We Lined Up At 3AM For The Legendary Nasi Lemak In Cheras. Was It Worth It?
She has been selling nasi lemak at the same spot for over 25 years.
By Jay Zee Lok
I read about the Legendary Nasi Lemak mak cik in Cheras where people start lining up for her food at 3am. I was totally intrigued and had to try it for myself!
This Mak Cik has been selling nasi lemak outside 7-Eleven Taman Maluri in Cheras for over 25 years. She is famed for her consistency and generous portions.
The mak cik has been selling nasi lemak since the 1990s. She always has about eight different types of lauk, and two different types of rice. Her more popular lauk includes fried chicken, chicken rendang, sambal sotong, and sambal kerang. You also have a choice of fried rice or nasi lemak.
She always gives a massive portion of rice that will definitely satisfy any nasi lemak lover.
So at 3am on a Friday night, I drove to Cheras. I arrived at 3.30am, and was greeted by this extremely long queue.
I was mentally prepared for the queue but it's still shocking to see how many people there are actually willing to queue for nasi lemak at three in the morning. That's pure dedication in the name of food.
At 4.15am, the mak cik arrives, starts setting up, and the queue starts moving
Food is best when shared, so bear in mind that there will be people tapauing for their whole family, and all their friends. I noticed five people in a row ordering 10 packets of nasi lemak each.
At 5.30am, we finally reached the front of the line
After two hours of standing in line, I was so happy that it's finally my turn. I also noticed that some of the lauk was running out, but luckily we got everything we wanted.
PRICE: We paid a total of RM52 for 10 packets of nasi lemak with lauk
I don't have the exact breakdown of the price of each packet of nasi lemak and the lauk. But an average of RM5.20 per packet is of great value in my books.
The verdict: What is it really worth the wait?
The food is delicious, it's everything you want in a nasi lemak - fluffy rice, spicy sambal. It's really a no-frills kind of food, just pure authentic flavours. Out of all the lauk we chose, my favourite was hands down the chicken rendang. You can really taste the love the mak cik puts into her cooking.
But would I line up again at 3am? Probably. It won't be any time soon, but the food is definitely worth trying at least once in your life. I'd probably go and queue again if my makan buddies want to, but I definitely suggest arriving earlier to prevent disappointment of your favourite lauk getting sold out.
Head on over to Taman Maluri, Cheras for some seriously delicious nasi lemak:
Address:
211, Jalan Perkasa 1,
Maluri,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
WPKL.
Opening hours:
4am till sold out (Mondays to Saturdays)
Closed on Sundays.
Check out our SAYS Makan Guide for more yummy places to eat and Like our new SAYS Makan Facebook if you're a big foodie like us!
