Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak (Adam Road)

It was once my favourite Nasi Lemak stall. I would drive all the way to Adam Road Hawker just to buy home a pack. Yes. ONE pack.

I even ranked it better than Changi Village Nasi Lemak.

Recently, I had the craving to go back to this uncle Nasi Lemak, as I call it. And, I was quite disappointed. It was possible that I have tasted better ones now so it pales in comparison. But it just didn't taste like before.

The rice still had a fragrance. And that's probably the only thing that still tasted good. The fried chicken wing was a bit too dry and hard, the burgedal tasted stale and somehow, the whole Nasi Lemak put together, didn't taste as good as it used to. Just for background, the last time I went back and ate Nasi Lemak was about a year ago.

I was craving for the cuttle fish sambal chilli too. But I think my hubby didn't see it. So he didn't change my chilli to that. Nevertheless, the chilli was all right.

Anyway, the overall verdict is... I probably won't be such a fan for this nasi lemak anymore. It is not quite worth the queue.

I read that this Nasi Lemak was voted the best Nasi Lemak in Singapore and as I love Nasi Lemak, I had to try it. I queued for 20 minutes for my plate of Nasi. And for the hype about them using Basmati Rice and etc etc I have to say I was disappointed. The rice was not fragrant at all and completely lacked the Pandan leaf and Coconut richness. The chicken wing was tasteless - the batter was so thick and claggy - you couldn't taste any special marinade nor flavour. The sambal tumis was just one dimensional - SWEET and nothing else. Overall, if this is the best Singapore has to offer for Nasi Lemak, we are definitely behind Malaysia in the food race.

Went for dinner after work, drove down to Adam Food Centre... as I craved for my fave Mee Soto... too bad was closed... so we seeked for other alternative.... heard the Nasi Lemak was good too... the long queue already convinced me... so decided to join in the queue... waited for 15 mins for the food....

Haha.. Guess what... My fave stall @ Adam Food Centre from now on.... Had Full House Set for dinner...

Yummy Nasi Lemak with delicious Chicken Wing, Ikan Billis, Fried Egg, Otak, Freshly Sliced Cucumbers & Super Yummy Sambal Chilli

This is the first time eating Nasi Lemak using Basmati Rice instead of the normal rice... The Basmati Rice gives a lighter texture, better in flavour and the grains are beautifully separated. Ideal for diabetics as it has lesser sugar level than the normal rice.

Ok, I used to live around here since the 70's
So I've tried them when they were at No 1, now they're at stall No 2.

I just cannot understand the raving reviews I read from elsewhere.

But I agree with the few reviewers here that it's not prob the hype.

The rice, is shrunken, thin, and so so taste...maybe it's special tt way, but special does not mean it must be tasty or good.

Chicken, is fried, in thick batter...so so, if u get it hot and crunchy,ok. If it gets cold......

Chilly is pretty sweet, not much spice...some may like

The rest is so so...

So why the long queues?
Why the rave reviews?

Honestly, it's better than average.
But certainly not worth the hype

It was not too long ago that I tried out the No.1 Adam's Nasi Lemak. So with that lingering taste in my mouth, I'd to try out the No.2 Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak at Adam Road Food Centre.

The frontage of the store tells of royalty tucking into their fare, and also accolades from Makan Sutra. But definitely no joy for me.

Rice: I did not totally enjoyed the rice as I usually like it piping hot. You know, as in you can see the steam from the rice? Well, none of that. The taste of the rice is key in any nasi lemak, and the rice that they serve did not rock.

Chicken: So so. Maybe I prefer those that are a little more gareng aka crispy.

Condiment: Chilli's a little too sweet for my liking. As for the ikan bilis and egg, these just should not go wrong. So yes, they were ok.

Container: Because I "ta-pau-ed" aka did a takeaway, the shop gave me a plastic container and charged me 20 cents for it. I'd really rather prefer banana leaf without the extra charges, please.

Rating: 2

Wrote this bcos of today's article on Asiaone website. Sorry to those who raved about this nasi lemak. I do not agree this is the best Nasi Lemak in sg. I heard so much and decided to try it. First time I tried (about 2 years ago), I found the chicken wing bland, batter too hard and over fried. Same for the ikan bilis - over fried and dry. Sambal chilli just ordinary. Rice was good. Thinking that it might be bad day for stall-owner, I decided to give them benefit of doubt. However, about a month later, I tried and found the quality to be just the same as my first try. I won't try the next time as it's quite pricey. $3.50 for a set in a far-flung place like Adam Rd and serving is small. Definitely not worth all the hype.

I'm a foodie aged 45. The best nasi lemak I ever tasted was sold by a group of Indian brothers more than 30years ago. It was located in this small dinghy shophouse next to the infamous "sai long" (sewage treatment house) where OG Albert Complex is today. Those who lived in the vicinity of Rochor/Albert St/Jln Besar will know.

