Makcik Nasi Lemak: Quezon City's Best Kept Secret of Authentic Malaysian Food

 

Makcik Nasi Lemak wrapped in banana leaves in chicken and fish variants

I have always been adventurous when it comes to food. Being Asian, I am partial to foods that use herbs and spices to enhance the food’s flavors. I have a new food discovery that I would like to share with you. Have you ever tried Malaysian’s national dish called Nasi Lemak? If you haven’t tried it yet, please do. And in case you’re craving for the real thing—you won’t have to fly all the way to Malaysia to experience such. Makcik Nasi Lemak is here for you.

 Ready to makan?(read: Ready to eat?) The seemingly humble nasi lemak has always had greater ambitions of its own and has inspired Malaysians all over the world and take it to greater heights. You can find nasi lemak every second corner in Malaysia but too often, we take the genius of this complete meal for granted. As a culinary composition, nasi lemak ticks all the boxes for flavor, texture and when done right, beautiful presentation. What makes it truly brilliant is that it is also one of the most affordable foods that have those three factors we’re all looking for flavor, texture, and presentation—if you ask me, these are the three most important aspects of any dish.

Makcik Nasi Lemak in Ikan (fish)

So what exactly makes Makcik Nasi Lemak different from all the other nasi lemak dishes I've tried before? Rich coconut rice, sweet and spicy sambal, hardboiled egg, crunchy peanuts, salty anchovies, and cooling cucumber; and that’s before I even indulge on my Malaysian-styled fried chicken or ayam or my deep-fried fish—my inner Asian bursts to the fore upon trying on Makcik’s version of their nasi lemak. Makcik’s authentic Malaysian nasi lemak is enjoyed across such a diverse diaspora that you can’t find from typical coffee shops to fine dining establishments.

 Makcik’s nasi lemak is quintessential comfort food; it’s something we can have for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; something that appeals across every class and every palate of our society; something that reminds us of life’s simplicity.

Malay food is known in terms of its spiciness. This can be seen from the preparation, methods of cooking, and availability and use of prominent ingredients, such as local aromatic herbs and spices. But even if you aren’t a fan of spicy foods, you’d love to eat Makcik’s nasi lemak. Be it with chicken (ayam)or fish (ikan) or even plain and simple nasi lemak, Makcik’s is a true value-for-money.

Before I indulge for my lunch into Makcik’s interpretation of this unassuming dish, I tend to have some sort of ritual before I consume my nasi lemak. I mix rice and sambal along with the nuts and dried fish or anchovies. I had to do these first prior to moving on to the other condiments and ascertained my impression of the stall—homely and authentic.

See my amateur videos below:

While some nasi lemak rice is redolent with the scent of coconut, the rice at Makcik only had subtle fragrance and it had the right taste that I liked. Despite that, the grains were light and fluffy, making each mouthful a delight—especially when eaten together with their sambal.

Don’t get me started on their sambal, their piquant sambal chili is one of the bests I have tried so far. We were given a generous portion of this fiery red sauce on the banana leaves and they really make the best combination even when eaten alone with the coconut rice. 

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Makcik Nasi Lemak in chicken

Makcik nasi lemak in fish

I'm happy to receive my Makcik nasi lemak lunch. But I was surprised to see a small note outside. 

Purple Plum Fairy enjoyed Makcik Nasi Lemak in Chicken

Makcik’s sambal delivered the right amount of heat, subdued by a subtle sweetness, resulting in a tantalizing and addictive accompaniment to the dish. Word of advice though: go easy on the sambal as we easily wiped out all the mounds of rice in our kitchen unknowingly.

Using special ingredients such as (if I am not mistaken), paprika, garlic, and herb-infused batter, their fried chicken wings were fried to a perfect golden brown. Despite being left on the side for some time (since I had to take photos and videos first before I was able to eat), they were still incredibly crisp and not cloyingly greasy. 

Ready to makan?

All thanks to the batter, the chicken wing can even be enjoyed on its own even without the sambal. There was a touch of spice that lingered for a split second at the back of my throat and herbaceous fragrance that dissipated in my mouth with every bite.  

For the deep-fried fish, there was a touch of spice that will tickle your tongue. At first glance, I thought it might be slightly tough and overcooked considering its doneness seen from its brownish side. But, do not be deceived by its looks as it was tender and nicely fried.

Makcik nasi Lemak Menu

Never have I expected myself to have nasi lemak by delivery, let alone enjoy it. But I am telling you, it was damn good. Their nasi lemak version is nicely balanced, with firm, fragrant rice, and flavorsome fried chicken wings. The chicken and fish are crisp on the outside but tender and juicy on the inside. The aromatic rice is perfectly steamed, making it the perfect canvas to go with the chicken or fish along with the condiments. I especially liked the sambal with ikan (fish) and swiftly made a clean finish even though my tummy was already quite full, to begin with. When you mix the sambal with dried anchovies, fresh chilies on the rice—it was an awesome mixed together because they complement each other.

Order by calling the numbers below or sending them a private message on Facebook.

 

Curious and interested? Message them on Makcik Nasi Lemak Facebook account or call them at 0908-8753768 or 0917-5028599 to order. They deliver via third party delivery service.

Disclaimer: I am not compensated for this post. Opinions expressed are 100% my own. Prices and availability are subject to change.