Arimau Nasi Lemak: Fragrant basmati pandan rice with tender beef rendang even tigers would weep for

Arimau Nasi Lemak — a playful nod to the Malay word “harimau” (tiger) — wears its name proudly, with an adorable, eye-catching logo and stylish typeface that makes it hard to miss.

One thing about me: I’m a total sucker for thoughtfully crafted, clean signage. I mean, we do feast with our eyes first, right? My judging starts way before the food hits the table — sometimes even before I step through the door.

What reeled me in as well was their bold claim: their nasi lemak is so good, it could make tigers fly. They even have a quirky little promo — Buy 1 Free 1 from Fri to Sun if you show up in a Liverpool jersey.

Now, I don’t own one myself (mainly because I don’t really have a favourite team — I just root for whoever’s got the cuter players. You feel me?), so I didn’t qualify to test out the offer. Still, I made the trip all the way to Kota Damansara, so it better be worth the drive.

What I tried at Arimau Nasi Lemak

I went with my usual go-to: Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah (RM11.50). You can opt to have it on its own, or go the extra mile with their signature satay if you’re feeling a little extra hungry.

According to the menu, basmati rice was used for the coconut rice, with pandan taking centre stage — evident from the gentle green hue of the grains. The “lemak” came through nicely in each bite, thanks to the santan, and the fragrance was unmistakable from the get-go. That said, if no one had told me it was basmati, I probably wouldn’t have noticed — it looked like regular rice, just a little longer and plumper. No complaints there, though.

Now, the sambal. From the first bite, I was greeted with a strong hit of umami from the anchovies. Each flavour element — sweet, spicy, and savoury — was well balanced, with nothing overpowering the rest. My only gripe? It was a tad salty on its own, which meant I had to go easy when mixing it with the rice. I also wished the portion was a bit more generous.

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Then came the chicken. While it looked promising and was decently juicy on the inside, it was unfortunately served cold. The rempah leaned heavily on fennel, and the seasoning didn’t quite seep into the meat.

The crispy bits on the outside were tasty — light and crunchy — but mostly just flour and onion, rather than the spice-forward marinade typical of a proper ayam goreng berempah. It honestly reminded me more of the crumbly bits that come with pisang goreng — which isn’t a bad thing, just not what some people would consider traditional.

A quick note on the ikan bilis: they were extremely tough, and the taste of unremoved guts left a rather unpleasant aftertaste. I instantly regretted taking a bite. Overall, it was a lukewarm plate of nasi lemak — figuratively and literally.

My next dish was the Nasi Lemak Daging Rendang (RM12), which came with a generous heap of beef rendang.

Right off the bat, the beef was falling apart on my fork — a clear sign it had been cooked to tender perfection. The texture was beautifully soft, and flavour-wise, it struck a lovely balance. Both kaffir lime leaves and turmeric leaves were used in the recipe, and they played together harmoniously to create a rendang that was deeply aromatic and satisfying to the taste buds.

Final thoughts

While I wasn’t exactly disappointed with Arimau Nasi Lemak’s take on the beloved dish, I can’t say I was particularly impressed either. It sat comfortably in the realm of painfully average. That said, I do understand the appeal — it’s a popular spot among locals, likely thanks to the generous portions and wallet-friendly prices.

Would I go out of my way to return if I happened to pass by the area again? Honestly, probably not.

Expected damage: RM11.50 – RM19 per pax

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