If you are planning to visit MALAYSIA and SINGAPORE, you should try their local food.
As a matter of fact, just like other cities in South East Asia, Malaysia and Singapore are food heaven.
Everywhere you go, in Malaysia or in Singapore, you can find kedai kopi (coffeehouse) or rumah makan (restaurant), where they sell bunch of local food, and you will never be bored.
Among the local food in Malaysia and Singapore, I would recommend that you to try NASI LEMAK.
NASI LEMAK is a Malaysian traditional dish served in one plate, or traditionally served wrapped in banana leaves.
Nasi Lemak being sold in banana leaves
NASI lEMAK usually consists of a scoop of rice cooked with coconut milk or, in Malay, “santan”, and topped with topping such as, boiled egg, cooked peanuts, small fish, chicken curry, fried fish and fried chicken. And NASHI LEMAK has to be served with Sambal or Malaysian cooked chili sauce.
I love NASI LEMAK for always for several reasons.
First, NASI LEMAK simply tastes good. The combination of rice cooked with coconuts rice and sambal really enhances the rest of toppings in the mouth, and the combination of all the ingredients together in the mouth is exquisite.
Also, in many occasions, you can choose what you want to put on the rice, so there would be many combinations of the topping, and the process of choosing the topping is really fun.
Nasi Lemak is one of the most famous national food of Malaysia and Singapore. Even it is traditionally food for Malay people, NASI LEMAK is loved by all the people in Malaysia and Singapore.
As a matter of fact, several years ago, talented Malaysian actor and director, Woo Meng Chee, who is a Chinese of Hainanese decent person, made a movie called NASI LEMAK 2.0. This is a good example to how Malaysians love NASI LEMAK.
Usually, when you order NASI LEMAK in commercial restaurant, chain restaurant or restaurant which does not really specialized in NASI LEMAK, the restaurant have already decide what to put on the rice.
But if you go to a restaurant whose specialty is NASI LEMAK, most of all the time, you may be able to chose your toppings.
The toppings are usually displayed at the entrance of the restaurant. They usually put they rice on the plate for you , and you point out the toppings you want. They the staff will put the toppings on your rice. And your NASI LEMAK is ready!
Nasi Lemak food vendor in Singapore
Nasi Lemak toppings displayed
Choice for Nasi Lemak
People in Malaysia and Singapore usually understand English, so you should not have any problem ordering NASI LEMAK.
But just in they do not understand English, HERE ARE SOME MALAY LESSON for you!
Minta Nasi Lemak=May I have Nasi Lemak.
Minta yang ini=May I have that one (please point the food when you say this)
Terima Kasih=Thank you
I guess if you know these sentences, you will get by to but yourself a NASI LEMAK.
NASI LEMAK is so popular in Malaysia and Singapore, that you can eat NASI LEMAK everywhere. For example, Airasia, which, I would say, is the most successful low cost airlines in Asia, they serve NASI LEMAK in the air, too. And it looks like this.
WHERE SHOULD I GO TO EAT NASI LEMAK?
May I introduce you some NASI LEMAK restaurants I recommend in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and last but not least, in NYC.
IN SINGAPORE
Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak
I always love the taste of NASI LEMAK of Boon Lay Power. The restaurant is located in Boon Lay Place Market & Food Center in Jurong. Singapore. The food is basic, but very nice. The taste of curry is sweet and spicy, rather mild. and the good aroma of curry will stay in your mouth for a while.
I do recommend this restaurant.
KUALA LUMPUR
Nasi Lemak from Warong Sinarnor
Worung Senarnor restaurant offers traditional style of NASI LEMAK. All the NASI LEMAK served here are good. But the most significant about this restaurant is their Sambel or Malaysian Chili Paste. I do know the recipe, but their Samble is good in your moth. It is pretty spicy, but it does not burn your mouth at all. I feel like I can eat many bowls of white rice only with their Sambel.
Their NASI LEMAK also can be served with Pegedil, which is Malay style potate cake. I love their Pegedil with their NASI LEMAK. It is such a good combo.
This restaurant is little far from Kuala Lumpur City Center, and it takes about 15 minutes or more by Taxi. But I am telling you, it is worth a while trying Worung Sinarnor‘s NASI LEMAK.
NEW YORK CITY
Entrance of Sanur Restaurant
I just went there and I wrote a review about Sanur Restaurant in Chinatown, NYC.
Click HERE TO SEE MY REVIEW ON YELP HERE!
When I feel like I can’t wait till I visit Malaysia or Singapore next time, this is the place I go and fulfill my need for NASI LEMAK in NYC. Please go and try their food. I am telling you, not only NASI LEMAK, but the rest the food is wonderful there.
Nasi Lemak I took out today from Sanur Restaurant
Ok guys, again, if you visit Malaysia or Singapore, try NASI LEMAK. I know you gonna like it, and see why all the local people of Malaysia and Singapore love NASI LEMAK.
Ok guys, have a good day, and Bon Voyage!
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Musa's Traveling in Asia 