Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak: 53-year-old stall open till 3.30am

I was snooping around on NEA’s official website (just like everyone does) when a section about Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak caught my eye. At first glance, I did not realise how many layers there were to the story.

Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak received the Hawker Heritage Award for preserving traditional cuisine over the 53 years it has been in the trade. The owner, Nyonya Bte Mohd Shah, owns 4 stalls and a central kitchen, all managed by her family.

A little more scoping had me discover that the original stall in Boon Lay Place Food Village operates from 7am to 3.30pm. Daily! 

I also narrowed down one tiny detail I saw on the menu in one of their photos. It stated that the rice is steamed with high-quality extra virgin coconut oil, which apparently makes it more fragrant. The oil is also known for improving skin health and controlling diabetes.

Of course, I had to try it, but there was no way I’d go in the middle of the night. So when the time was right, I pulled along my trusty foodie partner-in-crime, and we set off for our Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak breakfast.

We were not the earliest birds; Boon Lay Place was already bustling with activity when we alighted at our stop. It took us a while to weave through cluttered tables and diners with trays, but we found a spot near the stall. It wasn’t hard to notice the many awards displayed at the front.

There was a small queue, and service was swift so we did not have to wait long before it was my turn. I arrived back at our table with our order within minutes, to my buddy’s amazement.

What I tried at Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak

Many say looks don’t matter, but presentation shaped our first impressions of the dish. Rice was scooped into a mound on the wax paper, and ingredients were neatly placed around it. The sight was delicious enough to make our mouths water.

The otah was sold out, so my companion settled for the Fish Fillet Set (S$4). 

The fillet tasted sweet and mild, and with the soft breaded exterior, resulted in a somewhat pillowy bite. He liked it so much that he almost forgot his initial disappointment from the loss of otah.

I ordered the Chicken Set (S$4.50), which came with a golden deep-fried chicken wing. 

The piece was cold when it arrived, possibly from sitting out all morning. The thicker parts of the batter were crunchy enough, but the meat itself didn’t have much taste, though it was juicy. 

After taking a bite of rice, I never thought again to doubt their use of extra virgin coconut oil; it did make all the difference.

The jasmine white rice was exquisite – fluffy, steamy, and infused with a coconut fragrance that seemed to flavour even the air around it. If there were any pandan in it, I wouldn’t have been able to tell because the coconut oil’s aroma dominated every other note. 

If Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak said they had taken 4.5 hours from 3.30am to 7am just to cook this rice, I’d have believed them.

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The sambal reminded me of a thin, sweet chilli jam. It wasn’t very spicy either, at least, not as much as I expected. 

While I initially did not find it too sweet, it progressively tasted more sugary as I ate. It was alright, but not something I felt like finishing, and I popped the lonely slice of cucumber into my mouth to refresh it afterwards.

The fried ikan bilis cracked in my mouth as I chewed, letting out their briny saltiness. They weren’t the best I’ve had, but they did have a nice savoury flavour that went well with the sweetness of the roasted peanuts. 

While many hawkers deep fry their eggs, this one seemed shallow-fried. At least, that’s what I gathered from its slightly flatter shape and the missing brown edges that come with deep frying. 

It wasn’t as oily as I had anticipated it to be. Though the white was fully cooked, the yolk, while not runny, still had a soft, slightly jammy centre. 

When eaten together, the egg and rice went harmoniously hand in hand. Personally, my favourite combination is if you mix the yolk and rice in one bite.

I have a notorious reputation for never finishing my carbs, but today was different. Despite not being a fan tong, I willingly ate almost every grain on my plate. 

Final Thoughts

Of all the components, I was most impressed by the aromatic coconut rice. It was truly delectable, especially since it was served steaming fresh out of the kitchen. Maybe I dabao too often but this elevated the tasting experience.

The rest of the dish was just palatable. I wish the chicken was crispier and hotter, but it was decently sized. I did not finish the sambal, unfortunately, but I’m sure there are plenty out there who prefer their chilli sweet.

Overall, Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak was pretty promising and did capture the classic flavours of the dish, but it wasn’t incredible. I can’t stop thinking about their rice though – it really was delicious!

Expected damage: S$4 – S$4.50

Order Delivery: foodpanda Deliveroo

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