. If you're not a fan of petai's traditional punginess (and the lasting effects of it on your body, quite literally), their version will be right up your alley! The petai was on the milder side, making it lighter on the palate. My only gripe was that the anchovies used were of the smaller but cylindrical variety, giving it a chewier bite. So yes, it seems Nasi Lemak Al-Aisy's ikan bilis game might need a little upgrade. While it might sound like I had a lot to nitpick, truth be told — I genuinely enjoyed my meal. It's easy to see why the place stays packed, even after dark. That said, I have to admit (for once!) that the locals have a point — the prices do lean on the steeper side. Still, if you ever find yourself in JB craving a solid plate of nasi lemak, Nasi Lemak Al-Aisy is definitely worth a detour. Expected damage: RM5 – RM11 per pax Nasi Lemak Tanglin (77y.o) vs Nasi Lemak Shop (2y.o): Experienced pro or fresh talent does it better? The post Nasi Lemak Al-Aisy: Underrated JB eatery serving fragrant nasi lemak with spicy sambal petai & fried chicken appeared first on
Malay Mail
13-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Brave the queue at Together Nasi Lemak in Seremban for their aromatic pork ‘berempah' and crunchy ‘ayam goreng XL'
SEREMBAN, May 13 — It's not often I would brave the queue at a popular shop or restaurant. Sometimes it just can't be helped. In Japan, nearly every decent eatery has a sizeable line outside, perhaps a cultural norm more than anything else. Sometimes it could be that the shop in question had just gone viral, perhaps for a Malaysian inspired pastry such as apam balik croissant or an unusual take on your favourite coffee. And sometimes it's simply because the food is good. This might explain why we have driven half an hour to Seremban for a full breakfast at Together Nasi Lemak. The stall is located inside S2S Food Court, Seremban. The stall is located inside the popular S2S Food Court in the Garden Homes neighbourhood. The food court itself is spacious, airy and very clean (something similar establishments in the Klang Valley might consider emulating). Plenty of options here, from bak kut teh and pork noodles to Hakka leicha and Thai style braised pork rice. But we're here for the nasi lemak. Certainly it's the stall with the longest queue, especially during lunch hours and on weekends. Like the food court's drinks station, it is self-service: you order, you pay, and you return for your order once it's ready. Thankfully the kitchen works at a clip so everything moves along very quickly. In almost no time at all, we have all our breakfast items on our table. The basic 'nasi lemak'. A hot kopi O and an iced ho kar sai to wet our lips before we dig in. The staff kindly separated our plates of nasi lemak from the dishes so we could share our food easily. The nasi lemak looks basic enough — the usual accompaniments of sliced cucumber, fried ikan bilis and groundnuts. A fried egg (cooked to order) instead of half a hard boiled egg. A generous ladle of sambal. Apparently the recipe for the nasi lemak comes from the owner's Nyonya grandmother. That touch of Peranakan culinary expertise is well appreciated; the Malaccan in me recognised the creamier grains of santan-cooked rice (they weren't stingy with the coconut milk!) and a heavier hand with the salt (a boon for anyone with a Malaccan palate). Pork Berempah. Even the aforementioned sambal gets two thumbs up from us. We are far from devotees of a saccharine sweet sambal so this spicier and far more savoury version hits all the right notes. A little bit of salt goes a long way, some say. We would argue more would go even further, as is the case here. A lovely, lovely sambal. Sambal Sotong (left). Freshly fried chicken (right). The best part of ordering nasi lemak is figuring out what proteins to have with it. Here the star has to be the Pork Berempah. There's the irresistible crispy 'spice floss' — a magical mix of every spice you can imagine, from coriander and cumin to lemongrass and curry leaves — that coats each piece of fried pork, still moist and juicy. For seafood lovers, try the Sambal Sotong; the squid is cooked in the same sambal served with the nasi lemak. Ayam Goreng XL. Of course, if you happen to look into their open kitchen and see a fresh batch of fried chicken, then the dish to order has to be their Ayam Goreng XL. Crunchy enough, this is the only dish we felt could benefit from a touch more seasoning. A whole chicken thigh makes this the largest portion of protein on their menu. Aromatic coconut milk rice. Spicy, savoury sambal. Juicy pork covered with rempah crisps. What more could one ask for, really? Together Nasi Lemak S2S Food Court, Persiaran Utama S2/4, Garden Homes, Seremban Open daily 10am-8pm Phone: 010-292 5525 * This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal. * Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Nasi Lemak Tanglin (77y.o) vs Nasi Lemak Shop (2y.o): Experienced pro or fresh talent does it better?
