Now, I am not such a big fan of Nasi Lemak. I mean, I do eat it and I can enjoy a good plate of Nasi Lemak but I am not willing to make that extra effort to travel to another town just to try another Nasi Lemak.
How come?
Over the years, we have had so many versions of this coconut rice and it gets boring when everyone sells the same thing. Even my good friend, Faizal who used to run Route12(known for its Nasi Lemak Sotong King) has no plans to venture in that field anymore, at least for now.
But why did I give in and decided to try this one? It was really because of the word 'Taliwang'. In 2011, my wife and I went for a holiday in Lombok. We stayed at Sheraton Hotel on the first two days and the tour guide brought us to a local restaurant that serves local dishes and Ayam Taliwang was one of them.
Ayam Taliwang is a spicy, grilled chicken dish and it was recommended by the waiter in that restaurant. We tried it and we loved it. And we do wonder if this Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang is anywhere near that experience.
So last Friday, I picked up my wife from her workplace after Friday prayers and we went to Yishun Park Hawker Centre.
There are so many halal food choices ranging from the kuihs to nasi ambeng to halal Chi Zar to western menus. We had to stay focused and look for that one stall.
The stall name is Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang. Located at #01-33 of Yishun Park Hawker Center.
As this was our first time, we decided to just order one and share..
We had to wait for a while, about 15minutes I think, because they had to grill the chicken and indeed, it was worth the wait...
What do I find amazing? Two things...
First, it's the rice. The rice is unlike most nasi lemak I've tasted. The rice itself has a unique, savoury taste from the rich coconut milk. With the added crunch from the fried ground nuts and anchovies with the sweet and spicy taste of that sambal, it's just awesome.
Second, the Ayam Taliwang. The chicken is grilled and topped with a spicy Taliwang sauce. And I have to tell you... that sauce is enjoyably spicy.
While we were enjoying our meal, the gentleman who took our order came by and asked if we would like to add some rice. He said we could add more rice at NO CHARGE! Those big eaters will appreciate that free added rice. For normal eaters, the original portion is just nice. Once you wash down your meal with that bottle of water or coffee, you'll feel full already. I think this is a great way to prevent food wastage.
With a heavy heart, I had to say no...
If I was not on diet, I would have bought a second plate!
This Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang costs us $5.90. A good price for a deliciously great meal!
So will I go there again? Definitely YES!
Some details of the Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang
Opening hours:
Close on Mondays
Saturdays open from 7am to 4.30pm
Other days open from 7am to 8,30pm
Located at Yishun Park Hawker Center, 51 Yishun Avenue 11, #01-33, Singapore 768867
IMPORTANT NOTE: Their Nasi Ayam Taliwang and other Grilled Chicken will not be ready until 11am.
