21 best nasi lemak stalls in Singapore [Dec 2024 update]
Asking a Singaporean about fried chicken will usually lead to one thing: nasi lemak. It is, after all, one of the two major components of the traditional plate of this ever-popular dish, the other being fragrant coconut rice.
If you’re ever craving a good plate of nasi lemak, this list will help you find the 21 best nasi lemak stalls in Singapore. Just note that the entries aren’t ranked in any particular order and are just a compilation of our favourites.
1. Sixth Avenue Nasi Lemak
When people think of Sixth Avenue, they see the multitude of condominiums and restaurants. All at a high cost. Yet, nestled within the area is Sixth Avenue Nasi Lemak, offering wallet-friendly dishes at a humble kopitiam.
Here, the Chicken Nasi Lemak Set (S$5.20) uses long grain rice and comes with a sunny-side-up egg, a cut-up fried chicken wing, ikan bilis, and thick cucumber slices, all with a side of sambal.
The rice is aromatic, with hints of pandan and coconut. The chicken here is marinated with ingredients like turmeric, leaving it with a light golden batter. The ikan bilis adds to the dish with its crispy texture and savoriness that pairs well with the rice.
The show-stopper here though, is really their homemade Sambal. It’s such a big deal that Sixth Avenue sells them in containers ranging from S$1.50 to S$10. For just adding more to your set, it will be an extra charge of S$0.30.
They have add-ons like Otak-otak (S$1.40) and Lontong (S$4 – S$4.50), but the latter sells out pretty early and you should be there for it by 8am at the latest.
12 Sixth Avenue, Singapore 276475
+65 9005 6372
Mon to Sat: 6am – 1pm
Sun: 6.30am – 12.30pm
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2. Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang
Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang likely needs little to no introduction. They have expanded with several outlets and even earned a spot on the 2021 MICHELIN Guide Singapore.
The flagship is at Yishun Park Hawker Centre and usually has a waiting time of 10 minutes.
The signature here is their Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang (S$7.30). The rice is topped with the titular ayam taliwang, ikan bilis, a side of roasted peanuts, cucumber slices, egg and nasi lemak chilli.
The fragrant chicken leg is tender, so you would find it easy to tear apart even with the plastic cutlery provided. The side of chilli is a must as it adds a richer taste to the rice.
For a more classic take, get the Jumbo Set (S$8.50), which comes with a crispy fried chicken wing, a big piece of otah, egg, sausage, fishcake, crispy ikan bilis and cucumber. It’s well worth it as it comes with all the ingredients you could ask for in a regular plate of nasi lemak.
51 Yishun Avenue 11, Yishun Park Hawker Centre, #01-33
+65 8089 1465
Tue to Sun: 6.30am – 7pm
Closed on Mon
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3. Hon Ni Kitchen
Normally, when we think of nasi lemak, we don’t often imagine a Chinese-owned stall. Yet, Hon Ni Kitchen has managed to earn a reputation as one of the go-to places for nasi lemak in Bedok.
It’s a no-frills nasi lemak stall that constantly earns long queues during operating hours. This is because the price here is graciously economic.
The total cost here entirely depends on the sides that you pick, letting you customise your nasi lemak to your liking.
The majority of their ingredients like Ikan Bilis and Brinjal go for $0.70 a piece, with the fried Chicken Wing being the most expensive item on their menu.
The chicken is fried to perfection, leaving a nice crisp to be paired with their coconut rice. The sambal from Hon Ni is a good balance of sweet and savoury.
Hon Ni is ideal for those looking to keep things wallet-friendly, as orders hardly ever go above S$6, which is not something most nasi lemak places can boast of.
216 Bedok North Street 1, #01-07, Singapore 460216
+65 9655 8675
Tue to Sat: 5.30am – 1pm
Closed on Sun & Mon
4. Chong Pang Nasi Lemak
Tucked away at a kopitiam on Sembawang Road is Chong Pang Nasi Lemak.
The nasi lemak here is done cai peng style, letting you pick and choose the sides you want. The portions given are always generous, so you’re bound to get bang for your buck. If you don’t want rice, they also offer noodles as an alternative.
