Hye to Singaporeans or Singapore Frequent Travellers,

I am going to Singapore next month for 5 days and I would like to know where you can find the best Nasi Lemak in Singapore.

I know where to find nice nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur but afraid that I won't be going there this trip.

Cheers in advance.

This question would trigger a religious war between any group of Singaporeans, but if you say "nasi lemak" the expected answer is "Changi Village" -- not the airport, mind you, but a seaside 'village' closer to the infamous Changi Prison. Right in the middle is a hawker center with a very famous nasi lemak stall... and while you're at it, try rather un-Singaporean but still classic a chili dog and beer at Charlie's.

There are plenty of other, more conviniently located nasi lemak joints though, so ask the locals for their favorites.

Cheers for the suggestion. I am a big fan of 'Nasi Lemak' and I crave for it whenever I'm out of KL & Singapore. Most of the time, I just eat any 'Nasi Lemak' that I can find around the town center, which is not really good. So I thought that the locals would know better. Thank you, and I will definitely try it out.

By the way, what do you mean when you mentioned that this question will start a religious war?

The nasi lemak stall at Changi Village is the only answer ^

Its opposite the Le Meridien Changi (which is closed for renovations I think) and its also the departure point for the boats to Pulau Ubin, if you need to ask a local how to get there. Last stop for bus number 2 going east.

There are actually a few nasi lemak stalls but the one you are looking for is at the corner (International Nasi Lemak is the name IIRC)....just look for the long line of people queueing up.

By the way, what do you mean when you mentioned that this question will start a religious war?

Don't take my remark too literally :D But Singaporeans are fanatical about their food, each person has their own preferences, and when you have a dish like nasi lemak which has thousands of vendors all over the island, you're bound stir up a discussion. If worst comes to worst you'll be taken on a tour to every single famous one until it can be conclusively established which one is best!

Never tried the Nasi Lemak at Changi Village (especially since I often stay in the West) but I believe there is/was a rather well-known one in Pasir Panjang, close to the National University of Singapore, that someone once raved to me about. It's right by a prata place (I think they sell some sort of newfangled prata with fillings or something.) Not sure if this is still factually correct.

I was almost afraid to put up a dissenting opinion :D

I think we should start more threads on this board about food :)

I think I know the prata place you're talking about....there's a place that sells amazing cheese pratas (and other fillings, but you gotta try the cheesy one) outside of NUS. Its next to the 7-11 at the corner of Kent Ridge Road and Pasir Panjang Road.

I think I know the prata place you're talking about....there's a place that sells amazing cheese pratas (and other fillings, but you gotta try the cheesy one) outside of NUS. Its next to the 7-11 at the corner of Kent Ridge Road and Pasir Panjang Road.

And I'm sure you'll be amazed to hear this place is called... drumroll... The Cheese Prata Shop. Open 24 hours too! My trusty Makansutra doesn't list any outstanding nasi lemak places in the vicinity though, any more clues?

According to www.makansutra.com

NASI LEMAK
Yusof's Corner (*)
Adam Road Food Centre (under renovation till May)
Stall 1
Opening Hours: 7am - 4pm
"The rice has an authentic coconut flavour and due to the high turnover, the chicken wings are always freshly fried. "


NASI LEMAK
Banana Leaf Nasi Lemak

221B Boon Lay Place #01-37
Opening Hours: 12pm-10pm
Closed On: Mon
Fragrant rice with enough coconut taste. Tender chicken and lamb curry. The potatoes in the curry are simmered till nice and soft with a rich curry taste.

Ended up at Changi Village's famed International Nasi Lemak place for a quality check today, and yes, it is good. The portion is completely orthodox -- coconut rice, fried egg, ikan bilis (no peanuts tho!), excellent chili, two slices of a cucumber and an extra of your choice -- and not terribly generous in size, but due to the neverending queue everything is tasty and hot off the grill. I recommend the chicken wing for the extra. Total cost: S$2.50.

On the other hand, I live right next to the Boon Lay Place nasi lemak joint and find it distinctly underwhelming. YMMV.

Actually, the best Nasi Lemak is at Serangoon Road!

I'm not kidding, here's what future travellars should do. Hail a cab. Tell the cab driver you want to go to the Upper Serangoon Road Nasi Lemak Store. They'll know which store you mean. Its not cheap, compared to other similar stores, and the owners are unfriendly. Cost about 6-7SGD for a deluxe plate with chicken wings and all the works.

In fact, cab drivers normally know all the best hunts.

This place is worth it. I miss it so much! :p

Rain

"I know where to find nice nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur but afraid that I won't be going there this trip."

Care to share the location in KL? I'll be going there next month. Thanks.

I know where to find nice nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur but afraid that I won't be going there this trip.
I second FlyHummingbird's request, care to share?

I love the Nasi Lemak at Changi V, I live near there myself but currently studying overseas and already missing it. The owners are a little arrogant and during the bird flu crisis, the served Nasi Lemak without the egg and still charged S$2.50 but I still feel that their Nasi Lemak is the best in Singapore. While you're there, just walk to the block behind the Nasi Lemak stall and try the BBQ Stingray(not sure what the name of the stall is), wonderful stuff. ^

The nasi lemak stall at Changi Village is the only answer ^

Its opposite the Le Meridien Changi (which is closed for renovations I think) and its also the departure point for the boats to Pulau Ubin, if you need to ask a local how to get there. Last stop for bus number 2 going east.

