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Nasi kandar remains one of Malaysia’s most timeless comfort foods, and in KL and Selangor, good plates of nasi kandar are never hard to find even without making the trip to Penang.
That got me wondering — can a newly-opened nasi kandar spot actually hold its own against a decades-old powerhouse? To find out, I compared Nasi Kandar Shahana, a relatively new spot along Jalan Imbi, against Nasi Kandar Pelita, one of Malaysia’s biggest and most established nasi kandar chains with over 25 outlets nationwide.
Why these contenders?
Honestly, finding newly-opened nasi kandar spots in KL wasn’t as easy as I expected. Most of the familiar names have already been operating for years, if not decades. After a deep Google rabbit hole, I landed on Nasi Kandar Shahana along Jalan Imbi, a spot that seems to thrive among locals and tourists despite having little social media presence.
Meanwhile, choosing an older, established contender was almost the opposite problem. There are simply too many nasi kandar powerhouses around Klang Valley. In the end, I settled on Nasi Kandar Pelita, one of the biggest nasi kandar chains in Malaysia with more than 25 outlets nationwide. Safe to say, expectations were high.
Nasi Kandar Shahana
Opened in early 2025, Nasi Kandar Shahana sits along Jalan Imbi, not too far from The Exchange TRX. The area is constantly buzzing with tourists and office crowds, but the restaurant itself feels surprisingly lowkey compared to many viral food spots these days.
First impressions? I’ll admit, I was slightly underwhelmed by the selection of lauk on display. When I think of nasi kandar, I imagine rows upon rows of trays packed tightly together, overflowing with curries, fried chicken, seafood, and all kinds of side dishes. Here, the spread felt noticeably smaller.
Still, I kept it simple and ordered white rice with ayam madu, cabbage, and kuah campur, which came up to RM11.
The first thing I noticed was how fluffy the rice was. It sounds basic, but nasi kandar can genuinely fall apart if the rice itself isn’t done properly. The mix of curries also caught me off guard in a good way. It had a decent kick of spice without going overboard, while the sweetness from the ayam madu gravy balanced everything out nicely.
As for the chicken, it was tender and properly cooked through. The honey coating leaned a little too candy-sweet for my liking, and the batter had gone slightly soggy from the gravy, so the crispy texture didn’t really hold up. Still, flavour-wise, it was enjoyable enough that I kept going back for another bite.
Even the cabbage surprised me. It wasn’t overly soft or drowned in oil, and actually carried quite a bit of flavour despite being one of the simplest items on the plate.
Overall, I walked away more impressed than I expected to be.
Nasi Kandar Pelita
Nasi Kandar Pelita is hardly a stranger to Malaysians. The brand began as a small stall in a coffee shop at Taman Chai Leng, Perai, Penang, back in 1995, before growing into one of the country’s biggest nasi kandar chains with more than 25 branches across Malaysia and even Chennai, India.
Technically, the brand is around 31 years old now, though I’m not entirely sure how old this particular branch in C180 is.
Compared to Shahana, this outlet was noticeably larger and naturally came with a much wider variety of lauk to choose from. The trays stretched across the counter exactly the way you’d expect from a long-running nasi kandar chain.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to get the chicken part I actually wanted. Minor heartbreak, honestly.
I ended up with white rice, ayam bawang, petola goreng, and kuah campur. It cost me RM13.85.
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The rice itself was fluffy enough, but the gravies immediately tasted saltier on my palate. Instead of blending together smoothly, the flavours felt a little overpowering at times.
The ayam bawang was well-spiced and aromatic, but the texture didn’t quite land for me. The gravy was slightly too runny, while the chicken itself turned out tougher than expected.
The petola was tasty, though again, the saltiness crept up after a few bites.
What surprised me most was how quickly the meal became overwhelming. Usually, I can comfortably finish a full nasi kandar plate without issue, but this one felt heavier the longer I ate.
Verdict
| Category | Nasi Kandar Shahana | Nasi Kandar Pelita |
|---|---|---|
| Variety | Limited choices | Much wider selection |
| Price | Depends on selections | Depends on selections |
| Gravy | Balanced with slight spice | Rich but saltier |
| Chicken | Tender, slightly too sweet | Flavourful but tougher |
| Vegetables | Surprisingly well-seasoned | Tasty but salty |
| Overall Experience | Simple but satisfying | Classic but heavier |
Surprisingly, Nasi Kandar Shahana takes this round for me.
That said, it doesn’t necessarily mean Pelita is bad. In fact, I can still see why it has lasted for decades and built such a massive following. The variety alone already makes it appealing, especially for people who enjoy having endless choices on their plate.
Of course, nasi kandar is also deeply personal. Some people prefer stronger, saltier gravies with bold flavours that hit immediately, while others lean towards something more balanced and lighter on the palate.
So now I’m curious — if you had to choose, are you team old-school heavyweight or newer underdog?
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