• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Featured
    • SPONSORS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap
    • EAT.DRINK
      • Food Review
      • Food Promotion
      • Food News
      • Event
    • STAY
      • Hotel Review
      • Hotel News
    • EXPLORE
      • Singapore
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
  • More
    • Malaysia Food Blogger List

Malaysian Foodie

Food • Hotel • Travel • Event

  • EAT.DRINK
    • Food Review
    • Restaurant Promotion
    • Editor Picks
    • Dining In The Mall (Klang Valley)
    • What’s New!
    • Restaurant List
    • LiquorTalk
  • Hotel
    • Room Reviews
    • Hotel News
  • TRAVEL
    • Hong Kong
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
      • Kyoto
      • Osaka
    • Macau
    • Malaysia
      • Kuala Lumpur
      • Malacca
      • Penang
      • Perak
      • Selangor
      • Sabah
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Singapore
  • TECH
  • Lifestyle
    • Apparel
    • Books
    • Beauty
    • Craft
    • Gadget
    • Electrical & Household Appliances
    • Food Product
    • Online Shopping
    • Parenting/Kids
    • Property
    • Renovation/ Furniture
  • RECIPES
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Desserts
    • Drinks / Smoothies
    • Mains
    • Pasta
    • Steamed Food
    • Cooking With Gadgets
  • Mall Dining
  • Motherhood
  • Event
Home / Food Review / Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak

March 19, 2008 by StrawberrY Gal


Nasi lemak is a dish that is commonly sold in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Southern Thailand. In fact, it has been called the unofficial national dish of Malaysia. In the east coast Terengganu and Kelantan, their version is called Nasi Dagang. There is a similar dish in Indonesia called nasi uduk.

With roots in Malay culture, its name is a Malay word that literally means ‘rice in cream’. The name is derived from the cooking process whereby rice is soaked in rich coconut cream and then the mixture steamed. Sometimes knotted screwpine (pandan) leaves are thrown into the rice while steaming to give it more fragrance. Spices such as ginger (common in Malay cuisine) and occasionally herbs like lemon grass may be added for additional fragrance.

Traditionally, this comes as a platter with cucumber slices, small dried anchovies (ikan bilis), roasted peanuts, stir fried water convolvulus (kangkong), hard boiled egg, pickled vegetables (achar) and hot spicy sauce (sambal). Nasi lemak can also come with any other accompaniments such as chicken, cuttlefish, cockle, beef curry (beef stewed in coconut milk and spices) or paru (beeflungs). Traditionally most of these accompaniments are spicy in nature.

Nasi lemak is traditionally a breakfast dish, and it is sold early in the morning at roadside stalls in Malaysia, where it is often sold packed in newspaper, brown paper or banana leaf. However, there are restaurants which serve it on a plate as noon or evening meals, making it possible for the dish to be treated as a delicacy. ‘Nasi lemak panas’ meaning hot nasi lemak is another name given to nasi lemak served with hot cooked rice.

In Penang, there are many nasi lemak stalls. One of the best Malay style nasi lemak stalls in George Town is located in front of the Standard Chartered building in Beach Street. However these stall opens in the morning only. Others place worth going are the mamak stall in front of the RTM building, Jalan Burmah near Midlands One-Stop Centre. Penang road opposite Oriental hotel, Penang Street opposite Ganesh Printers and at a coffee shop opposite Plus Zone in Pulau Tikus.

Filed Under: Food Review

Primary Sidebar

Malaysian Foodie
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Say “Bello!” to Mischievous Fun: F&N Magnolia x Minions Launch Nationwide! June 14, 2025
  • Thin, Light and Built to Last: The New Era of the Galaxy Z Series June 14, 2025
  • Shabu-Yo Heats Up 1 Utama: Japan’s No.1 Shabu-Shabu Experience Lands in PJ June 13, 2025
  • [REVIEW] Cook 4 Local Favourites at ONCE? Chef Chesayang Shows Howith the Ninja DoubleStack XL Air Fryer – Now in Malaysia! June 13, 2025
  • Making Dinnertime Easier as a Working Mum with the Ninja Double Stack XL June 13, 2025
  • Ninja Unveils the Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer (SL451): Big Capacity, Small Footprint, All-In-One Solution June 13, 2025
  • Kids Activities in Singapore & Malaysia: Fun, Learning for Every Child June 12, 2025
  • Fiery Flavours and Tangy Temptations: Fish With You Heats Up Kepong June 12, 2025
  • An Elegant Escape Above the City: Garden Allure Afternoon Tea at Le Midi, Crowne Plaza June 12, 2025
  • A Culinary Journey Through Malaysia: The Flavors That Tell Our Story June 12, 2025
  • The Michelin Star Nyonya Restaurant in Pulau Tikus:  Flower Mulan Nyonya Café June 11, 2025
  • Flames, Flavour & Feline Charm: Yaki Soul Redefines KL’s Late-Night Supper Scene June 10, 2025
  • Dad’s Day Menu at Vin’s KL June 10, 2025
  • Celebrate Father’s Day at Hilton Kuala Lumpur June 10, 2025
  • LET’S NGOPI DARLING – W KUALA LUMPUR June 9, 2025
  • Tealive launches 3-in-1 sachets for ‘anytime indulgence’ June 9, 2025
  • Hotel Sosei Sapporo – MGallery Collection hailed as one of the “World’s Most Beautiful Hotels” by UNESCO’s Prix Versailles  June 9, 2025
  • SEAFOOD BOUNTY IN SUPERIOR BROTH AT XIN CUISINE June 9, 2025
  • A DELICIOUS FEAST FOR SUPERDADS June 9, 2025
  • THE ULTIMATE BEEF OBSESSION @ KAZUMA June 9, 2025

Secondary Sidebar

Explore

travel in japan

travel in hong kong

travel in macau

travel in taiwan

travel in thailand

Footer

Copyright © 2008–2025 Malaysian Foodie