Despite there being plenty of other local speciality foods in Melaka, I had still yet to try nasi lemak for breakfast in Malaysia.
After having a spectacular bowl of rendang noodles at Jonkers 88 the day before, I knew that this was the perfect spot to try my first proper nasi lemak.
What is nasi lemak, I hear you ask?
Traditionally a breakfast meal (although sometimes served all day at certain eateries), nasi lemak consists of rice cooked in coconut cream, slices of cucumber, roasted peanuts, fried anchovies, hard boiled egg and a spicy sauce. Each of the components are placed separately on the plate, meaning you can experience different tastes in each mouthful.
In addition to the above, the nasi lemak I ordered also came with a side dish of rendang chicken (chicken meat cooked in a spicy coconut sauce) and a tofu fritter.
At only RM5 for the plate, the price couldn’t be beaten for the portion size. The extra chillies sprinkled on the top gave it an added kick to the spiciness of the dish and similar to the previous day, the chicken rendang was the perfect blend of creamy and spicy. The crunchiness of the peanuts and cucumber gave the dish a different dimension altogether and as a whole I’d say it is a great way to start the day; plenty of protein, refreshing veggies and spice.
The only downside was having to queue outside to wait for the cafe to open; despite advertising an opening time of 10am, the owners made us (and the others waiting hungrily for their food) wait an extra 30 minutes whilst they chatted and ate their own breakfast inside. Hey, I guess when you own your own business you can do what the hell you like. I’d make me stand outside and wait for my lemak too 😉
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