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Nasi Lemak – if you live in Singapore, I’m 99.999% sure you’ve had a plate of this coconut rice and sambal combo at some point. Of course, I’m no exception to this unspoken rule. Maybe it’s my appetite returning after recovering from the flu, but I woke up starved this morning.
So what better way to feast than to stop by 97 Nasi Lemak at Old Airport Road Food Centre for a few choice dishes? With their Old Airport Road outlet open since 2021, the founders have brought plates of Chinese-style nasi lemak to our tables while keeping prices low.
What I tried at 97 Nasi Lemak
Of course, one of the answers is in the name. After scanning the menu, I set my sights on Nasi Lemak Set C (S$4) with fried chicken and a plate of Brown Bee Hoon (S$1.20) with a slice of Nonya Otak (S$1.40).
Let’s take a look at the nasi lemak first. I chose not to include any add-ons, which leaves me with a fried chicken wing and drumette, sunny-side-up egg, rice, cucumber, ikan bilis mix and sambal.
The rice is well cooked and fragrant from the coconut milk. I love that each grain is visually separate, yet moist and easy to pack together for a solid mouthful. The fried egg was not as crispy at the edges, but since I was eating it for breakfast, I appreciated the lighter texture.
The dish comes together when you take a bite of rice, sambal and ikan bilis mix. 97 Nasi Lemak’s sambal is almost jammy in texture and holds a sweetness that most don’t include. It’s spicy, but not overwhelming. I would call it the perfect beginner’s sambal for those unacquainted with spice.
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The mellow coconut pairs well with the salty ikan bilis, while the sambal adds both sweetness and spiciness. With a crunch from the fish and peanuts against the pillowy rice, this nasi lemak is a well-rounded contender.
The chicken offers a crispy batter around nicely seasoned meat. While the rest of the dish is light, the fried chicken gives a welcome bite and fills you up. Biting off a chunk of cucumber at the end left a refreshing aftertaste in my mouth.
The only gripe I have is the difficulty of tearing the meat off the bones. Granted, I was using cutlery instead of my hands, so tissue-covered fingers might be the best option for a mess-free bite.
Moving on to the Brown Bee Hoon, I decided to add an otah to make it more filling. There were also cooked vegetables available, such as Long Bean (S$1) or Curry Vegetables (S$1.20), though I think curry might be a bit too exciting at 10 in the morning, lol.
The bee hoon was seasoned well with soy sauce and oyster sauce. It was also moist, which is how I like it! This bee hoon tastes just like nostalgia, a comforting simplicity that lingered on my mind and tongue. I was most impressed by the price point: even the otah was 20¢ more than a plate of plain bee hoon. 97 Nasi Lemak also offers Kway Teow or Fried Noodles for the same S$1.20.
However, I was a little disappointed by the Nonya Otah. It wasn’t as flavourful as I hoped, and since it was pre-cooked, it cooled quickly. That was the biggest impact on the flavour for me. I would have liked stronger seasonings and more char on the otah.
Final Thoughts
As a whole, I enjoyed the two dishes from 97 Nasi Lemak. Since I visited with a friend, the meal was filling but not jelak enough to induce a food coma two hours later. That’s definitely important for office zombies out for breakfast or lunch!
If you’re dropping by with a friend like me, I highly recommend getting these two dishes and splitting the toppings for the perfect breakfast amount. The next time I eat here, I’ll choose a vegetable add-on instead and give their curry a try. Oh, and a cup of soymilk to wash it down! I love sweet-and-savoury combinations so, so much.
So if you’re craving nasi lemak from 7am – 2.30pm, why not drop by for a bite at Old Airport Road Food Centre? 97 Nasi Lemak will give you a boost to get through the day, both at work and at home. Even if you’re not near Mountbatten, there are also outlets at Anchorvale, Senja Hawker Centre and Hong Leong Building, so go give 97 Nasi Lemak a try!
For a list of locations, opening hours and phone numbers, please click here.
Expected damage: S$1.20 to S$6 per pax
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