Dickson Nasi Lemak

Ayam Goreng Berempah Chicken Leg Set A (S$10.70+)
Accompanied with Teh Peng
Served with coconut rice, hard boiled egg half, cucumber, anchovies, peanuts, and sambal.
Not sure why but felt that the sambal was more spicy this time.

Dickson Nasi Lemak
Website 🕸️ : dicksonnasilemak.com

In my last visit here right before the chicken export ban, we only managed to try their basic nasi lemak without ingredients and left with great impression of their fragrant rice and sweet-spicy chili. Glad to see chicken back on the menu and that queues have shortened (20-30 min wait on the weekend).

The chicken was undoubtedly the star of the show although the sambal was a close contender. Chicken was well-marinated with spices and fried to have crispy skin and crunchy bits while retaining a juicy fragrant interior. Choose between the fried chicken leg ($9.20) or boneless thigh ($4.20).

The half boiled egg, peanuts, ikan billis, and cucumber were standard, and the rice could be fluffier. But the chicken is one I’d return for.

📍@dicksonnasilemak, 320 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore

There’s been a fair bit of hype over @dicksonnasilemak due to the fact that they reportedly use the same recipe as the famous Village Nasi Lemak in Kuala Lumpur. However, that hype has died down considerably since they took a three month long hiatus last year due to the fresh chicken shortage. All the better for me, as I could just strut up to their shop, stump up $9.20 (before GST gets added on) for their famous nasi lemak, and be out with the food in about five minutes.⠀
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After trying both their the chicken leg & boneless thigh chunk versions of the Ayam Goreng Berempah set, I can issue the verdict that the hype is fairly well deserved. The all important nasi is satisfactorily fragrant & alive with the aroma of coconut milk. It’s soft and fluffy when bitten into, and the richness of the coconut milk turns each grain of nasi (rice) into a luxurious lemak sensation.⠀
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The other important element, the sambal, is a scintillatingly spicy affair. It’s superbly savoury, and less sweet than standard Singaporean sambals, but still capable of breathing fiery life into anything & everything. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of onion bits in the sambal, which did add a smidge of sweetness to the salty & spicy chili. Despite this being a nasi lemak set, the star attraction was definitely the fried chicken.⠀
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The boneless chicken thigh chunks seem to be noticeably greasier than the whole chicken leg, but the chicken leg fares better in terms of juiciness. Both chicken leg and chicken chunks, however, were fabulously flavourful. The unmistakable aroma of turmeric perfumes every ounce of chicken, and tasting the chicken reveals that the berempah mix has imbued every last molecule of chicken with the aromas & flavours of turmeric, galangal, ginger and a few other spices. The ayam goreng berempah alone deserves all of the hype for being this stunningly sublime.⠀
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But wait, there’s more! Dickson has even scattered a charitable amount of loose crispy batter bits over the chicken for even more crunchy satisfaction. And that’s on top of the thunderously crunchy fried ikan bilis and nuts. For ten bucks, Dickson’s nasi lemak is damn decent, son.

Specialise in serving Malaysian-style Nasi Lemak, Dickson Nasi Lemak @dicksonnasilemak located around Joo Chiat Road has re-launched their signature menu item, Ayam Goreng Berempag Whole Chicken Leg Nasi Lemak. Their Chicken Leg is fried till crispy, juicy and aromatic. Shiok

Operating Hours
Breakfast: 8am to 10.30am
Lunch l: 11.45am to 3.30pm

Location: Dickson Nasi Lemak, 320 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427571

Ayam Goreng Berempah Nasi Lemak (S$9.20+)
Spiced fried whole Chicken Leg
Using fresh chicken thigh
I thought I’m getting a whole leg but it’s not??
Wrong order?
Oh no I’m got chopped!!!!

Note 📝 : Got GST!
Only takeaway. No dine in.

Clearly modeled after the famed Village Park Restaurant nasi lemak in KL’s Damansara surburb, you’d be hardpressed to tell the difference between Dickson’s and the real McCoy. They not only look the same, but also almost taste the same as well. Which is great for us Singaporeans since we don’t have to make the trip all the way to Malaysia just for a bite of this goodness.
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Heroing the dish is the succulent fried chicken – coated in a crunchy spiced batter that’s aromatic and savoury with a tinge of sweetness. Mix the bits of crumbed batter into the fluffy and moderately lemak rice together with a dollop of the sambal chilli for maximum shiokness. Speaking of which, the chilli is a real standout as well, bringing the heat with some sweetness and surprising us with the addition of ikan bilis.
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All elements were well-executed, even the perfectly boiled egg, which was soft and wobbly.
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Protip: They offer takeaway-only as of now, and if you want to avoid the mad queues in the mornings or on weekends, try to visit on weekdays between 1:30pm-2:30pm just before they close.
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Taste: 4/5