My hubby and I were heading to the Thai Supermarket at Aperia Mall but somehow ended up parking the car at the wrong place and ended up next door at CT Hub instead, haha. That’s how we stumbled upon Kitchenman Nasi Lemak as we were walking over to Aperia Mall.
I recalled seeing this nasi lemak place being featured on social media before and reviews were good so we decided to have our lunch there.
What Kitchenman Nasi Lemak Offers
Kitchenman Nasi Lemak specialises in Malaysian-style nasi lemak. Prices range from $5.80 for a Nasi Lemak Classic with just egg, anchovies and peanuts to $15.80 for a Nasi Lemak Rendang Chicken. There are also options to add on like vegetable dishes, homemade otah, fried fish, etc if you like some variety to substantiate your meal.
This casual, no-frills eatery is not huge so expect it to be full house during peak meal times. We came on a weekday and arrived just after 12 noon but luckily we managed to get a table as someone else had finished their meal. Customers were mainly office workers.
What to Expect When You Dine Here
Once seated, just scan the QR code on the table to place your order. Payment to be made at the counter after the meal.
We got two types of nasi lemak. Because every plate is made to order, we had to wait for about 20-25 minutes. So if you’re in a hurry, I will not recommend having a meal here during peak lunch hour. If you want to try this nasi lemak place, better to visit during off peak hours to avoid long wait times.
Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah Leg – $13.80
I like that they give you the options to choose either chicken leg or chicken breast. Naturally I go for the leg, which is my favourite chicken part. Ayam Goreng Berempah is basically spiced fried chicken. The chicken leg is marinated with aromatic spices and then deep fried to a deep golden brown.
It’s not the crispy, crunchy kind because it’s not battered but the brown bits of spices which I believe include curry leaves, shallots, ginger, lemongrass, etc really added flavour and fragrance to the fried chicken hence making this special beyond your usual fried chicken. The chicken meat inside is also moist and tender.
It’s a pretty darn good plate of nasi lemak. There’s nothing I don’t like on the plate. Soft and fluffy rice, crispy anchovies, crunchy peanuts, sunny side up with runny yolk, nicely balanced sambal chilli. Everything just complemented one another. Super satisfying.
Nasi Lemak Ayam Kunyit – $13.80
For this version, the chicken meat is cut into chunks, marinated with turmeric and then deep fried. This style offers a different flavour profile which is equally delicious. The inside of the chicken remains succulent.
I like that the chicken chunks come with extra veggies like long beans, carrots and onions that gave nice crunch and texture, making this plate a more wholesome option. The turmeric marinade creates an earthy, aromatic experience that’s different from the berempah version.
Final Verdict
So glad we found Kitchenman Nasi Lemak – definitely one of the better nasi lemak spots in Singapore! Both versions we tried show what happens when someone takes nasi lemak seriously. The Ayam Goreng Berempah brings complex spice layers whilst the Ayam Kunyit offers earthy turmeric notes. What started as a parking mistake turned into discovering a hidden gem that’s earned a permanent spot on our dining rotation. If you’re in the vicinity, do check them out – worth the wait and calories for sure!