Nasi Lemak, being a national dish to us fellow Malaysians, has raised the bar rather high on what is to be expected for it to be considered of great taste. Every element involved in the dish plays a crucial role but there is no doubt, the main star of the dish would be the SAMBAL (or perhaps to some people, the chicken) that has people’s heads over their heels.
Miri has several spots where great Nasi Lemak can be found. Here are my TOP 5 picks:
1. Nasi Lemak Ayam Special @NagaLiar
Nagaliar situated at the heart of Miri City, is a legendary spot serving some nostalgic taste of a good Nasi Lemak. The lavish amount of sambal for this simple dish really packs a punch with the amount of chilies used in it, pairing well with the succulent chicken and aromatic rice. The flavourful chicken was fried to the utmost supremacy, whereby you may need to order for a second piece of chicken because IT IS REALLY THAT GOOD.
A small portion of salted fried-fish and a coin-amount of peanuts are also being plated. If you crave for some old-school nasi lemak that does not have much complexity, this may be the place for you.
Price:
Nasi Lemak Ayam Special: RM 6.50
Location:
Shop Name: NagaLiar
Address: Lot 753, Jalan Zinnia, 98000 Miri, Sarawak.
Opening Hours: Mon –Sat 7.30am to 3.30pm (SUNDAY OFF DAY)
Waze/Google Maps: Search for “Nagaliar Nasi Lemak”
2. Nasi Lemak Southern Chicken @Feed Me Miri
Sambal that lies between being both spicy and sweet at the same time being served on this plate of Nasi Lemak Southern Chicken is a MUST TRY at Feed Me Miri. The flavour of this sambal might be familiar to some taste buds as it is quite identical to the type of sambal being used for “Ikan Bakar Sambal” which is BBQ Fish with Sambal.
Aside from that, the chicken was truly delicate and tender, deep-fried to primeness. The moment when you get a bite of it, the juiciness just bursts into your mouth allowing you to taste the spices being marinated into the chicken’s meat and skin. I am afraid there’s no going back after having this hell of a good dish, because it really showcases how this shop prioritize freshness and cooking their food with warmth as that’s how homily I felt when I dined-in.
The fragrant rice, which was definitely being infused with both pandan and coconut milk, was placed on top of a banana leaf giving that extra aroma and ‘feel’. There is also a generous serving of crisp peanuts and anchovies. One word to describe this whole dish, AUTHENTIC!
This place opened not long ago, and there is always a massive crowd during lunch hour. So it is advisable to either place your reservation in advance or arrive before 11.30am. Apart from serving delightful meals, Feed Me Miri food are actually very instagram-worthy and not to mention a vastly cozy ambiance so GIVE THE PLACE A TRY!
Price:
Nasi Lemak Southern Chicken: RM 12
Location:
Shop Name: Feed Me Miri
Address: Lot 3528, Ground floor, Al-Bayt Square Miri 101 Commercial Centre, Jalan Miri Pujut, 98000 Miri, Sarawak
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 8am to 4pm (CLOSED EVERY SUNDAY)
Waze/Google Maps: Search for “Feed Me Miri”
3. Nasi Lemak Ayam Paha @Singapore Nasi Lemak
Expecting some fried chicken full of sinful flavours that makes you crave for more? HANDS DOWN!! This neighbourhood spot located somewhere in Permyjaya is no doubt one of the best in Miri.
If you seek for sambal that has a spicy ‘kick’, this may not suit your liking because the in-house made sambal is on the sweeter side but it really complements the juicy, marinated deep-fried chicken that is cooked to perfection whereby the crispy skin alone will make you long for more. The dish is also being served with some oozy sunny-side up egg and a spoonful of crunchy peanuts and anchovies. What more could you ever ask for, am I right?
However, the rice has a very subtle hint of coconut milk and pandan aroma. And the rice portion may not be filling to some people so just add-on another bowl of rice to ensure a full meal.
Price:
Nasi Lemak Ayam Paha: RM 9.90
Location:
Shop Name: Singapore Nasi Lemak
Address: Lot 7957, Jalan Desa Pujut, Bandar Baru Permyjaya, 98000 Miri, Sarawak Malaysia.
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 6am to 5.30pm; Sat & Sun 6am to 3pm
Waze/Google Maps: Search for “Singapore Nasi Lemak”
4. Nasi Lemak Special @Alex Fried Chicken Rice
This family-run business selling chicken rice has recently upgraded their shop to being air-conditioned and filled up the space with more tables because it gets extremely busy during the lunch hour. The shop is really popular among the locals because their food is really superb, whereby one of their speciality would have to be their Nasi Lemak Special served with some flavoursome fried chicken and a half-boiled egg.
The crunchy outer layer of chicken skin is something really wicked to savour. If you find that the portion may not fill you up, there is an option for you to upsize your plate to BIG whereby more chicken will be added to fulfil your desires.
The sambal for this dish has a little hint of both spiciness and sweetness but not overpowering in any way, allowing you to enjoy eating without sweating out from extreme spiciness. Instead of the regular small anchovies, this place uses small-size salted fried fish accompanied with a coin-amount of peanuts.
Price:
Nasi Lemak Ayam Special: RM 8 (Normal); RM 10 (Big)
Location:
Shop Name: Alex Fried Chicken Rice
Address: Lot 2183, Pujut 7C, 98000 Miri, Sarawak.
Opening Hours: Mon – Friday 6am to 5pm; Sat – Sun 9am to 5pm
Waze/Google Maps: Search for “Alex Fried Chicken Rice”
5. Nasi Lemak Ayam Paha @MYY Station Krokop [NON HALAL]
Wanting an added touch of savoury onto your plate of Nasi Lemak aside from the sambal? MYY Station’s eatery located in the residential area of Krokop may be the place to gratify your extraordinary cravings of a ‘so-called’ upgraded version of a nasi lemak.
This place has a unique twist upon their version of Nasi Lemak Ayam Paha, whereby they add on some special savoury sauce on top of the chicken upon request. It is something so good that may have you dreaming about it at night. The sambal for this dish is rather satisfying, whereby it does not overshadow the flavours of the well-spiced chicken which may be the main star of the whole dish.
The rice, possessing an aromatic smell from being cooked with coconut milk and pandan, is being placed on top of a spread of banana leaf to give that extra scent. For all you savoury nasi lemak eaters out there, come on down and try this dish out yourself!
Price:
Nasi Lemak Ayam Paha with special sauce: RM 11, Wing RM 7
Location:
Shop Name: MYY Station
Address: Lot 760, Block 5, Krokop Road, 98000 Miri, Sarawak. (Next to Krokop Primary School)
Operating Hours: 5.30pm to 11pm+
Waze/Google Maps: Search for “MYY Station”
Hence, those are the top 5 recommended places for anyone seeking to satisfy their cravings for a great plate of Nasi Lemak in the lovely city of Miri. Hopefully, one of these spots may suit your preferences whether you seek for some great, tasty chicken or a spicy type of sambal.
If you have any other suggestions that I should feature next time, do feel free to leave us a message. Remember to help spread the love for this food article by sharing and clicking the like button. Take care and love you lots!
