Village Park Restaurant

To kick off a lively discussion among Malaysians in KL, ask them if Village Park is indeed the best nasi lemak in the city, as many claim. Everyone has an opinion (a taxi driver even chimed in when we were discussing our plans for the next day to give us his take, not abnormal when it comes to taxi drivers in Malaysia, particularly when it comes to food).

Not having had the opportunity to try out all their rivals (an activity for the next trip), I have to say it is one of, if not the best nasi lemak's I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The rice alone was so well cooked, the scent of coconut and pandan rising as you make up the perfect spoonful. Nasi lemak comes with dried anchovies and peanuts for a salty crunch, a hard-boiled egg, cucumber for freshness, sambal for heat and finally a side, which in Village Park's case, I must insist is the fried chicken. Their version is extra crispy and, as a bonus, comes with a generous helping of extra crunchy bits. The kari ayam (chicken curry) is also good, but I do feel the edge here is the fried chicken, which you can't always get elsewhere done so well.