There are actually a few nasi lemak stalls but the one you are looking for is at the corner (International Nasi Lemak is the name IIRC)....just look for the long line of people queueing up.

The hotel has re-opened and it's now called Le Meridien Changi Village. I use to work there while it was still the Le Meridien Changi and I don't really like the new name, "changi village" has the word sleazy attached to it if you know what I mean.

And I'm sure you'll be amazed to hear this place is called... drumroll... The Cheese Prata Shop. Open 24 hours too! My trusty Makansutra doesn't list any outstanding nasi lemak places in the vicinity though, any more clues?

:D The Cheese Prata Shop and the place that sells nasi lemak are two separate entities, actually! The place that sells Nasi Lemak is called Fong Seng Nasi Lemak - just take the bus number 95 from buona vista MRT, in front of the Ministry Of Education building to the last stop, and just walk further down.

if its too confusing, cab down! as singapore is small, most places can be reached under S$15 or so. i wouldn't recommend driving down there as parking is limited.

"I know where to find nice nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur but afraid that I won't be going there this trip."

Care to share the location in KL? I'll be going there next month. Thanks.


sorry FlyHummingbird, this is all probably a bit late for your trip...

However for your next trip and the benefit of others, there are two places in KL that I can recommend for great nasi lemak:

The first one is apparently quite famous and is situated in a small food court opposite the Tanglin hospital.... easy to spot as its the one with the queue!
Basically it comes with a serve of the coconut rice and you then choose from a wide range of side dishes. The cost is based on what you choose. The sambal based dishes are fantastic! Also people from the other stalls will come and sell you a drink etc.
[caveat: its not so easy to get to (need taxi), its only open for breakfast until they run out of the rice, and its not open on Sundays]


The second one is open at night (never tried at lunchtime) and is much easier to get to...
Situated in Kampung Bahru, its only one or two subway stops away from KLCC/Petronas Towers. Get out of the station, face the city, walk to your right until you get to the first street, turn right and follow it all the way until you join another street filled with permanent (but open air) restaurants. Keep walking down the restaurant street and on your right there is a place that sells the nasi lemak. (can't remember the name exactly ... called something like "Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa"??)
Same deal as the first one... choose your side dishes to go with it. They also have fresh juice available (watermelon juice is my favourite!).

And finally, while its not nasi lemak.... you just have to try the satay at Kajang!
Kajang is about half way to the airport, the locals will tell you that its famous for satay but its so far to travel (ignore them!), outside of peak hour its about 20 - 25 mins each way, approx 16 ringgit on the meter each way for the taxi and 16 ringgit for two people to stuff themselves silly with satay and juices!


I'll be travelling there with my gf around the grand prix weekend and we'll probably do at least the kajang and kampung bahru places again! :D

Welcome to Flyertalk !


The first one is apparently quite famous and is situated in a small food court opposite the Tanglin hospital

Is there a Tanglin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur ? ....... or are you referring to Singapore ?

Yes, Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa seems to be quite well known but I have yet to get down to trying it. Will definitely make use of your post for directions :)

Kajang is famous for its satays but I wont say its that much better than those from my local satay vendor ;) It would be fun to take a drive down there for a "satay night-out" if you have access to a car or have local friends to bring you. Otherwise, you may have to worry about getting a cab back to the city in the evening.

Is there a Tanglin Hospital in Kuala Lumpur ? ....... or are you referring to Singapore ?

Yes definitely KL... maybe related to the one in Singapore?

I just remembered that the Nasi Lemak Tanglin actually has a web site: http://www.nasilemaktanglin.com/
(warning: its mostly in Bahasa Melayu - my limited indonesian allows me to read a little bit of it!)

Kajang is famous for its satays but I wont say its that much better than those from my local satay vendor ;) It would be fun to take a drive down there for a "satay night-out" if you have access to a car or have local friends to bring you. Otherwise, you may have to worry about getting a cab back to the city in the evening.
Yes the thing about getting a taxi back is possibly true... Last time the taxi driver actually asked if he could wait for us and had his dinner there too so he got to take us back... we were going to invite him to eat with us but he disappeared during the meal phase but was back waiting for us when we finished.

I think the staff at the Westin hotel thought we were a little bit crazy in that we actually went all the way to Kajang for a satay dinner :)

mario33, if you are locally based, any other good suggestions for KL? ;)

mario33, if you are locally based, any other good suggestions for KL? ;)

From your post, you seem to know more places to eat in KUL than I do :D

When the search function is up again, do a search in the Asia forum and there are a few threads on places to go to for good food in KUL :)

For those of us who can only dream of eating this fantastic dish but living so far from M'sia, S'pore... I've come to your rescue! :D I created this website so that ppl can access these awesome recipes and try them at home. My mom swears by them!! Check it out for other recipes like kuih talam, ang ku, satay, rendang

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Market/7773/nasilemak.html

best nasi lemak if you're living in the East would definitely be May's Nasi Lemak located at Downtown East. Absolutely kick-... sambal chilli and nyonya otak. I should know since I've only been eating it for the past 10 years. :P Rice is seriously fluffy and very lemak and the sambal goreng is simply awesome. Beats Changi and Punggol hands down. ;) The only comparable stall would be Adam road's selera which I absolutely adore, if only I didn't have to travel ALL that way for it. ;(