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Have you ever been a victim of gatecrashing, where your favourite makan spot that feels like going on a war in order to just get a seat, suddenly goes viral? I have a fair share of places where I had to tearfully give a kiss goodbye to due to this very devastating, modern tragedy. And yeah, that’s my case with Nasi Lemak Ol’ School.
Located in Kampung Sungai Ramal Baru, Kajang, this quaint spot stands out for its simple menu of local classics, paired with well-made coffee and desserts from Mauu Coffee that’s also located in the warung.
I would usually go right after Subuh prayer (around 6.50am) to get a quick breakfast, but I arrived a bit later at 9am on this particular Thursday. As expected, it was already full-house when I parked my car, so I had to wait for a few more minutes.
What’s also fun about this spot is that if you’re not looking for local breakfast delights, it’s also a great lepak hub for Mauu Coffee’s offerings. You can get a cuppa Joe consisting of excellent blends that are switched periodically, paired with a slice of their pie selections.
What I tried at Nasi Lemak Ol’ School
While I would love to get my usual coffee and pie combo, my agenda that day was to make a nasi lemak review. Plus, with my, ahem, very healthy sugar intake lately, I figured I should start developing some sort of self-discipline before the year ends. Which means, sadly, no sweet treats in the mornings.
Nasi Lemak Ol’ School’s basic nasi lemak starts from just RM2.50. I had a simple plate of Nasi Lemak Paru (RM6), consisting of coconut rice, sambal, sambal paru (beef lungs), quartered hard-boiled egg, and cucumber slices. I wasn’t sure if they ran out of stock or the lady simply forgot, but I didn’t get any ikan bilis and peanuts.
First things first – the sambal. It had an appetising red colour with thick consistency and very little oil. The chillies were ground coarsely, with bits and pieces of onions and anchovies in it. So you might have to check your teeth carefully after eating!
While the sambal definitely didn’t taste like those mainstream modern nasi lemak spots, it definitely transported me back to home. The flavour profiles were extremely balanced, with a hint of sweetness and spiciness that was just enough to make it taste wonderful. It reminded me of good nasi lemak stalls that my dad used to tapau from when I was a kid.
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The rice was one of the best I’ve ever had. It had the right amount of fluffiness that I favoured in coconut rice, which went great with the richness of santan. I couldn’t get myself to stop once I started eating, stuffing spoonful after spoonful into my mouth. Honestly, the rice and sambal were already perfect just by themselves without any protein as a side dish.
Their sambal paru has always been one of my favourites. The taste of the sambal used for this dish was pretty similar with the sambal nasi lemak, though with milder flavours to let the paru shine on its own. The paru was easy to chew, and the usual beefy smell you’d get from badly cooked paru was completely absent. My only gripe was that some pieces tasted a bit burnt. It didn’t ruin the whole dish though!
I didn’t get any kuih that day, but if you ever want to try any for only 60 cents per piece, I highly recommend you to do so! Just like the nasi lemak, their kuih is very traditional and tastes like home.
Final thoughts
If I had two words to describe Nasi Lemak Ol’ School, it would be – you guessed it – ‘old school’. While you’re not guaranteed to get flashbacks in the middle of eating like that chef in Ratatouille, every bite will feel like a mother’s embrace.
Make sure to drop by as early as 7am or else almost everything will be sold out!
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