Nasi Lemak wars

Best@Cheras: Born&Bred: Nasi Lemak wars Check out the best outlets in Cheras for this favourite Malaysian dish By Viknesh Ashley w hen thinking about what to eat in Cheras, you may find it hard to decide because of the many different types of cuisine to choose from.

There’s fresh seafood, spicy Thai, an array of Chinese dishes, Malay fare served up at night markets, as well as yummy banana leaf restaurants at almost every corner of the district.

Despite the fierce competition, nasi lemak has always had a special place in the heart of the Cheras community as well as those who frequent the locality.

Of late, however, a battle among nasi lemak outlets has been raging – with one restaurant finding ways to outdo the other, resulting in the mushrooming of nasi lemak providers within the area.

Let’s take a stroll down the Nasi Lemak Hall of Fame and shortlist some of the best places in Cheras to grab this truly Malaysian dish.  Contender 1 Poppo Kanteen Cheras Located at 37 Jalan Manis 9, Taman Bukit Segar, 56100 Batu 9 Cheras, Poppo Kanteen Cheras is easy to find and obviously popular among the working class.

On entering the restaurant, you would be impressed with the setup which reflects the nasi lemak served here – simply appetising.

The staff may not seem very friendly, but the food makes up for any service shortcomings.

The fried chicken is flavourful and hot, condiments such as roasted peanuts, anchovies and sliced cucumber are all fresh and in generous amounts.

The egg that initially seemed peculiar (boiled on the inside and fried on the outside) provided a different experience but was just as delicious.

This establishment is highly recommended to nasi lemak lovers looking for a twist.

The only downside to the dish is that the sambal lacks oomph and could be a little spicier.

Patrons will be satisfied with their meal because the portion matches the amount they pay (RM8.90).

Yummm! This restaurant deserves a rating of 8/10.

Contender 2 Gerai Makan Al R’zkhan Maju This outlet at Taman Tenaga, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, is easy to find for those seeking out nasi lemak.

Although unimpressive, the restaurant is manned by friendly and helpful staff.

The nasi lemak here was a disappointment.

The rice was cold and they were penny-pinching with the condiments as there was barely any ikan bilis and roasted peanuts in the serving.

The chicken, however, saved the dish – it was tasty and flavourful.

This restaurant does not meet the mark with regard to a wholesome plate of nasi lemak, and thus deserves a rating of just 4/10.

Contender 3 Nasi Lemak Pandan, Cheras The stall is located at the Kuchai Lama Food Court, Lot 31208 Jalan Awan Makmur, 58200 Kuala Lumpur.

The outlet is clean and managed by helpful and friendly staff.

When placing your order, you will notice that this stall offers nasi lemak with chicken as well as wild boar.

Nasi lemak with wild boar may be rare but this combination has turned out to be a celebration for the taste buds.

The rice was hot and flavourful, the condiments were sufficient and the wild boar complimented the spicy preparation perfectly.

The only downside to the dish was that the sambal was not spicy enough.

This stall attracts families because it is in a food court.

For those looking for a little adventure in their favourite nasi lemak, this spot is definitely recommended and deserves a rating of 8/10.

Contender 4 Nasi Lemak Taman Tenaga This outlet stands out due to its versatility and budget pricing at just RM5 a plate.

Located at Taman Tenaga, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Nasi Lemak Taman Tenaga is for those looking for cheap and good nasi lemak.

The most impressive aspect about this nasi lemak stall is its self-service feature, whereby customers can choose from a huge variety of dishes to go with the nasi lemak.

They can also help themselves to generous amounts of condiments.

The stall’s hot coconut steamed rice is extremely appetizing.

The fried chicken was tasty but cold.

The spicy sambal served with the coconut rice was perfect– flavourful and spicy.

This nasi lemak has many plus points and is worth the price, thus deserving a rating of 7/10.

Since two outlets scored 8/10 on the nasi lemak scale, we had to give the win to Nasi Lemak Pandan, Cheras because of its unique wild boar version..