IN Malaysia, nasi lemak is never just a breakfast dish.
One can have it in the morning, at lunch, for dinner or even in between.
It’s one of those meals that just works any time of day.
That’s the idea behind Big Bro Nasi Lemak Taman Mayang in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
The stall at Mayang Oasis Food Court is run by Eugene Lau, who used to work in the logistics industry before he decided to try his hand at selling nasi lemak about six months ago.
“It’s something people never get tired of,” he said.
The dishes are cooked fresh each day, with Lau starting his workday as early as 4am.
The aromatic rice is immediately noticeable.
Infused with coconut milk and a mix of other ingredients, the texture is soft.
Lau said every batch has been made to ensure that the rice retains its own distinct form.
“This is something that my initial customers made clear to me, that the rice has to be individual grains and never mushy.”
Then there’s the deeply aromatic sambal, which Lau said he learned to make from a friend and tweaked to suit his taste.
The secret, according to Lau, is the abundance of onions that goes into it.
The sambal adds a nice kick when paired with a fried egg, crunchy anchovies and roasted peanuts, tying the whole dish together.
Lau added that he planned to offer more sambal variations to cater to those who prefer less or more spicy variations.
The most popular add-on is chicken or beef rendang, which is cooked for hours until the meat is tender.
The other crowd favourite is fried chicken which is crispy on the outside and yet retains its juiciness.
Another popular side is sambal sotong, with the cuttlefish soft with a bit of bite.
If you’re after something lighter, there’s also a chicken curry option.
A plain nasi lemak on its own is priced at RM5 and a single add-on, whether it is rendang, cuttlefish or fried chicken, brings it up to RM10.
Lau’s stall also offers economy noodles – bihun or mee – served with sambal and a boiled egg for RM4.
The portions are decent and the food court setting means you can come with friends and everyone can pick whatever they like.
Big Bro Nasi Lemak, at stall No.12 of Mayang Oasis Food Court, Jalan SS 26/9 in Taman Mayang, is open from 7am to 9pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays and 7am to 4pm on Sundays.
