Whether from a hawker stall or fancy restaurant, nasi lemak is a crowd favourite. With roots in Malay cuisine, nasi lemak features aromatic rice cooked in coconut milk, and it comes accompanied by several ingredients, including fried chicken, peanuts, egg, crispy fried anchovies and a dollop of sambal.
Controversy or not, these days, eateries are putting a spin on the aromatic dish. Some are adding premium ingredients such as grilled lobster. Others are jazzing up its appearance, presenting it as a towering cake, crowned with a wide array of accompaniments. Here are five premium versions to dig into.
What: The highlight of online store Dreamshop is called The Great Nasi Lemak Grain Bowl – so expect a modern spin on the dish. Pick either beef rendang ($18) or fried chicken berempah ($16) served on fragrant blue pea coconut rice.
The chunky beef rendang is juicy and full of flavour, while the fried chicken boasts a deliciously spicy marinade.
I love the accompanying ingredients such as pickled grilled cauliflower, an umami-packed miso sambal eggplant and sambal corn elote – a take on Mexican-style corn with chilli and grated coconut.
I would pass on the sambal beetroot, though, which was too bitter for my liking.
Make the most of the delivery fee and add on kueh salat (from $25 for a mini loaf cake) from its sister brand Mrs Kueh.
Dreamshop, which previously sold $60 “Dream Hokkien Mee”, is run by chef Jeremy Nguee of catering company, Preparazzi.
What: The Tampines outlet of the Muslim-owned Lawa Bintang may be tucked away in an industrial estate, but its customers are undeterred, judging by the never-ending queue. Go before noon to ensure you get your fix.
It is best known for its lobster nasi lemak with basmati rice, fried egg and sambal ($22). The grilled lobster is topped with a cheesy sauce and chilli seasoning.
Less is more – go easy on the sauce so it does not overpower the sweetness of the lobster meat.
I like that it offers other seafood options such as sotong goreng ($9), barramundi ($9) and salmon ($9). Its basic nasi lemak with a chicken wing is priced at $3.50.
Where: Block 9008 Tampines Street 93, open: 8am to 1pm (Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays); Changi Simei Community Club, 10 Simei Street 2, open: 9am to 6pm (Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays)
What: Is Lemak Boys‘ $18.50 premium nasi lemak worth the price? If only to satisfy your curiosity.
To me, the basic $12.50 version is good enough. The difference between the two is a side of rich and coconutty sayur lodeh and sambal prawns.
The other ingredients common to both versions are coconut rice, chicken berempah (spiced fried chicken), vegetable omelette, otah, peanuts, crispy fried anchovies and sambal.
Stand-out sides are a thick slice of otah and fried chicken with crispy skin and juicy meat.
Expect to queue during peak hours.
Where: 03-10 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road; open: 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6 to 9pm, Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays
What: Probably the most show-stopping version is Nasi Lemak Indulgence‘s tiered nasi lemak “cake”.
The rice is held together by sambal-based toppings, such as petai, cuttlefish and prawns. Other ingredients such as omelette, otah, quail eggs, sliced cucumber and peanuts are neatly layered on.
Prices start at $54 for an anchovies and peanuts cake and go up to $84 for the sambal cuttlefish and sambal prawn option.
You can also customise cakes.
This two-year-old online business is run by Ms Aries Chan, 40, a Malaysia-born mother of three who was inspired by a version of nasi lemak cake from Kuala Lumpur which she saw on Facebook.
She usually makes about 100 to 150 cakes in a month, but during the circuit breaker, she received orders of as many as 20 cakes a day.
What: This hearty lobster nasi lemak platter (from $49.90, for two to three people), from halal-certified restaurant chain Penang Culture, is perfect for a small dinner party.
The star ingredient is fresh and meaty Boston lobster topped with torched mozzarella. You also get tender beef rendang, sambal prawns, egg sambal and fried chicken thigh. The piquant achar helps to cut through the richness of the dish.
Where: All Penang Culture outlets including 04-27 Jem, 50 Jurong Gateway Road; B1-76 Nex, 23 Serangoon Central; and B2-23E VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk; or order through Oddle, Deliveroo, and GrabFood
When: Till Oct 31, various opening hours
Text: Eunice Quek for The Straits Times