If you’re feeling indecisive, Chong Pang also offers a variety of sets. With their S$4.70 set, you can get a chicken wing, omelette, fish fillet and hot dog.
One of their S$5.70 sets has sweet and sour chicken instead of chicken wing, alongside the omelette, fish fillet and mackerel otah.
The nasi lemak chilli deserves the spotlight as it’s both sweet and nutty, making everything all the more appetising. Chong Pang themselves are aware of how good it is as they charge extra if you want more of it.
447 Sembawang Road, Singapore 758404
+65 9655 1868
Daily: 12am – 6am & 5pm – 12am
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5. Fong Seng Nasi Lemak
As Fong Seng Nasi Lemak is very popular among students, you already know it’s at least going to give you value for money.
There is a large selection of a la carte sides for customers to fully customise their nasi lemak, from the iconic Chicken Wing (S$1.90) and Kuning Fish (S$0.70 – S$0.80) to more unconventional sides like Teriyaki Chicken (S$2 – S$3) and Teriyaki Saba Fish (S$3 – S$4).
If you don’t feel like customising, they also offer sets like the traditional Chicken Wing Set (S$4.30), Variety Set (S$6.30) and Royal Teriyaki Set (S$8.30).
Many reviews say Fong Seng’s sambal has the right balance of umami and spice. Naturally, it compliments their coconut rice well. As it’s open till the wee hours of the morning, it makes for an ideal late-night supper spot for midnight cravings.
22 Clementi Road, Singapore 129757
+65 9092 1651
Mon to Sat: 6am – 4am
Closed on Sun
6. Lawa Bintang
Despite the ulu location of a Tampines industrial area, Lawa Bintang has a rather eye-catching and unique selling point. Here, their nasi lemak comes with a unique selection of toppings.
They are famous for their Signature Lobster Nasi Lemak (S$22). While heavy in price point, it makes up for it by having the lobster luxuriously topped with a cheesy cream sauce, all cooked to perfection.
Other interesting items to check out are their Barramundi Nasi Lemak (S$9), Salmon Nasi Lemak (S$9) and Grilled Sotong (S$10). If you’re looking for what’s under S$10 at Lawa Bintang, you can opt for a Dory Fish Nasi Lemak (S$6.50), Grouper Fish Nasi Lemak (S$6), and Wing Nasi Lemak (S$4).
While they have the usual side of Otah (S$1.50), you can get a Begedil (S$0.50) as well. This is the kind of place you would visit if you wanted to treat yourself to a more premium type of nasi lemak.
9008 Tampines Street 93, Singapore 528843
+65 9681 1073
Tue to Sun: 9am – 2pm
Closed on Mon
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7. Pak Mandor Nasi Lemak
Few in Yishun would protest calling Pak Mandor Nasi Lemak the best nasi lemak stall they have had. There is constantly a long queue, likely due to their affordable prices.
The majority of their sets start at S$3.50, all coming with a bowl’s worth portion of pandan coconut rice. Said rice is made with a good deal of coconut, making it fragrant and mouth-watering.
The most popular sides are fried chicken wings, ikan bilis, ikan selar kunning and a portion of omelette. Fish fillet and the begedil are popular alternatives.
Their signature homemade sambal is what many claim to be the reason why they return. Customers are given a generous serving on the side with every order. The sweet and spicy combo helps to balance out the whole meal.
Fair warning, though, that many in the queue order in bulk, so wait times are pretty long.
Block 645 Yishun Street 61, #01-320, Singapore 760645
Sat to Thu: 7.30am – 1pm
Closed on Fri
8. Ponggol Nasi Lemak
No nasi lemak list can be complete without the inclusion of Ponggol Nasi Lemak. With 4 outlets islandwide, this franchise has earned widespread recognition and popularity among Singaporeans.
There are various sets to choose from, like the 2pc Chicken Wing Set (S$8), 3pc Kuning Fish Set (S$7.90) and Ayam Berempah Set (S$11). If you’re looking to indulge, you could always order more with additional orders of Signature Fried Chicken Wing (S$2) and Housemade Shrimp Floss (S$1.30/S$4.20 per tub).
