Nasi Lemak Shop Does It

Finally tried the Nasi Lemak Shop. Didn’t realise it’s a franchise now, much like Burung Hantu. Regardless, there’s no comparison. Malaysia is the OG and forever best for Nasi Lemak. The Nasi Lemak Shop’s kerang (cockles) and sotong offerings are good at 7/10

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 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.

The scarcest items on any nasi lemak (for me) are the cockles. These are done just right - chewy, with a bite and flavourful. The sotong was also good, not mushy and with good texture. I personally prefer NLS over Burung Hantu. There’s another, Nasi Lemak Botak that I want to try to get to a final verdict.