Top In Asia | Botak Nasi Lemak, PJ

Botak Nasi Lemak claims to be the second best in PJ – both Jien and I decided to pop by for a late breakfast to see if it lives to the hype. We popped by the Seapark outlet on a weekday for a late breakfast, so there were plenty of tables available.

I reckon a lot of Botak Nasi Lemak’s business comes from online delivery platforms as there were quite a number of riders waiting to collect their orders. We shared a plate of nasi lemak ayam goreng (RM12) and added on a portion of sambal kerang (RM6) and beef rendang (RM6) into the mix.

Fried chicken fat + shellfish sambal

The nasi lemak comes with a scoop of fried onion and rempah bits on top – apparently a signature style at Botak Nasi Lemak. When it comes to nasi lemak, I always look at how well the basics are done. That means the quality of rice and the richness or depth of the sambal.

Rice is fluffy and aromatic but sambal is a tad light for my liking

Botak Nasi Lemak serves pretty good rice (read: aromatic and rich from the coconut milk) but I find their sambal a tad light. It’s not the deep, dark and rich kind of sambal, but the kind that’s more onion-based. Still, it still packs the heat so don’t underestimate the spice level.

Bald Nasi Lemat's Signature Style is the Fried Onion and Bits As a Topping

The ayam goreng is tender and juicy, but I find it lacking in terms of flavour and spices. Felt as though the rempah didn’t properly permeate into the chicken. Sambal kerang is a popular option among Botak Nasi Lemak’s customers, and I get the appeal.

Shellfish sambal is done well here

Cockles are meaty and cooked just right so the texture is chewy, not rubbery. Sambal gravy is also onion-based, but I liked that there’s a richness to the flavour. I wouldn’t mind having this again; and I’m speaking as someone who doesn’t eat cockles.

Beef rendang

The rendang gravy is creamy and well-spiced but I thought the flavours didn’t infuse into the beef. Felt as though the beef was cooked separately before being added into the rendang gravy. That aside, the beef rendang was decent; just not my cup of tea.

2nd Best Nasi Lemp in PJ, After His Mum

A follower of mine mentioned the owner of Botak Nasi Lemak uses the tagline “2nd Best Nasi Lemak in PJ” because the best nasi lemak title goes to his mother. Overall, I had a fairly enjoyable meal. Not the best, but it has its loyal following.

Bangsar Babe on Facebook Bangsar Babe on Instagram

Ambiance: 6/10

Price: 6.5/10

Food: 5.5/10 (Muslim friendly)
Verdict: Rice is rich and aromatic but the sambal is a bit on the lighter side.

Do you have a food recommendation? Tell us!