Ponggol Nasi Lemak also has made-to-order premium house specials like their Premium Battered Whole Prawn (2 pieces for S$5.60) and Premium Muar Style Mackerel Otah (S$8).
371 Jalan Besar, #01-01, Singapore 208998
+65 6293 0020
Fri to Wed: 11.30am – 10pm
Closed on Thu
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9. Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak
Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak is undoubtedly one of the big-name players in the Singapore Nasi Lemak scene. It’s likely even one of the most popular stalls at Boon Lay Food Village.
Here, they boast of using the highest quality extra virgin coconut oil in their cooking.
The most popular set is their Chicken Set (S$4.50), which comes with a piece of fried chicken, egg, anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and sambal. The sambal has a sweet tang to it, balancing out the spiciness. They’re not going to be stingy on the amount of sambal, but do note that an additional serving can cost S$0.50.
Their fluffy coconut rice pairs well with their chicken wings which come with a unique and subtle taste of ginger. As it closes at 3.30am, you can check this place out as a potential supper spot when you’re hungry for some late-night nasi lemak.
221A Boon Lay Place, #01-106, Singapore 641221
Daily: 7am – 3.30am
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10. International Muslim Food Stall Nasi Lemak
International Muslim Food Stall Nasi Lemak is located in Changi Village and has a steady and loyal customer base built over 30 years. It goes to show that old-school traditional styles of nasi lemak can still hold strong even among their contemporaries.
Despite how long they’ve been around, many have praised them for maintaining quality for their nasi lemak. Their prices remain relatively wallet-friendly as well.
Their set menus are all under S$5 without add-ons. The standard plate of Nasi Lemak Chicken is S$4.50.
As seen with quite the handful on this list, the mark of a well-regarded nasi lemak stall is usually their sambal. Here, you can expect it to be a lovely blend of heat, subtle oiliness and just a hint of dried prawn essence, and is not overly sweet.
The coconut rice is the fragrant, long-grain type and their crispy fried chicken has hints of lemongrass and ginger.
2 Changi Village Road, Changi Village Hawker Centre, #01-03, Singapore 500002
+65 8400 6882
Mon: 6pm – 11pm
Tue to Fri: 7am – 2pm & 6pm – 12am
Sat: 7am – 2pm
Sun: 5pm – 10pm
11. Wild Coco
When you think of nasi lemak, you don’t often think about heading down to a cafe or restaurant to have it. Wild Coco decided to lean into that rarity and serve up delicious nasi lemak in a more snazzy eatery than the usual kopitiams.
You can opt for the Basic Set (S$7.90) which comes with the usual suspects of coconut rice, sunny side up, ikan billis, peanut, sambal and cucumber. This also acts as the template among the different sets as all nasi lemak orders come with what is in the basic.
Some varieties are their popular Ayam Berempah (Breast for S$17.90/Leg for S$16.90), Sambal Fried Fish (S$17.90) and Chicken Curry (S$18.90).
While the dishes are pricier than your usual kopitiam, the large portions and well-seasoned ingredients will win you over. You can treat this as a nasi lemak place to indulge in.
The rice is made with fresh coconut milk and all ingredients are made and prepped in-house. Wild Coco also boasts of using no MSG in their dishes.
14 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209184
+65 9119 3822
Daily: 10.30am – 9pm
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12. Chai Chee Nasi Lemak
There’s a history to Chai Chee Nasi Lemak starting back in 1978. If you ask regulars what makes this stall so special, you’ll be told that it also specialises in various nasi padang dishes, mee rebus, mee siam, and lontong.
Some diners have been with them even before they moved to Hougang, and still made the journey to eat their no-frills nasi lemak. Now, they’ve relocated to 183 Jalan Pelikat.
The nasi lemak here are kept simple, with Sets ranging from as low as S$4 to S$6 at max. All of them come including anchovies and omelette. With that in mind, this place is one of the perfect stalls if you want to keep things affordable and still get your nasi lemak fix.
The fried chicken here is homemade and loaded with seasoning and spices. The rice is moist and has a strong coconut fragrance. It goes well with their sweet and spicy sambal.
