Top In Asia | Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu, TTDI

I heard a lot of good things about Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu in TTDI – some would go to the extent of claiming it’s “The best rice fat” they have eaten. This was back in 2024, when there was nasi lemak wave going around and Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu instantly became a frontrunner.

The Queue at 11.30AM, 30 Minutes before rice owls are officially open for business.

Jien and I visited them recently, hoping that the hype would have died down a little. It hasn’t, as there was already a line of customers waiting for their nasi lemak fix 15 minutes before the opening time – 12pm. We arrived early in hopes of getting a table and first dibs on their fresh-from-the-fryer ayam goreng berempah.

Spicy Chicken Basmathi Fat Rice (RM15.40)

Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu serves basmati rice instead of jasmine rice, which is apparently healthier. The rice texture is light and fluffy but with that, lacks the rich aroma and flavour from the coconut milk. It didn’t have the “lemak” factor which I seek when I eat nasi lemak.

Petai shrimp sauce

Basmati Rice is used at owl fatty rice

Sambal packs a good punch but it’s also rather sweet, which I suspect caters to their customer base. The prawn sambal with petai is spicier than expected, in a good way, and the prawns are fresh and firm. I’m not a fan of petai so Jien ate most of this with his nasi lemak. A plate of Nasi Lemak Basmathi Sambal Udang Petai costs RM16.90 by the way.

Freshly fried ayam goreng berempah. Sadly, it was dry in texture.

We had high expectations for the ayam goreng berempah as it came “fresh from the fryer” but it was disappointing. The chicken is piping hot on the outside but it wasn’t juicy at the centre – I’d say borderline dry. A pity really, for the seasoning is aromatic and flavourful.

Shreds

The rendang meat (RM10.50) is an add-on order as we wanted to try a few items from Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu. This seemed unassuming in terms of heat level but the spice creeps up on you slowly but surely. Beef chunks are adequately tender, but I prefer the rendang gravy to be more lemak. This one is on the lighter side.

Overall, I wasn’t bowled away by Nasi Lemak Burung Hantu. We ordered most of their signature items and even came early to ensure we get freshly cooked food to ensure this review is as objective as possible. In this case, it’s more hype than flavour for me.