Singapore

A Malay breakfast staple of coconut rice and toppings like fried fish, crispy anchovies, egg and spicy sambal, nasi lemak is a well-loved dish that's enjoyed throughout the day, even at suppertime! It's easy to get your hands on a banana leaf-wrapped packet of the rice from hawker centres, but for a revolutionary nasi lemak experience, consider shelling out a bit more for a meal at The Coconut Club. This hip but laid-back Ann Siang Hill restaurant specialises in Nasi Lemak ($12.80) and they also serve a great cendol for dessert. Every ingredient on the plate is done extremely well, which more than justifies its price. The coconut rice is fragrant yet light, the chicken is expertly marinated and fried till golden and juicy, the anchovies are crisp, the fried-egg is spot on and the accompanying sambal packs a whole lot of punchy flavour and just enough heat. Yum! Make sure you save space for the Cendol ($3.80). The dessert is a revelation of how the simple combination of finely shaved ice, green jelly noodles, aromatic gula Melaka syrup and fresh coconut milk can be so, so tasty.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Julius Lim