Ah, nasi lemak! Just the thought of the light, fluffy rice flavoured with coconut cream and spicy sambal and crispy ikan bilis on the side is enough to make one salivate!

Wonder how are the Malay and Chinese-style nasi lemak different? Foodies say that Malay nasi lemak has tastier rice and sambal, while Chinese nasi lemak offers a wider variety of side dishes. How true is this?

We taste-test some of the most popular nasi lemak stalls in Singapore; comparing their rice, sambal, ikan bilis, egg, chicken wing, fish, and otah.

 
Ponggol Nasi Lemak Centre
238 Tanjong Katong Road
Price for stated items: $5.60
Rating: 3.5/5

What makes Ponggol Nasi Lemak one of the most popular Chinese nasi lemak stalls around? Probably its mind-boggling array of side dishes - there are at least 20 items to choose from. Generally, they are fresh and tasty. Served piping hot, the juicy chicken wing is very addictive. The fried ikan bilis, on the other hand, was slightly crunchy and sweet, but a bit too salty on the whole.

The rice is plump, moist and slightly aromatic. A pity it was too greasy. Also, the portion is quite small. The lumpy sambal tasted spicy but lacked fragrance and depth of flavour.

Compared to many Malay Nasi Lemak stalls, this Chinese Nasi Lemak stall offers a wide variety of side dishes, but prices are on the high side.


Chong Pang Nasi Lemak
447 Sembawang Road, Sembawang Park
Price for stated items: $3.70
Rating: 3.5/5

While the rice is light and fluffy, it lacks the fragrance of coconut milk and pandan leaves. However, the sambal is well-prepared and has the right amount of spiciness. The ikan bilis are light, crunchy, and not too salty. But it would have been better if there were peanuts in it.

The remaining sides are of average quality. The kuning fish, for instance, could have been crunchier. Overall, the nasi lemak here is good enough to satisfy your craving, but far from making you come back for more.
 

Xiang Xiang Nasi Lemak
#02-08, Tanjong Pagar Food Centre
Price for stated items: $2.50
Rating: 4/5

Xiang Xiang Nasi Lemak gives you the most bang for your buck! The most outstanding items are the sambal, ikan bilis and fried chicken wing. The sambal here is almost jam-like, with a pleasing harmony of sweet and spicy taste. The ikan bilis with peanuts also tasted very good. Fried till crispy, the ikan bilis and peanuts are lightly coated with a thick layer of spicy caramel. Absolutely addictive! Crispy and well-marinated, the chicken wing is worth a double order!

Unfortunately, the rice here lacks fragrance and moisture. The over-fried kuning fish and otah are also unimpressive. But if you stick to the well executed items, Xiang Xiang's nasi lemak offers unbeatable value for money.


Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak
#01-106, Boon Lay Place Food Village
Price for stated items: $5.00
Rating: 4/5

The rice and sambal served at Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak are certainly powerful! The fluffy and fragrant coconut rice and tomato-based sambal, are mouth-watering. The fried selar fish is also well prepared. The head and tail of the fish are crunchy but not too dry from over frying.

However, you can't say the same for most of the other side dishes. While crunchy, the fried ikan bilis with peanuts, is simply too salty. The fried chicken wing is juicy enough but its batter is too hard and thick. The otah is strangely mushy. Prices are on the high side, but the portions are large.

 
Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak
#01-02 Adam Road Food Centre
Price for stated items: $4.00
Rating: 4.5/5

This one's a clear winner! Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak uses basmati rice, which is a premium type of long-grain rice. The difference is obvious- the rice grains do not clump together and has a delicate fragrance that's distinctive from the rice served at other nasi lemak stalls.

The sambal complements the rice well. The ikan bilis side dish, which has no peanuts added, is crunchy and delicious. The otah wrapped in banana leaf is also tasty and has the right texture. The only dish that needs improvement here is its chicken wing, which is a little on the dry side. This is probably due to over frying. Otherwise, we strongly recommend Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak.

 
Where's your favorite place to eat nasi lemak? Add your comment.