Tag Archives: rice

Sakura Cafe’s Nasi Lemak

Posted on by
Reply

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

Economy Rice Is Economical

Posted on by
Reply

The oddly named “Economy Rice” is meant to convey thrift or meal on a budget. It is also known as “Mixed Rice” sometimes. This originated from the combo of rice and side dishes. I think of it as buffet-Malaysian style. You can pick any dishes you want but limited to only one serving. No second helpings (unless you pay again).

In the the middle of Taman Muda, my curiosity was piqued when I saw so many people congregating at a stall named Sun Gee. Dozens were queuing and hundreds busy eating at the tables when I stumbled upon it. The main attraction was the choice of over 50 different dishes. The selection was indeed astounding and bewildering. For less than USD 2 you get rice and 3 dishes plus free Chinese tea. Economy rice is economical.

When I asked permission to photograph the buffet line, a nice Nepalese worker offered me this special vantage point.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f4.5, 1/200 sec.

Economy Rice Is Economical