Among the top local comfort foods would be nasi lemak. A tasty rice dish best enjoyed during breakfast, lunch, dinner or even supper. Beyond its aromatic santan (coconut milk)-infused rice and spicy (and sweet) sambal alongside a hard-boiled egg, peanuts and anchovies, nasi lemak can be paired with other side dishes like fried chicken and rendang daging. That said, below is our pick of the Top 10 Nasi Lemak Restaurants in KL & Selangor.
1) Say Yes Cafe
Say yes to this popular Damansara Uptown kopitiam-style cafe and one of their must-order items on the menu has to be the signature Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah. It’s a distinctly savoury combination of fragrant coconut rice, a half piece of hard-boiled egg, peanuts and ikan bilis (anchovies) with sliced cucumbers. The highlights, of course, are the spicy-sweet sambal that goes well with the nasi lemak and not to forget, the ayam goreng berempah (spiced fried chicken). Cracklingly crunchy on the outside and beautifully moist on the inside, the spiced fried chicken is worth every bite. Best paired with their robust Hainanese coffee.
FB: sayyescafe2021 | IG: @sayyescafe2021
2) Nasi Lemak Shop.
Just like the name of the shop, this is an unpretentious and honest-to-goodness nasi lemak. The star of the show? That would be the crowd-favourite Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng — nice and fluffy, herbs-infused coconut rice that tastes good upon serving warm, and umami-packed sambal with a balanced taste of spiciness and sweetness. You will find the usual add-ons: half-portion hardboiled egg, crunchy peanuts & ikan bilis and cucumbers. Then comes the crispy and juicy fried chicken, all well-seasoned with assorted spices that perfectly complement the nasi lemak dish.
sambal-lah.com | FB: nasilemakshop.my | IG: @nasilemakshop.my
3) Nasi Lemak Ujang Corner
If you don’t mind the noticeable lack of peanuts and ikan bilis — two quintessential add-ons in nasi lemak, Nasi Lemak Ujang Corner redeems them with a nice combination of fluffy coconut rice, half of a hard-boiled egg and sliced cucumbers. Their moderately spicy sambal is leaning more on the sweeter side, perfect for those who can’t stand a lot of heat. Nasi Lemak Ujang Corner offers various add-on choices like fried chicken, ayam masak merah and ayam rendang.
FB: nasilemakujangcorner | IG: @nasilemakujangcorner
4) Serunai Nasi Lemak
Don’t be fooled by its contemporary chic interior upon stepping into Serunai Nasi Lemak. The heart and soul of this restaurant remain its local dishes, specifically the nasi lemak. Not the fancy kind but the tried-and-tested mix of coconut rice that isn’t too rich you end up feeling jelak (nauseated), spicy-sweet sambal and all the usual add-ons. Don’t forget to fill your plate with a side or two, namely the crunchy ayam goreng berempah and bite-licious tempeh.
FB: serunainasilemakmy | IG: @serunainasilemak
5) Village Park Restaurant
For over 20 years and still counting, Village Park Restaurant has remained a go-to place among many locals and tourists for nasi lemak. Their longevity in the business lies in its winning formula that has loyal customers and newcomers coming back for more: well-separated and fluffy grains of rice with just the right texture infused with coconut milk and other aromatic ingredients such as pandan leaves. It’s worth noting their signature sambal is freshly prepared using fresh and dried chillies with a subtle hint of fragrance coming from the lemongrass. Then, there’s the all-time favourite of ayam goreng berempah: a must-have side dish of deep-fried poultry goodness that tastes fresh, crunchy and fragrant at every bite.
6) Nasi Lemak Alor Corner
The strategically located hawker stall of Nasi Lemak Alor Corner in Bukit Bintang needs no introduction. The stall opens as early as 8 am but don’t be surprised the queue already started before they even start the business. They have been around since 1980 with their success lies in the traditional family recipes used for all of the freshly prepared side dishes. This includes everything from fried chicken to sambal sotong and rendang daging awaits you in its trays. They pair well with nasi lemak — a mix of appetisingly fragrant coconut rice with all the usual suspects.
FB: azminasilemakalorcorner | IG: @nasilemakalorcorner
7) Nasi Lemak Angah
The Sentul’s Pasar Baru is home to Nasi Lemak Angah, a popular spot for many locals coming here for a good plate of nasi lemak. Aromatic rice with a whiff of pandan-leaf fragrance and a side serving of sambal that isn’t too spicy, making it palatable enough. They serve plenty of side dishes here, covering from ayam berempah to sambal sotong/kerang, rendang daging and paru berlada.
FB: nasilemak.samballebih | IG: @nasilemakangah
8) Nasi Lemak Bumbung
Nasi Lemak Bumbung caters to the dinner and supper crowds, opening late till midnight. This PJ’s Sea Park mainstay retains its nondescript charm with tables and chairs lining the alleyway. Their tasty nasi lemak combines spicy-sweet sambal, peanuts, anchovies, cucumbers and a sunny-side-up egg on top of coconut-rich rice. Add on their must-have ayam goreng berempah seasoned with succulent goodness of assorted Indian spices to fulfil your nasi lemak experience.
9) Nasi Lemak Wanjo Kampung Baru
If you like your sambal on the sweeter side, Nasi Lemak Wanjo Kampung Baru might satisfy you. As for the rest, their signature nasi lemak comes with aromatic coconut rice, crunchy ikan bilis, a hardboiled egg (not half, to be exact) and sliced cucumbers. Side dishes are aplenty here with options like ayam goreng, sambal kerang and begedil to choose from.
FB: nasilemakwanjoofficial | IG: @nasilemakwanjokgbaru
10) NALÉ – The Nasi Lemak Company
If you are in the mood for an upscale nasi lemak dining experience, NALÉ – The Nasi Lemak Company should be on your next checklist. Some of their must-try signatures include Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng NALÉ — a combination of aromatic pandan-infused coconut rice, savour-spicy sambal with the usual bites and crunchy, boneless deep-fried chicken. There are other choices like Ayam Bakar NALÉ, Ayam Bakar Sambal Hijau and Beef Gulai. If you plan to splurge more, try one of NALÉ’s top-of-the-line nasi lemak dishes like Kambing Bakar Gulai and Lamb Shank.
thenale.com | FB: nalenasilemak | IG: @nalenasilemak
That’s not all! More Top 10s in Malaysia are waiting to be discovered, and you can also check out more business recommendations at Carilocal.com!
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