Projek Nasi Lemak new menu - Sambal Terung Bawang Goreng - Crisp of Life

Projek Nasi Lemak at Jalan Dato Kramat was such a phenomenon in Penang, causing a stir in online social media. Their business bloomed within weeks and all the tables were extended till alley, making them the limelight of the town. However they were overwhelmed by the outrageous amount of customers and unable to cope with it, and infuriated some of the patrons.

Nonetheless, the young bosses were quick in issuing a remedy for damage control apologizing to the public by imitating the Japanese's style, with all the staff bowing as an apologetic gesture to the public in front of the shop.

We visited here months later after the coruscating case and it was obvious they have improved. The serving speed is efficient with minimum waiting time, and the food is served hot from the kitchen.

Projek Nasi Lemak still retains the fundamentals of a plate of nasi lemak with slight alterations. Salted peanuts and anchovies, a serving of boiled egg, cucumbers are still present, whilst the coconut rice has been replaced with blue flower rice. The blue colour rice merely serves as an intriguing visual aspect and contribute neither olfactory nor taste. The side dishes can be interchangeable between fried chicken, fried squid, prawns, egg or ikan lumpa.

Three types of sambal also being used, each offering different taste - spicy, sweet, and salty, giving arise to an unique combination.

They have come out with a new menu to be launched soon - Sambal Terung Bawang Goreng (Spicy Brinjal with Fried Onions). The burning hotness derived from the sambal is no joke, to the extent the nerves surrounding our mandibles are trembling. Aromatic and crisp fried onion compliments the softness of the brinjal, yielding a magical combination between these two.

The fried chicken set (RM8.50) comes with a big portion of chicken thigh. The chef insisted frying 12 pieces of chicken thigh at one times, ensuring it was hot upon served. Crisp at the outer layer with tender meat, the fried chicken thigh ticks all the boxes in my checklist.

For fried sotong set (RM13.00), the fried sotong is served separately from the rice. The squid is gigantic in size, and it is fried one by one upon order by the customer. Crisp and aromatic, we feel the squid is nicely done.

A scissor is provided to cut the squid into smaller size on our own service.

Two sambal prawns might be slightly high on the price tag but it was well justified by its size and the freshness. The sambal scent also well infused into the prawns.

Ikan Lumpa is nicely done, with the sambal all stuffed in place within the fish. We were wondering would it be better if slices of onion is present?