The truly authentic nasi lemak only has fish & ikan bilis, none of those chicken wing, otah, fish cake, egg and what have you. Honestly, I cannot think of a place where the best authentic nasi lemak is served today. If anyone out there knows, pls let me know

Dependable nasi lemak, but we felt it was just average that day... could make a difference if you ordered during lunchtime as the turnover would be higher, thus the chicken wings would be hot and crispy!

Additional rice at $1 seems expensive, but at least it was hot and fluffy.

Nice & friendly uncle!

I've been eating their nasi lemak since i was a secondary school kid (about 10 years ago) and before i became a food thinker. (i dare not use the term 'critic', though by its plain sense of the word i should qualify). i think i never knew it was good, i just ate it cos i was at adam, convenient for me and i kinda liked the taste. never really thought about it.

then i started reading makansutra and i started paying attention to the places i ate at, and started really thinking seriously of why i ate where i ate and what i liked about these places.

so this adam's nasi lemak was never fantastically IN-YOUR-FACE delicious to me cos i had long grown accustomed to it before i even evaluating food. it was difficult for me to judge it cos it was just very status quo to me.

but up till now, i still eat it at least once a month. and i have tried to make sense of why i like it, and i think i know.
anyhow, before i really review the food, just on a side note, i've read in the papers that this is where the sultan of Brunei gets his fix when he's in town. i've seen on a few occassions a non singapore licensed plate jeep with super dark tinted windows come waiting at the hawker centre. it's supposedly the sultan.
and that this selera rasa was originally at stall number 1. but the landlord chased them out and they went over to number 2. the nasi lemak currently at number 1 thus is not the original, but an 'imitation' of the original. but anyway, imitation is the best form of flattery isnt it.

The RICE: basmati rice (what i learnt from numerous food shows which have visited them) which is half of the main draw for me. not too soft not too hard, coconut not too strong, texture perfect.

The CHILLI: the other half of the main draw. so damn good that you will be satisfied with just it and the rice. really does the job for me. slightly sweet, not too spicy so you can continue at it.

The supporting cast: i usually order the Royal Flush, which at $4.50 comes with rice. chilli. ikan bilis. chicken wing. fried egg. otak. begedil.

chicken wing is okay for me. i find the batter too hard and the chicken actually.. a little tough. fried egg is good, but yolk is almost never runny. always hard. i understand it is almost impossible to have runny yolk given the number of orders and the rate of turnover. if it was runny consistently i would actually come lagi more often. the otak is not bad too, the usual big otah. and the begedil (potato patty) is actually... a little lousy. and if you're lucky, you might get the free cuttlefish in chilli. you must ask for it specifically. and they will give it to you upon availability.

yah so the supporting cast is alright, but the spotlight is really on the rice and chilli for me.

i actually like the ambience there at adam hawker centre. i try to go at non peak times. breakfast is especially satisfying since there is no queue and the air is still not warm yet. breezy, watching people eat their malay food, enjoying the teh tarik, wow... that is life. i also patronise the hawker centre during supper time, though the nasi lemak is out by then. but it's a wonderful night spot.

so do go, if you can, at non peak times to avoid the heavy human and vehicular traffic, and taste great nasi lemak with relak jack atmosphere.

Yap, I am not sure of this being the best or not ... Should not be the case in my food haunt dictionary la.

Read a review somewhere and tot I persuade my hubby to drive me here one of those day after my medical review (sigh ... I have thyroid ... too much seafood or stress or it is just tat i am one of those statistic.. every 1 in 10 women). The place is really out of the usual way we will go for food.

The q was still there even thought it is already 1+pm. The rice used is long grain - Basmati? Chicken Wing crispy but bland ... the chilli ok la.. wat else to say other than we had a meal.

Having tried all 4, my choice is Adam Rd. Changi Pt nasi lemak is "tak cukup lemak" not enough coconut flavour, Clementi is too greasy, the oil they use is the wrong type for deep frying - Palm Oil !! Chong Pang - rice also "tak cukup" lemak. So the key is the fresh coconut "santan" they use in the nasi lemak. Most do not want to add to much because the rice goes sour easily in the afternoon, but at this stall, they sell it faster than they can cook the rice - so no problem. The Adam Rd stall (there are several so get the right one) does not stinge on the coconut, which makes the rice so delicious. Good nasi lemak is the type you can eat the rice with ONLY the chili sambal, and nothing else, like villagers on a diet do. The chicken wing, veg, ikan bilis, petai, tempeh etc are all urban add ons.

Reservation: Hawker center lah!!

Food: Delicious to the last grain, large chicken wings (there are S, M and L sizes, in case you don't know). Sambal with enough prawn or sotong to give it the taste, not just hot hot hot!. If you are early enough, you can even order their prawn sambal - delicious. Best matched with teh tarik from the stall adjacent to it.

Ambience: As warm as the sambal is hot. Although renovated, the center is not well ventilated. Should have built the ceiling a bit higher.

Value: Good for the quantity and taste.

Service: Queue all the time. What to do, good food.