Nasi Lemak Shop: Overrated or rightfully-claimed PJ’s new best nasi lemak?
From Bandar Utama to TTDI, Petaling Jaya is brimming with spots serving Malaysia’s beloved nasi lemak. Village Park, Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu, and 3 Days Nasi Lemak have all been crowned as the “best” on social media. Now, there’s a new contender creating buzz: Nasi Lemak Shop.
The moment I arrived, I could see how popular the place was. The minimalist white building was packed, with groups of hungry customers waiting outside under a tent for their turn. Even so, my dining companion and I only had to wait about 15 minutes to snag a seat.
The interior was just as cosy and well-decorated as the outside, with warm brown and white tones. They even had solo seats by the counter and windows, ideal for office workers looking for a quick bite. The service was excellent and impressively fast — within 5 minutes of ordering, our food arrived, freshly made and piping hot.
What I tried at Nasi Lemak Shop
Though it’s called Nasi Lemak Shop, this spot offers more than just nasi lemak. You’ll find local classics like Asam Laksa (RM14.90), Hor Fun Soup (RM14.90), and Mee Siam (RM8.90) on the menu.
But I was on a mission to see if their nasi lemak lived up to the hype. Starting at RM6.90, the Nasi Lemak Biasa comes with fragrant coconut rice, sambal, cucumbers, hard-boiled egg, roasted peanuts, and crispy fried ikan bilis.
For me, ayam goreng berempah is the perfect protein, so I went for the Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng (RM15.90). I crossed my fingers when I asked for a drumstick or thigh — knowing it’s rare to get special requests during lunch rush — but I got both! To the kind server: may your pillow always be warm and your phone charger never stop working!
The dish looked just like the picture on the menu — even the cucumbers were perfectly deseeded and sliced. What really set this nasi lemak apart was the addition of crispy, flavourful kerak (those crunchy bits from the goreng berempah) on top of the rice, which you don’t often find at other spots. I couldn’t wait to dive in.
The coconut rice was spot on — fluffy, rich, and aromatic with hints of lemongrass, shallots, pandan leaf, and ginger. My only minor critique was that the rice could’ve been fluffier; the grains were slightly firmer than I prefer, likely because they used Tempatan rice instead of Jasmine. Still, it was warm and delicious.
The sambal was the real star — a perfect blend of sweetness, tang, and just the right amount of heat for anyone to enjoy. There was a subtle hint of belacan, adding an umami depth without overpowering the other flavours.
What impressed me most was the sambal’s texture: the chillies were ground incredibly finely, yet maintained a thick, rich consistency. Plus, there was only a thin ring of oil around it — proof of the cook’s skill. Let’s be honest, finding thick, delicious sambal that’s not swimming in oil is a rare treat these days!
Even the other additions to the dish were spot on. The roasted peanuts and ikan bilis were fried to perfection — the peanuts had a slight sweetness with the skins completely peeled off, while the anchovies were crunchy without being tough, making them easy to chew. They were a bit on the thicker side, though, so if you prefer thinner, more premium ikan bilis, you might not be as satisfied as I was.
As someone who’s never been a fan of hard-boiled eggs (thanks to the crumbly yolk), I was pleasantly surprised. Here, the eggs were boiled perfectly — the yolk was firm without crumbling, and the whites weren’t rubbery. I actually finished the egg, which is quite the feat for me!
Now, onto the fried chicken — one cut, and I was hooked. The crispy skin peeled away effortlessly, revealing juicy, tender meat with a slight yellow hue, a sure sign the marinade had soaked in perfectly.
Slicing through it with my spoon was like cutting through butter. The chicken was seasoned to perfection with a blend of spices while those crunchy kerak bits added a delightful texture. Nasi Lemak Shop clearly marinates their ayam goreng berempah just right to achieve this level of deliciousness.
My friend ordered the Nasi Lemak Biasa, with Sambal Kerang (RM7) as an add-on since there wasn’t a full set with cockles on the menu. She also got a bonus scoop of kerak bits on her rice, even without ordering goreng berempah (score!).
The portion of Sambal Kerang was very generous — so much so that she couldn’t finish it, which meant extra for me.
Unfortunately, the dish was a bit of a letdown. The sambal was on the watery side and slightly salty on its own (though it tasted fine when paired with rice). On the bright side, the cockles were large, fresh, and cooked perfectly, with a nice bounce and no fishy taste. Despite the sambal’s lack of depth, the cockles themselves were a joy to eat.
Final thoughts
Alright, PJ folks, you were right on the money — Nasi Lemak Shop definitely lives up to the hype. The portions were generous and everything was cooked to perfection, even with the flood of orders. For the price, it’s a steal.
The service was top-notch too — friendly, efficient, and fast. They served us in under 20 minutes, including the wait to be seated, which is quicker than most spots even outside of peak hours.
Can it beat Village Park and Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu, though? You be the judge of that one!
Expected damage: RM6.90 – RM15.90 per pax
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