The truth about that lobster nasi lemak everyone’s going nuts for

Lawa Bintang, a small nasi lemak stall located in an industrial area in Tampines, have been hawking this traditional dish with a side of crustacean since March this year. Few people knew of this unusual offering, but since a video of its lobster nasi lemak went viral recently, the queue of hungry diners hasn’t stopped.

We went at 10am, two hours after opening, and the queue was going strong – with about 30 people in line. Inside a cramped kitchen was a flurry of people, deep frying chicken, spooning sambal next to fragrant heaps of coconut rice, and piping cheese onto rows of vivid red lobsters. 

Lawa Bintang also offers garoupa and grilled squid nasi lemaks in addition to the lobster and fried chicken. We tried them all, and and were surprised to find ourselves liking the lobster one least. Here’s why:

1) Lobster Nasi Lemak ($22)

Overall, the lobster was drowned out by the strong flavours of the nasi lemak, and in our opinion, would have worked better as a side dish, to be eaten on its own. 

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2) Garoupa Nasi Lemak ($4)

Let’s just say, the garoupa nasi lemak is severely underrated. This giant slab of crispy fish was so big, it was practically falling off the plate when it was served.

Coated in a thick crispy batter and powdered in herbs and ground chilli, my attempt to dig into this fish resulted in a resounding ‘crack’ when the crispy skin shattered under my spoon. I was afraid that the fish would be equally dry and brittle on the inside, but the flesh turned out to be faultlessly sweet and juicy.

Having tried this thoroughly satisfying garoupa with the fragrant coconut rice and peanuts with sambal, it’s pretty much safe to say that the regular ikan kuning just won’t cut it anymore.

3) Grilled Squid Nasi Lemak ($8)

If fried food isn’t your thing, get this instead.

The dish gets you a whole squid that’s been doused in a spicy marinade and dusted with ample herbs, giving it an invigorating kick. 

Trust us, you’ll enjoy noshing on this springy squid. Have it with peanuts for added crunch.

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4) Chicken Wing Nasi Lemak ($3)

The chicken wing in this nasi lemak dish is battered and spiced the same standard way the garoupa is.

We found this a super value-for-money option at $3, considering how a portion of this size can easily set you back more than $3.50 at most other places.

The chicken skin is crunchy and fragrant, and the meat juicy and sinfully oily, like good old school nasi lemak you’d buy from a school canteen as a child. 

We love that the accompanying egg is molten and oozes when you dig a fork into it – perfect for coating your chicken in, before taking that first a bite.

The bottom line is – rather than spend $22 on lobster nasi lemak, we’d go for classic options such as fish, chicken, or even squid. Because sometimes, old is just gold.

Address: Lawa Bintang, BLK 9008 Tampines Street 93, Singapore 528843

Opening Hours: (Tuesday to Thursday)8am - 2pm, (Fridays) 10am - 2pm, (Weekends) 9am - 2pm, Closed on Mondays