Wake up and smell the sambal! Nothing screams Malaysia more than nasi lemak.
Ranked #9 in TIME magazine’s 10 most healthy international breakfasts, the delicious all-in-one dish is said to be “balanced with lots of manganese, protein, and carbs”. Nasi lemak, which can be literally translated as “fat rice”, is primarily made up of fragrant coconut rice and spicy sambal sauce, served with crispy ikan bilis (anchovies), sliced cucumbers, roasted peanuts, and a hard boiled egg on the side.
From the simple wallet-friendly RM1 banana leaf-wrapped packet sold at roadside stalls to the fancy schmancy versions sold at nice cafes and restaurants, nasi lemak has many different variations to suit different tastebuds. If your usual nasi lemak stall is not open or if you’re just in the mood for some spicy goodness, here’s a list of our must-try nasi lemak places (aside from Madam Kwan and Village Park) in the Klang Valley.
Don’t say we didn’t share 😉
1. Nasi Lemak Bumbung @ Seapark
Tucked away in an alleyway in Seapark, Bumbung PJ Ibumie, or simply known as Nasi Lemak bumbung (or sometimes Nasi Lemak Seapark), is arguably one of the best nasi lemak places in the Klang Valley! Decorated with fluorescent lights, the stall has only 2 dishes on the menu – Indomie and classic nasi lemak served with a golden sunny side up and crispy fried chicken topped with sweet and spicy sambal. Oh, sangat sedap ?
The stall opens from 6pm till late and it closes on Fridays.
Nasi lemak bumbung is located right next to Maybank at Jalan 21/11b, Seapark 46300 Petaling Jaya.
2. Nasi Lemak Jeep Merah @ Wangsa Maju
Nasi Lemak Jeep Merah has been around for over a decade and business is better than ever! Priced at only RM1.50 a packet, the mouth-watering dish is very popular among the locals, especially TARC and UTAR students who live nearby. Curious as to why the stall is called Jeep Merah? That’s because the seller owns a cute red colour Jeep 🙂 So if you’re around the area and craving for some spicy goodness, why not give this nasi lemak a try.
Business usually starts at 8:30pm and the nasi lemak packets are usually sold out by 11pm.
Nasi Lemak Jeep Merah is located in front of Restoran Zati Manis and BRJ at Seksyen 2, Wangsa Maju Desa Setapak, 53300 Kuala Lumpur.
3. Ann Nasi Lemak @ Pudu (Non-Halal)
While nasi lemak is originally a Malay dish, the Chinese take on the scrumptious delicacy is definitely worth a mention. Situated at the Imbi Market, foodies from near and far cannot resist the taste of Ann Nasi Lemak’s specialty – pork skin curry. Chewy and flavourful, this curry is a great add-on to the typical nasi lemak. If you’re not a fan of pork skin, the stall also serves spicy sambal siham (cockles), sotong (squid), vegetables, and curry chicken.
The stall opens from 6:30am till 9:30am, but on some days, they sell out as early as 9am.
Ann Nasi Lemak is located at Imbi Market, Jalan 1/77C, Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
For more information, visit Ann Nasi Lemak’s Facebook page.
4. Warong Nasi Lemak Panas Warisan Sambal Opah @ Subang Jaya
What’s better than heaven? Why, RM1 nasi lemak bungkus, of course! Fluffy coconut rice tightly packed with sweet and spicy sambal, this joint is popular for take-aways during dinner time. From beef rendang to prawn sambal, Warong Nasi Lemak Panas Warisan Sambal Opah can cater to everybody’s needs. Don’t like nasi lemak? The restaurant has char kaoy teow, mee rebus, and otak-otak as well!
The restaurant opens from 5pm to 4am.
Warong Nasi Lemak Panas Warisan Sambal Opah is located at 7, Jalan USJ 9/5p, Subang Business Centre, 47620 Subang Jaya.
5. Nasi Lemak Kukus Goreng Fauzey @ PJ Oldtown
What? Fried nasi lemak? Shut up and take our money! This unique nasi lemak creation was created by Chef Fauzey, who worked in 5-star hotels for 10 years before going off on his own. The idea came about when a bus driver came to him and asked, “Can you do a nasi lemak goreng?”. Fried in his own secret spice mix, Fauzey’s fried nasi lemak is best served with his special ayam goreng berempah.
The stall opens from 5:30pm till late.
Nasi Lemak Kukus Goreng Fauzey is located at Jalan Othman Bus Station, PJ Old Town, Petaling Jaya.
For more information, visit the stall’s Facebook page.
6. Chinese Nasi Lemak @ Jalan Sentul (Non-Halal)
Managed by a husband and wife duo, the shop is simply known as Chinese nasi lemak or Jalan Sentul nasi lemak. Aside from basic nasi lemak condiments, there are many other side dishes for you to choose from, such as chicken rendang, assam curry prawn, sambal sotong, sambal petai, and luncheon meat. The best-seller is probably the curry pork ribs as it sells out pretty quickly each day.
The stall opens from 6pm but make sure to go early to avoid the long queue!
Chinese Nasi Lemak is located opposite BHP station at Jalan Sentul, 51000 Kuala Lumpur.
7. Selera Jaya 223 @ PJ
Also known as nasi lemak 222, Selera Jaya 223 is one of the most popular supper joints among PJ-ians. There are 2 brands of nasi lemak – Yati (red stamp) and Suri (blue stamp). Packets of warm, fresh nasi lemak are placed on almost every table in the food court, allowing patrons to freely make their choice. What’s the difference? Though both are priced at only RM1.50, Yati uses sambal pedas while Suri’s sambal is more on the sweet side. Did we also mention that the food court is open 24 hours?
Selera Jaya 223 is located at Jalan 51a/223, Seksyen 51a, 46100 Petaling Jaya.
8. Warung Sinarnor @ Chan Sow Lin
Looking for some hearty nasi lemak? Look no further because we’ve got just the right place for you! Like the Chinese Nasi Lemak, Warung Sinarnor offers various add-ons – sambal sotong, bergedil (potato cutlet), curry chicken, and deep fried paru (cow lungs) – to spice up your nasi lemak.
The stall opens daily from 6:30am to 11:30am and if you are planning a party, they take orders for catering as well.
Warung Sinarnor is located at Jalan 2/89c, Chan Sow Lin, 55200 Kuala Lumpur.
Did we miss out any of your favourite nasi lemak joints? What are some of your favourite side dishes that you often add to your nasi lemak? Don’t hesitate to tell us in the comments below!
Sources: Fried Chillies, The Smart Local.
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