[REVIEW] The Coconut Club got into the foodie limelight recently with their $12.80 Nasi Lemak, served at the hipster district of Ann Siang Hill.
$12.80 Nasi Lemak.
Ex and gimmicky, or real good stuff? I am all for the local delicacies moving into restaurants, bistros and cafes.
In fact, this can be a way our humble hawker food can be elevated up, and perhaps attract more young ‘hawkerpreneurs’ to enter the tough and challenging industry.
Just like say, Singapore’s very own Michelin Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle which gone from hawker to restaurant. Hopefully, many more to come.
If we want a cheaper version, there is always the hawker centres. For convenience, there is Crave and Qiji. Of course, some say the best rendition of Nasi Lemak will be at home. But that is the very beauty of Singapore.
Of course, there will always be some who complain Nasi Lemak for $12.80 (nett) in a restaurant is expensive, but emmm… Baked Riced with ham at $12.80 is cheap.
The Coconut Club was packed to the brim during a weekend visit. (Okay, didn’t help they are only opened limited hours per day.)
They specialise in serving up plates of fragrant Nasi Lemak ($12.80), coupled with traditional local sides such as charcoal-grilled Otak Otak ($8.50), Ikan Goreng (market price) and Cendol ($3.80).
Prices are inclusive of GST and service charge. That is a bonus.
Here is what’s so special about the rice: Old crop Thai Jasmine Rice is used. Coconuts are from one specific plantation in Sabak Bernam, and type is called the MAWA (The Malaysian West African strain).
This coconut milk is squeezed in-house, and has a creamier, richer texture.
The verdict: The rice was lovely and fluffy, with that undemanding aroma that didn’t overwhelm. I don’t always finish my Nasi Lemak rice as it could be both oily and heavy.
This – I cleaned out. It was sedap in an understated sort of way.
The chicken was the other tasty element, rubbed with lemongrass, galangal and turmeric, carrying with it Asian flavours rather than just a generic fried chicken. The bad: could not stop eating the skin.
The Cendol ($3.80) was a creamy, milky version, and didn’t stinge on adding good gula melaka. The ‘cannot-have’ if you are watching your cholesterol levels.
Would be happier if it was a bigger portion with beans added. Personal preference.
The fellow customers I talked to came from various backgrounds. Two aunties longed to eat for a good plate of Nasi Lemak, some brought their children here because they never had Nasi Lemak is their lives.
Good food like Nasi Lemak, brings people together. The Coconut ‘Club’, is an appropriate name indeed.
The Coconut Club
NO. 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787 (Chinatown MRT)
Tel: +65 6635 2999
Opening Hours: 11 am – 3 pm (Tues – Sat)
Other Related Entries
Crave (ION Orchard)
New Rasa Singapura (Tanglin)
Big Street (Jalan Besar)
Ponggol Nasi Lemak (Jalan Besar)
Good Chance Popiah (Jalan Besar)
* Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
The post The Coconut Club – $12.80 Nasi Lemak At Ann Siang That Got People Queuing appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.