183 Jalan Pelikat, The Promenade, #01-17, Singapore 537643
+65 8789 1589
Sat to Thu: 4.30am – 1pm
Closed on Fri
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13. Yi Liu Xiang Nasi Lemak
Yi Liu Xiang Nasi Lemak has been around since 1983. They have managed to stand out as one of the few nasi lemak stalls that does not specialise in deep-fried chicken wings for their nasi lemak.
Long queues are common at Yi Liu Xiang, as many are attracted to their alternative to fried chicken: their best-selling ikan selar kuning. They further defy regular conventions of nasi lemak by having silverfish instead of ikan billis. They even do away with their peanuts.
If you’re hoping for a plate of nasi lemak that doesn’t feel quite as sinfully indulgent, yet still has protein in it, this might be a good alternative. Just note that because of their popularity, they do tend to sell out way before their closing time. If you’re planning on dropping by, do so earlier in the day.
105 Hougang Avenue 1, Hainanese Village, #02-30, Singapore 530105
Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat: 6.30am – 12pm
Closed on Mon, Thu & Sun
14. Bali Nasi Lemak
There’s a debate between fans of the famed Ponggol Nasi Lemak and Bali Nasi Lemak as to which is better. While we’re not covering that debate on this list, curious readers can peruse our food showdown article to see which we felt came out on top.
So as not to spoil the results, I’ll simply put it that Bali Nasi Lemak delivers plates of highly addictive nasi lemak.
Located within their cosy eatery at Sims Avenue, many flock over when they’re seeking an east-side location for supper.
There are both sets and a la carte nasi lemak options on the menu, letting you customise and have the freedom of portion size at your disposal.
Their Bali Kicap Manis Premium Set (S$9.50) comes with a kicap manis drumstick or thigh, all served atop basmati nasi lemak rice with a side of Nyonya otak otak. You also get the usual bunch of sides such as sunny-side-up, roasted peanuts, ikan billis and sambal.
For S$2, you can order just their Kicap Manis Chicken Wing or Crispy Golden Chicken Wing to get your chicken fix.
142 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387464
Mon to Sat: 5pm – 2am
Closed on Sun
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15. Nurul Delights Nasi Lemak
There have been regulars who have been dining at Nurul Delights for over 15 years. This stall is located in Bukit Batok and has been attracting customers with filling meals at an extremely affordable cost.
Their Nasi Lemak Set goes for S$3.50 but that low cost doesn’t mean small portions. They are quite generous with the amount of ingredients and rice, filling their bowls to the brim.
Your nasi lemak will come with a fried chicken wing, an omelette slice, and a huge dollop of sambal with their fragrant coconut rice. Many regulars warn newcomers of the long queues during peak hours, so plan your visit carefully.
413 Bukit Batok West Avenue 4, Singapore 650413
Wed to Sun: 7am – 2pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
16. Aliff Nasi Lemak
Aliff Nasi Lemak can be found at Serangoon Garden Market and Food Centre. It’s a little obscure location-wise, but well worth it if you make the journey.
If you like to reward yourself, you can get Set E (S$6) from their menu, which is surprisingly the priciest thing at Aliff.
What you will get is a generous portion of fluffy basmati coconut rice accompanied by a whole piece of fried chicken wing, one otah and a sunny-side-up. You will also get the usual group of ikan billis, a slice of cucumber and a corner filled with sambal.
Here, their rice uses an additional touch of ginger. Their sambal is a well-balanced flavour of sweet and spicy, and it’s a good dipping sauce for the savoury crispy chicken.
A surprising star of the dish is the ikan bilis, which are fried to a light and crispy perfection.
49A Serangoon Garden Way, #01-27, Singapore 555945
Tue to Thu, Sat & Sun: 7.30am – 3pm
Closed on Mon to Fri
17. Uptown Nasi Lemak
Uptown Nasi Lemak stands out due to its wide range of nasi lemak options. The stall gets pretty busy from the office crowd during lunch time, so be sure to head down during non-peak hours to avoid queueing.
The Nasi Lemak w/ Ayam Goreng Berempah (S$9.20) is a must-get item, as it is served with a whole fried chicken leg. The crispy skin and juicy flesh of the chicken was to die for. You could opt to get just the thigh or drumstick if you’d prefer— this downsized set will cost you S$7.20.
