The Gen XY Lifestyle
CRAVE The Original Adam Road Nasi Lemak Opens At ION Orchard
The well-loved Nasi Lemak by Selera Rasa and Amoy Street Teh Tarik by Rafee’s Corner have joined hands to open a new outlet in the heart of Orchard.
Fans of Singapore’s well-loved classics can now enjoy the best of both worlds at CRAVE’s newest outlet. Operated by pizza kiosk operator, Pezzo Group, CRAVE is an establishment that houses both the Adam Road Nasi Lemak by Selera Rasa as well as Amoy Street Teh Tarik from Rafee’s Corner under one roof. Located on the basement floor of ION Orchard, the new outlet offers both locals and tourists convenient access to these familiar and comforting flavours.
Selera Rasa’s Nasi Lemak
Having been served to high-profile customers including the Sultan of Brunei and the Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the award-winning nasi lemak by Selera Rasa is certainly no ordinary one.
While a plate of nasi lemak can be found almost anywhere in Singapore, what makes a good nasi lemak lies in the combination of ingredients and the quality of each ingredient. With the usual staples being the coconut rice, sambal chilli, chicken wing, and fried egg, what makes Selera Rasa’s nasi lemak unique is that each ingredient from the rice to the chicken wing boasts a distinct flavour and texture.
Selera Rasa’s nasi lemak includes four premium staples: Fluffy Basmati Rice, Crispy Chicken Wing, Fragrant Sambal Chilli, and Fresh Otah Otah. All ingredients are prepared using Abdul Malik Bin Hassan’s (owner of Selera Rasa) family recipe that has been passed down over the generations. After sampling a plate of their nasi lemak, we cast our verdict:
Set E, Royal Rumble (Nasi Lemak with Chicken Wing, Bergedil & Fish)
Firstly, the Fluffy Basmati Rice features healthier long basmati grains that are light on the palate. What is distinct about the rice is that they are grown on snow-fed water found only in the Himalayas, and can absorb water easily without becoming overly wet. The coconut flavour of the rice is not to overpowering, resulting is fluffy fragrant grains that are not too clumpy nor dry.
The Crispy Chicken Wing, as its name suggests, is both crisp and flavourful. The exterior crackles with every bite to unveil juicy, tender meat that is not too oily. From this, you can tell that the chefs pay a lot of attention to detail (even when it’s just nasi lemak), as each chicken wing is carefully handpicked and consistently weighs 120 grams each. The tasty flavour is brought about by overnight marination using a secret recipe.
Freshly made every morning in batches using quality mackerel fish, the Fresh Otah Otah is then wrapped in banana leaves for an additional sweet note. Featuring a combination of ground fish meat, tapioca starch and spices, the otah otah exudes a distinct charred flavour that sets it apart from the usual ones.
To complement the entire dish, the homemade Fragrant Sambal Chilli takes the flavours of the nasi lemak to new heights. Selera Rasa’s version features a combination of both Indian and Japanese chillies that are cooked for five hours to enhance the fragrance and flavour.
Rafee’s Corner’s Teh Tarik
Accompanying Selera Rasa’s delectable plate of nasi lemak is Rafee’s Corner’s Teh Tarik. As finding the right tea dust is essential to creating a rich and flavourful cup of teh tarik, owner of Rafee’s Corner, Mohamed Rabeek knows this and has travelled to Cameron Highlands, India and Indonesia to find the best blend. He imports some of the best blends from Indonesia to Singapore, and mixes and matches the different tea dusts to create his own unique version.
When paired with the nasi lemak, the combination lends a nostalgic and familiar dining experience amidst the bustle of town.
Set A, Fish Meal (Nasi Lemak with Kunning Fish and Egg)
CRAVE’s value set meals are starting from SGD 4.90, with a total of five sets to choose from:
- Set A Fish Meal – Nasi Lemak with Kuning Fish and Egg (SGD 4.90)
- Set B Fish Fillet – Nasi Lemak with Fish Fillet and Bergedil (SGD 4.90)
- Set C Full House – Nasi Lemak with Chicken Wing and Egg (SGD 5.90)
- Set D Chicken Cutlet – Nasi Lemak with Chicken Cutlet and Egg (SGD 5.90)
- Set E Royal Rumble – Nasi Lemak with Chicken Wing, Bergedil and Fish (SGD 6.90)
Additional sides of Otah Otah or Bergedil are going at an additional SGD 1 each with any meal purchase. Hot beverages including the Teh Tarik are all going at SGD 1.80, and at just an additional SGD 1 with any meal purchase.
Be sure to head down to CRAVE’s newest outlet for a hearty, affordable meal at ION Orchard.
