Ask Alor Setar people what are the food to try in Alor
Setar. Most likely they will direct you various Nasi Lemak here. Though public
used to call it nasi lemak in Alor Setar but it has no difference compared to
Nasi Kandar in Penang. Hence, do not expect some santan rice with spicy sambal
for the nasi lemak in Alor Setar. In fact, it is the curries that put you in
ecstasy when having the nasi lemak! Always ask for kuah banjir if you enjoy the
sensation and aroma of curries accompany every scoop of your rice. Well, let’s
have a look at the various nasi lemak I have tried in Alor Setar.
Nasi Lemak Royale
Nasi Lemak Royale has a few branches in Alor Setar. You may
find various typical dishes for nasi kandar such as fried chicken, squid, beef,
boiled eggs, okra and even fried quill available for your selection. Looking at
the queue, expect to queue up at least 30 – 45 minutes before your turn to
select your dishes.
The rice is yellow-green colour and it tastes slight
fragrance before the chemical bonding with the curries (ecstasy). The chef will
mix 5 types of curries to your rice if you asked for “campur”. The mixture of
curries are perfectly tuned that it yield sweet flavour with a little bit of
spiciness which engulf your taste buds and stay there for seconds for your
enjoyment. Personally, the level of
spiciness is minimum.
I had a fried chicken wing, a boiled egg and cabbage and to
my surprise it costed me RM 6 only when I was expecting about RM 7.5. It is
relatively cheaper compared to the wily nasi kandar owner in Penang who may
chicane you up to RM 8 for the same amount of rice. Not to mention the quality.
Location:
Lebuhraya Sultan Abdul Halim (just look for the Nasi Lemak
Royale Hijau Kuning side – near Simpang Kuala)
05050, Alor Setar, Kedah.
Operation hour: 6pm till 11pm+
Map refer here.
Nasi Lemak Haji Ali
With a history of more than 50 years passed from the owner, Mohamed Ali Madar Shahib from India to their grandchildren, nasi lemak ali is another must try in Alor Setar. One local shared to me that Nasi Lemak Ali used to have a long queue of customers before Nasi Lemak Royale operates, however I find both serve the best quality of nasi kandar and the curries clearly distinguish each other.
The curries by Nasi Lemak Ali is more spicy, and you may feel the tingling sensation on your taste buds which may due to the spices used in cooking the curry. The dishes served were equally good. However, the fragrance of rice is overwhelmed by Nasi Lemak Royale if you were to compare them. I was quite disappointed with the rice during my first visit as the rice was damp and sticky. However, during my second visit, it was okay.
Nasi Lemak Ali is slightly pricey. A fried chicken leg with
a boiled egg costed me RM5.6. On the second occasion, I had fried chicken, okra
and fried egg and asked for kuah banjir. The spiciness were so intense that it
remains triggering my taste buds after some time. I forgot the exact price for
the dish on the second occasion but my pieces of memory told me it was about RM7
– RM 7.8.
Location:
Persiaran Sultan Abdul Hamid, just on your left after the bridge if you are coming from town area. You may turn left after the restaurant you can find an open space available for parking.
Persiaran Sultan Abdul Hamid, just on your left after the bridge if you are coming from town area. You may turn left after the restaurant you can find an open space available for parking.
Map refer here.
K. Nasi Lemak
1 Malaysia is well practiced in this restaurant. You will find an Indian selling nasi lemak, and Chinese selling wantan mee and char koay teow in the same restaurant. Politicians should really come and consult them how to work out racial harmony.
1 Malaysia is well practiced in this restaurant. You will find an Indian selling nasi lemak, and Chinese selling wantan mee and char koay teow in the same restaurant. Politicians should really come and consult them how to work out racial harmony.
Well, aside from politics, K. Nasi Lemak offers you a good
choice of nasi lemak if you do not have enough time for the queue in Nasi Lemak
Royale or Nasi Lemak Haji Ali. The curries are slightly thicker and slurry. The
owner is very friendly and greets you with a big smile whenever he serves you.
I had a fried chicken, okra, a boiled egg and cabbage and it only costed me RM
6.7! How affordable!
If you opt for a lighter dinner, you may go for wantan mee
or char koay teow here. Nevertheless wantan mee did not drive me into craze.
Location:
Restaurant Chuan Bee,
Restaurant Chuan Bee,
Jalan Putra, Alor Setar
Operation hour: 5:30pm till finish (11pm)
Map refer here.
Nasi Lemak Ong
Although Alor Setar is not a food mecca, the capital city of Alor Setar still offer a range of delicious and famous food that everyone ought to try. One of the big name here is Nasi Lemak Ong, a restaurant operated by Chinese and sells in lunch hour instead of the conventional morning or evening. Nasi Lemak Ong's fame is so immense that there will be always a queue waiting to pick their dishes, to the extent the restaurant even put up poles to guide the queue line!
Although it is Chinese style nasi lemak, its mode of operation has no difference compared to the conventional Mamak's nasi kandar. There are a range of dishes selection, such as mutton, fried chicken, fish, anchovies, ulam, eggs or vegetables. For dining in, you will be getting a big plate with banana leaves and topped with your rice selection - yellow or white, and of course the dishes of your choice. The yellow rice is unique on its own as it is cooked with margarine, ginger and spices.
They key to the success is the curry gravy. You will be offered to pick either the spicy or non-spicy. If you are non-heat tolerant, it is better to stay off from the spicy curry. It tasted mild in the beginning but the heat will slowly pile up, causing a mild level of numbness which someone like me who enjoys chilies feel the heat.
A plate above with fried chicken, okra, a fried egg with yellow rice caused RM 8. The dishes were alright but it was the curry gravy that scored the winning point.
Nasi Lemak Ong also operates in Pavilion Shopping Mall currently.
Nasi Lemak Ong @ Alor Setar
Jalan Putra, Kampung Lubok Peringgi, 05150 Alor Setar, Kedah
Operation hours: 10.30am - 3.30pm (Closed on Wednesday)
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