Malaysians can never say “no” to nasi lemak. Who can resist a plate of aromatic rice steamed with coconut milk, topped with egg, sambal, ikan bilis, and sometimes, fried chicken? We’ve listed down the 7 best nasi lemak you can find in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya!
1. Nasi Lemak Tanglin
Nasi Lemak Tanglin has been around since 1948 and it’s still as popular today as it ever was. Using the same recipe as the early days, Tanglin serves plates of nasi lemak the traditional way.
Their spicy and savory sambal is the star of the dish – spicy lover or not, you have to give it a try. Customers usually pair the nasi lemak with Tanglin’s signature ayam goreng berempah and sambal sotong. Don’t get intimidated by the long queue as service here is typically quick and efficient.
📍 Tasik Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
⏰ 7am – 1pm, closed on Thursday
2. Nasi Lemak Bumbung
Although hidden in a back alley at PJ SS2, locals will know where to find the iconic Nasi Lemak Bumbung. A plate of piping hot nasi lemak here never disappoints, as they always serve fresh fried chicken with strong notes of cumin and sunny side up with a perfectly runny yolk. Their sambal is just slightly spicy and leans towards the sweeter side. Each plate tastes so heavenly but the portion here is smaller so one plate is usually not enough!
📍 6, Jalan 21/11b, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
⏰ 3pm – 10pm, closed on Thursday
3. Big Tree Head Mamak Nasi Lemak
There are 2 types of sambal offered here – the sweet-and-mildly-spicy type and the spicy-savory type, both complement well with the fragrant coconutty rice. Their fried chicken is a must-try, as they are well marinated and then deep-fried to crispy, juicy perfection.
The downside here is that the quality of the fried chicken lacks consistency, especially when the mamak sees a huge crowd. As the stall is literally located under a huge tree and covered with just a canopy, it may be difficult to dine here on rainy days as well, but there’s always the option for takeaways.
📍 Persiaran Mergastua, Kepong Baru, 52100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 2.30 pm – 2am
4. Peel Road Nasi Lemak (Non-halal)
As one of the few well-known Chinese style nasi lemak, Peel Road Nasi Lemak has grown from a small roadside stall to an air-conditioned establishment today. There are a variety of dishes on display here, popular ones include the curry wild boar, curry lamb, fried chicken, and fresh sotong.
We love how the meat served is tender and intensely flavorful, blending perfectly with the sambal and fluffy grains of coconut rice. Besides good food, the friendly owner is one of the reasons why Peel Road Nasi Lemak is so popular.
📍 92, Jalan Peel, Maluri, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 11am – 8pm, closed on Thursday
5. Sentul Nasi Lemak
Sentul Nasi Lemak is a humble stall operated by a Chinese couple. If you’re familiar with this stall, you’ll know that lines here are always long, which just tells us how good the nasi lemak is.
Brave the queue and you’ll be rewarded with an array of dishes to customize your nasi lemak, such as curry chicken, curry pork ribs, sambal prawn, sambal petai, and more. The rice here comes with a lighter coconut taste and pairs exceptionally well with the spicy and mildly salty sambal served on the side.
While not as popular as the previous stalls, you should definitely give this hidden gem a try. The prices here are affordable too!
📍 1062-1064, Jalan Sentul, Taman Kosmo Jaya, 51100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 4:30pm – 7:45pm
6. Village Park Nasi Lemak
A nasi lemak list is incomplete without the legendary Village Park Nasi Lemak. The restaurant is generous with their serving portions and fry up their chickens to tender, juicy, and crisp perfection. Infused with coconut milk and pandan leaves, the plump and fluffy grains certainly did not lack the fragrance a nasi lemak should have.
You can now enjoy Village Park Nasi Lemak without travelling to Damansara as they’re available for delivery on GrabFood!
📍 No. 5, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
⏰ 8am – 5:30pm
7. Lokap Nasi Lemak Jinjang
Operating like a regular chap fan (economy rice) stall, Lokap Nasi Lemak is a home-based nasi lemak stall that’s popular in the Jinjang neighborhood. You can choose a wide range of dishes to pair with the coconutty rice, such as rendang chicken, sambal petai, curry lamb, and more. We recommend trying their incredibly succulent rendang chicken that’s packed with flavors from the herbs and creamy coconut milk.
One thing to note is that prices here are on the higher side so you might want to check the price list before ordering.
📍 2026, Jalan Jinjang Aman 3, Jinjang Utara, 52000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
⏰ 8am – 2pm, closed on Monday
A Malaysian foodie who’s proud of our local hawker culture. Always on the hunt for the best char kuay teow and nasi lemak.