From The Straits Times    |

ROUTE 12

What: Route 12’s Nasi Lemak Sotong is probably the most Instagrammable version of the dish. It comes with a large skewered fried squid ($8, a la carte) on a bed of fragrant pandan basmati rice. Other ingredients include a hard-boiled egg, chicken wings, fried fish, ikan bilis and peanuts.

The Deluxe version ($14) is enough for two people, while the King option ($18) can serve up to four.

It is best to go before 7pm as the Nasi Lemak Sotong sells out fast.

The menu has more nasi lemak options. Prices start at $3 for a nasi lemak fish set. The stall also sells Western food such as fish and chips ($7); spring chicken set ($11) with fries and coleslaw; and Route 12 Hotrod ($7.50), where a 10-inch cheesy chicken sausage is wrapped in a crispy chicken cutlet (instead of bread).

Where: 45 Sam Leong Road, open: 2 to 11pm, Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays

Info: www.facebook.com/fazwesternstation

THE COCONUT CLUB

What: Nasi lemak takes centre stage at The Coconut Club – in fact it is the only main item on the menu. The dish comes with ayam goreng berempah, coconut rice, ikan bilis, peanuts, cucumber, fried egg and sambal. It is priced at $12.80 and you get a generous portion. Chef Lee Eng Su, 37, uses Mawa coconuts (a Malaysian West African hybrid) to cook the Thai jasmine rice. The housemade sambal uses ingredients such as ikan bilis, dried shrimp, soya sauce and shallots. Side dishes include fried fish (market price), otak-otak ($8.50) and cendol ($3.80).

Where: 6 Ann Siang Hill, open: 11am to 3pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays, closed on Sundays and Mondays

Info: Call 6635-2999 or go to www.facebook.com/thecoconutclubsg

FOLDING RICE

What: Arteastiq Group’s latest venture is Folding Rice, which specialises in nasi lemak. Popular items include Set B ($5.80) with spicy black chicken; and Set D ($7.80), with two fried prawns and a fried chicken wing. The sets come with coconut rice, a sunny-side-up egg, ikan bilis, housemade sambal and cucumber.

Pair your meal with its signature teh sarbat (ginger milk tea) or coffee, tea and soft drinks.

Where: 01-19 Junction Nine, 18 Yishun Avenue, open: 8am to 10pm daily

Info: www.facebook.com/FoldingRice

REVOLUTION COFFEE

What: Chef Shen Tan has gone back to her roots. She used to run Madam Tan Nasi Lemak at Maxwell Hawker Centre in 2009 and now helms the kitchen at Revolution Coffee, offering a selection of nasi lemak such as nasi lemak crispy fried chicken ($4.90); nasi lemak crispy pork ($7.90); nasi lemak with five-spice pork confit ($9.90); and nasi lemak beef or chicken rendang ($9.90). Additional portions of the meat cost $5 each. All come with ikan bilis, omelette, housemade sambal belacan and coffee sambal – made with the cafe’s spent coffee grounds for a slightly smoky flavour.

Other dishes from her repertoire include bak chor mee pasta ($19.90), with five-spice pork confit paired with tagliatelle tossed in a spicy piquant sauce and garnished with crispy lardons and fried shallots; and buah keluak pasta ($19.90).

For dessert, check out the pulot hitam pudding with gula melaka butterscotch served with coconut ice cream ($10) and Shendol Delights ($10), coconut panna cotta with gula melaka syrup topped with housemade red bean ice cream. The cafe’s menu also has sandwich, salad and brunch items.

Where: 21 Media Circle, 01-03A, open: 9am to 6pm daily

Info: Call 6777-2110 or go to www.facebook.com/RevolutionCoffeeSG

VILLAGE NASI LEMAK BAR

What: Village Nasi Lemak started in Simpang Bedok in 2014. It has gone hipster with a new location in Circular Road that opens next week.

In the day, it sells its signature nasi lemak (from $7.80) – now with a truffle poached egg. Side dishes include spicy sambal sotong ($7), beef rendang ($6.80) and chicken drumstick ($3.80).

At night, the Asian-inspired tapas menu features shredded papaya slaw ($8.30) and Asian chicken feet salad ($8.50) to pair with wine and beer.

Where: 57 Circular Road, open: 10am to 10pm, Mondays to Saturdays, closed on Sundays

Info: www.facebook.com/Vnasilemak

All images courtesy of The Straits Times. This story was originally published in The Straits Times