We’re all wearing rose-tinted glasses when it comes to local food. Classics such as nasi lemak and roti canai get all the attention (and deservingly so), but it’s time we cast a spotlight on another much loved dish: Nasi kandar! Originated in Penang (thank you, Penangites, for your constant blessing of food), nasi kandar is an Indian Malaysian dish consisting of rice and side dishes, commonly served with curry.
Homesick Penangites living in Klang Valley may rejoice, because today we’re bringing forth the 9 best places to have your fix of nasi kandar at!
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Spearheaded by a family, they have been in the nasi kandar groove since the 1960s. Nasi Kandar Zainul is so well-received that some media outlets have covered them! A plate of nasi kandar at Zainul will not be complete (not even if you fill it to the brim with all sorts of goodies) without some of their fish head curry. Don’t forget to get a piece or two of their fried chicken; you’d love the crispiness!
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Nasi Kandar Ibramsha sets themselves apart from the rest very easily with their special soy sauce curry. The flavour is distinct and out of this world, so unlike other curries that we’d tasted and, frankly, we just can’t get enough of it! We also highly recommend their fish-based sides; they’d make a great companion for your rice.
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Despite being a nasi kandar restaurant, they serve a wide variety of food that includes even western fare, but anyway — back to the nasi kandar! This is a completely different restaurant from Penang’s famous Deen Nasi Kandar. On another note, we’d say Nasi Kandar Deen could potentially rival them all the way from Klang Valley! Their nasi kandar is superb in quality and taste. You’re going to have a field day with their curries.
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If you’re an avid follower of nasi kandar restaurants, we’re pretty sure TG’s Nasi Kandar is on your radar. They’re one of the best places for nasi kandar in the country and one of the best options for people who seek authentic nasi kandar. Pondering what to pair your rice with? The curry dishes, without a doubt. TG’s Nasi Kandar clearly knows how to deliver commendable curries.
No nasi kandar list is complete without Nasi Kandar Pelita, one of the fastest growing nasi kandar chains in Malaysia. We’re pretty sure you’ve heard of them, as they’re undoubtedly one of the best places for nasi kandar. In fact, they have grown so much they have outlets throughout Malaysia and even one in India. If you’re not yet a fan, it’s time to get in the groove with Nasi Kandar Pelita’s mixed curries!
This ever popular nasi kandar restaurant opened an outlet in Kota Damansara and we’re sure many of us are over the moon, because Hameediyah Restaurant is known to serve the oldest nasi kandar out there! They have been in business since 1907. You’re going to be spoiled not only for choice, but also by the clean and comfortable, modernized environment. Give their signature Ayam Kampung Bawang a try — this is an order from us, not a recommendation!
This particular stall stands out quite a little, as it’s located in a Chinese coffee shop instead of a mamak. That being said, they’re a very good choice for some superlative nasi kandar. Sides that sell like hot cakes at this stall include the succulent fried chicken and the excellent mutton curry. No matter what you get, everything will nail in the right flavours for you, because the owner has pretty much mastered the authenticity of nasi kandar.
Mohd. Yaseem has a whopping offering of over 25 sides! If that’s not heaven, we don’t know what is. As with most nasi kandar shops on this list, we highly recommending Mohd. Yassem’s curries; in particular, their mutton curry which is accompanied by a curry gravy of rightly thick texture. The mutton is nicely tender and complements the rice very well.
9. Restoran Nasi Kandar Shaaz
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Head on in for the classic fare of nasi kandar, with a huge variety of dishes to choose from. The vegetables are as plentiful as the curries and you’d definitely be spoiled for choice at Restoran Nasi Kandar Shaaz Curry House! Unless you’re on a diet, as usual, our highest recommendation goes to the curries; namely, the fish-based curries.