Author Archives: TV Smith

Sakura Cafe’s Nasi Lemak

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Sakura Cafe, one of the first 24-hour coffee houses in KL, pioneered the ‘upmarket’ nasi lemak in the early 1980s. Their version of the local delicacy served with chicken floss and pickle launched a fad.

Nasi Lemak soon made it into the after-party menu of 5-star hotels in the city. It took the midnight buffet of the 1990s to knock the super supper off its porcelain perch.

Some three decades later, Sakura Cafe in Jalan Imbi is still going strong. I am not sure if Sakura (and newer sister-restaurant Madam Kwan’s) still belong to the same family though. On an impromptu visit last night, I was pleasantly surprised to see the original signature dish.

Tasty curry chicken, chunky sambal, chicken floss and achar over fragrant santan rice with a slice of egg to go. It must have been a luxury at RM 4 in the 80s. It is RM 15 for a plate of legend today.

Pork-free Sakura Cafe is at 163 to 169 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03 2148 4315.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 400, f3.5, 1/30 sec.

Sakura Cafe's Nasi Lemak

Fisherman’s Friend

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When I crossed the river to Bagan Pasir it was already late afternoon. Earlier, the slippery wooden-planked pier was bustling with wriggly catch. In contrast, it is now dry, neat and deserted. Nevertheless, in the eerie emptiness, photographic opportunities abound. Such as this pair of Wellingtons washed and left to dry.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f7.1, 1/160 sec.

Fisherman's Friend