Mixed Rice Stall @TRX: Cheap Malay mixed rice from RM4 draws long queues, sells out by 11am

Back in my university days, Malay mixed rice was my ultimate lunch fix. A generous serving of fluffy white rice, perfectly crispy fried chicken, and a dollop of fiery sambal — it was the fuel that powered me through the day.

Fast forward to life in KL, and finding a meal like that at a budget-friendly price feels like chasing unicorns. But recently, I was proven delightfully wrong when I heard about a humble stall near The Exchange TRX serving mixed rice starting at just RM4.  

This no-frills eatery doesn’t even have a name, so I’ve taken to calling it the Mixed Rice Stall. Getting there from the mall is manageable on foot, though a bit of a trek. It’s tucked beside Fire Phoenix along Jalan Imbi. Once you cross a narrow road, the area opens up into a bustling lane lined with eateries — a hotspot for hungry TRX office workers. I even bumped into one heading there on my way, a sign of its local popularity.  

We arrived just shy of 11am, only to find that most of the dishes had already been snapped up. Turns out, the akak running the stall starts serving as early as 9.45am, and by then, there’s usually already a queue forming. She keeps the stall open on weekdays, perfectly synced with office hours, catering to her main crowd: hungry office workers looking for a quick, affordable bite.

What I tried at Mixed Rice Stall @TRX

My dining partner and I were a bit let down that most of the dishes were already gone, but since we’d come all this way, we decided to make the most of it. I went for a piece of ayam gepuk to pair with my rice, topping it off with kuah asam pedas and a side of sambal belacan.

The total? Just RM6. If you’re really pinching pennies, you can skip the rice entirely — any lauk by itself is RM4 – perfect for a budget-friendly tapau to pair with rice cooked at home.

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For the price, the flavours definitely delivered! The ayam gepuk honestly resembled ayam geprek more as it wasn’t served with cashews. The fried chicken was coated in a fiery mix of crushed red bird’s eye chilies drenched in hot oil. Humble in appearance but bursting with flavour. 

The kuah asam pedas added a tangy kick that paired beautifully with the heat of the sambal belacan. Speaking of the sambal, it was the watery kind, made with green chili padi. As a certified spice addict, every bite was pure bliss.

My friend opted for the ikan goreng sweet and sour, and for just RM6, the fish was surprisingly generous in size — plenty of meat, and we even managed to get an entire piece.  

From her first bite, it was clear the dish struck a nostalgic chord, reminding her of comforting home-cooked meals. You could tell the Mixed Rice Stall akak poured her heart into the cooking, despite the simplicity and unassuming presentation. All in all, we both agreed — this was solid, satisfying mixed rice that hit all the right notes!

Final thoughts

Beyond the unbeatable prices, it’s easy to see why office workers flock here early in the morning instead of opting for the more convenient (but pricier) options closer to their offices at TRX. Every dish at the Mixed Rice Stall is cooked to perfection, and even from the scraps of lauk left when we arrived, I noticed the fish pieces were far bigger than what you’d typically find at other nasi campur spots.  

I was also surprised when the akak mentioned they’d been operating since the pandemic — quite the feat in challenging times. But after tasting the food and seeing the effort put into each dish, it’s clear why they’ve built such a loyal following.

Expected damage: RM4 – RM6 per pax

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