Other options are the Nasi Lemak w/ Curry Kapitan Chicken (S$9.20) and Nasi Lemak w/ Beef Rendang (S$9.80), both of which were delicious and flavourful. Craving some seafood? Other sets come with Sambal Sotong (S$8.20), Sambal Petai Prawn (S$9.20) and Sambal Fish (S$8.70) as their main protein.
121 Telok Ayer Street, #01-01, Singapore 068590
+65 8345 9547
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 2.30pm
Closed on Sun
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18. Hi Leskmi Whampoa Nasi Lemak
Nestled within Roxy Square is Hi Leskmi Whampoa Nasi Lemak, which serves a pretty decent selection of nasi lemak sets and a la carte options. Each set meal consists of a protein, including Chicken (S$4.50), Fish Fillet (S$5.30), Otah (S$5.30) or a combination of all 3 (S$8), plus a fried egg, veggies, cucumber, sambal, ikan bilis and peanuts.
The portions are pretty huge here, with a whopping amount of rice and sambal being served in each dish, justifying the price point. Of course, you can customise your own plate, with ingredients like Curry Chicken w Potatoes (S$2), Chicken Wing (S$1.50), Taiwan Sausage (S$1.30) and Fish Cake (S$0.70) being some options to choose from.
50 East Coast Road, Roxy Square, #01-64, Stall 5, Singapore 428769
+65 8784 1901
Tue to Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 4pm
Closed on Mon
19. Mount Faber Nasi Lemak
With almost 50 years of history, Mount Faber Nasi Lemak is pretty well known in Singapore’s food scene. The store, which was initially located in Kreta Ayer, can now be conveniently found along Sago Street.
The shop offers quite a few nasi lemak set meals costing S$6 to S$8, each of which come with lime juice. The Drumstick Set is an option to go for, consisting of coconut rice topped with a drumstick, long beans, anchovy, peanuts and yellowstripe fish. There’s even a Vegetarian Set, consisting of broccoli, eggplant and tofu with long bean.
I opted to customise my own plate, selecting chicken thigh, long bean, an egg, a bergadil and peanuts. The chicken thigh was juicy and crispy while the rice itself was really fragrant. My total came up to S$10— there was no price list reflected anywhere, so you’ll have to keep enquiring with the server for specific prices of each ingredient.
20 Sago Street, Singapore 059018
+65 9788 9899
Sun to Thu: 9.30am – 1.30am
Fri: 9.30am – 2am
Sat: 9.30am – 2.30am
20. Blue Coco Nasi Lemak
Blue Coco Nasi Lemak serves its dishes with blue pea rice, giving it that extra pop of colour. You certainly won’t miss its vibrant storefront either, which dons a blue hue throughout. Opt for a pre-decided set menu, ranging from S$4.90 to S$7.90, or customise your own plate.
For just S$2.50, enjoy a base of butterfly blue pea coconut rice, ikan bilis, peanuts, sambal and cucumbers. Add on as many a la carte toppings as you’d like, with options including Chicken Wing (S$1.30), Chicken Cutlet (S$2), Otah (S$1.40), Kuning Fish (S$1.10) and Firecracker Squid (S$2.70 for 3 pieces).
You can even purchase Sambal at S$2.50 for a small portion or S$6.50 for a large portion. Why not also get a tub of Ikan Bilis Peanut for S$6.50?
3026 Ubi Road 1, Singapore 408719
+65 9026 1007
Mon to Sat: 7am – 3pm
Closed on Sun
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21. The Coconut Club
Here’s a spot for the bougie bunch— The Coconut Club is the perfect place to enjoy a more atas nasi lemak meal. This restaurant has 3 outlets across the country in Beach Road, Siglap and River Valley, with Beach Road being their flagship store.
Be sure to order their Signature Nasi Lemak dishes, including Signature Ayam Goreng Berempah (S$21), Beef Rendang (S$24) and Homemade Otah (S$15). You could also just go for the Traditional (S$9) option, which consists of coconut rice topped with a fried egg, sambal tumis and condiments.
Want something a little extra? You can add on more beef rendang for S$9 and more homemade otah for S$6.
For a list of outlets, opening hours and contact numbers, refer here.
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