Welcome to the very first chapter of our new series, where we pit 2 eateries against each other. Both will be serving similar dishes but with very different years of experience. And what better way to kick things off than with our national treasure: nasi lemak? Naturally, the veterans are expected to be better at the game, while the newcomers are still revving their engines. But hey, that's not always how the story goes. Our first challenger is the legendary Nasi Lemak Tanglin, founded in 1948 and now operating across 5 outlets in the Klang Valley. I visited their stall at Kompleks Makan Tanglin, where you'll find a classic Malay nasi lemak setup of a glorious spread of lauk ready for the picking. Facing off against this 77-year-old eatery is our famous Nasi Lemak Shop, a Bandar Utama spot with just 2 years going into the biz. Unlike its seasoned rival, Nasi Lemak Shop also offers noodles, toasts, and other bites alongside their take on the beloved nasi lemak. They've even opened a second branch in Subang Jaya due to how popular it is. To keep things fair, I went with the same protein at both places — the classic Ayam Goreng Berempah. My favourite! At Nasi Lemak Tanglin, the bill came to RM9.50. For that, I got a generous heap of rice, a fried chicken thigh, a scoop of sambal, ikan bilis, roasted peanuts, and cucumber slices. Honestly, the portion was so hearty, a few grains of rice nearly tumbled off the plate while I was mixing everything together. Over at Nasi Lemak Shop, things came in at RM15.90. But to be fair, they did serve 2 pieces of chicken to balance the price tag. The plate also included a halved hard-boiled egg and a delightful scoop of crispy golden bits from the marinade (or kerak). My only gripe was the amount of sambal. I was given barely a tablespoon's worth, and had to ration it like liquid gold just to avoid eating too much plain white rice. As always, I started with the rice — the heart and soul of any good nasi lemak. Like sambal, it can either make or break the whole dish. At Nasi Lemak Tanglin (pictured left), the first bite gave me a comforting warmth, reminiscent of nasi kukus. There was a strong hint of smokiness too, which was a nice surprise. But beyond that, the flavour was a bit one-dimensional — with only a gentle touch of santan taking the lead. Nasi Lemak Shop (pictured right), on the other hand, delivered a more complex flavour profile. The rice was rich with santan, but what stood out was the added savouriness from aromatics like ginger — which came through clearly without overpowering. It was also better seasoned overall, making each spoonful flavourful even without the sambal. Kam's Nasi Lemak: Go-to nasi lemak spot for bouncy assam prawns & spicy sambal with crazy queues Nasi Lemak Tanglin served up a sambal that stayed true to tradition. Its deep, dark-red hue hinted at its intensity. The red chillies carried a distinct smokiness, balanced with just a touch of sourness and sweetness — the kind of flavour that instantly reminded me of the nasi lemak stalls from my childhood. The only downside for me was the texture: a bit coarser than I prefer, likely due to the crushed ikan bilis mixed in. Nasi Lemak Shop, meanwhile, offered a brighter, more savoury sambal. It leaned more towards tangy and umami, with a clear presence of fresh shrimp paste. The chilli flavour was clean but not as smoky as the version at Tanglin. Still, I personally found myself enjoying this one more. Nasi Lemak Tanglin's chicken, unfortunately, was served rather cold as a result of being pre-cooked in bulk. Cutting into it took a bit of effort, as it was bordering on dry. Luckily, since it was a thigh piece, it still held on to some tenderness. Flavour-wise, it delivered. It was well-marinated with coriander, fennel, curry leaves, and other aromatics that gave it a solid, familiar profile. My main issue was the texture: the crust lacked crispiness, and the overall bite didn't quite hit the mark. Nasi Lemak Shop, in contrast, brought their A-game. Served piping hot, the chicken came with a bonus scoop of those addictive crispy bits. It's no secret that their fried chicken has long been a personal favourite, thanks to their consistent work of brining and marinating. The result was incredibly juicy, tender meat that fell apart like butter, with a beautiful yellow hue from the spices seeping right into the flesh. The rempah was spot-on, though I did feel they got a little heavy-handed with the salt that day. Both contenders (left: Nasi Lemak Tanglin, right: Nasi Lemak Shop) used the larger variety of ikan bilis, which can sometimes be tough to chew. To my surprise, they were delightfully crispy at both spots. That said, Nasi Lemak Tanglin was a little stingy with the peanuts. Nasi Lemak Shop added a halved hard-boiled egg to the mix, which was a nice touch, though nothing particularly memorable. All in all, when it came to the supporting cast — the ikan bilis, peanuts, and egg — neither place really stood out. My pick for the winner is Nasi Lemak Shop. You probably saw this coming halfway through! But before we close the curtain, it's worth pointing out the price gap, which may very well be the biggest factor behind the difference in quality. At over RM6 more than Nasi Lemak Tanglin, Nasi Lemak Shop delivered better-tasting rice and sambal, with a crispier, juicier fried chicken. That said, taste is subjective. If your vote goes to Tanglin instead, we'd love to hear why! Kelab Kopi Lama: Cosy JB kopitiam serves all-day buttery kaya toast, fresh kampung eggs & laksa Johor under RM10 The post Nasi Lemak Tanglin (77y.o) vs Nasi Lemak Shop (2y.o): Experienced pro or fresh talent does it better? appeared first on
