Is cheap nasi lemak now a myth? I remember the days when you could get a plate of nasi lemak with a proper egg, anchovies, peanuts, and sambal for less than RM4. But now, that seems harder and harder to find especially in KL areas.
These days, the same basic plate can easily range from RM5 to RM7 at most stalls, and go even higher if you step into cafes or more “aesthetic” or viral food spots.
So it makes you wonder… is cheap nasi lemak actually disappearing, or are we just remembering a time when everything was simply more affordable?
Because while RM5 nasi lemak still exists, it no longer feels like the “standard” in many urban areas. Even the most basic Malaysian food is slowly starting to come with a premium price tag.
The same food, different price tags everywhere
It’s still the same dishes we grew up with:
Nasi lemak, Mee goreng, Roti Canai, Chicken rice.. but the prices are no longer consistent.
What used to be RM4- RM6 is now:
- RM6 - RM9 at many stalls
- RM10 - RM15 at cafes
- RM20+ for “premium” or viral versions
And somehow, it’s all still considered normal.
When food becomes viral, prices quietly follow
One thing many people have started noticing is this pattern of when a small, humble food stall goes viral after being featured by a food reviewer or influencer, Suddenly, the queue gets longer, the place become famous, the same dish starts appearing online everywhere and shortly after… prices start to change.
Sometimes it’s a small increase. Sometimes it’s not.
It feels like visibility also now comes with a cost.
The more viral something becomes, the more premium it slowly turns into.
Is it inflation… or attention pricing?
Of course, inflation is real. Ingredients cost more. Rent is higher. Operations are not the same as before.
But there’s also another layer that people rarely talk about:
Attention changes value.
When a simple dish gets:
- TikTok exposure
- Instagram reviews
- Viral food videos
- Long queues from tourists and locals
It slowly stops being “just food” and becomes an “experience.”
And experiences are always priced differently.
RM50 a day for food is becoming normal
As an office worker as well, I realised that spending RM50 per day is such a norm,
- Breakfast: RM8–RM12
- Lunch: RM12–RM20
- Dinner or snack: RM10–RM18
And this doesn’t even include drinks or cafe stops.
What used to feel like casual spending now feels like a daily calculation.
And the worst part?
It doesn’t even feel like luxury food. Just… normal meals.
The hidden shift nobody noticed
It’s not just about price increases. It’s about how basic food is being redefined.
- Stall food is becoming cafe priced
- Cafe food is becoming lifestyle food
- Lifestyle food is becoming content
And somewhere in between, affordability is slowly being pushed out of the conversation.
So why does simple food feel expensive now?
It’s a mix of everything:
- Real inflation in ingredients and rent - no denying this, everything is going up in prices.
- Viral exposure changing demand
- Social media turning food into trends
- Rising lifestyle expectations in cities
But the result feels very personal:
Food doesn’t feel as simple anymore as it used to be.
Final thought
Maybe simple Malaysian food is not disappearing. There are still some seller or hidden gem places that priced their food at reasonable or cheap prices.
Maybe it’s just being reshaped in a world where everything, from cost of living to social media influence , affects how value is created and perceived.
But for many Malaysians, the question still remains:
When did a simple meal stop being simple… and start feeling like a premium decision?
Maybe it's better to just cook at home to save cost?
Anjali Kanabathy (k.viwyaanjali@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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