When it comes to going viral as a restaurant, there are 2 scenarios; intentionally or unintentionally. Akka Nasi Lemak in Seri Kembangan belongs to the latter category. The owner started this humble nasi lemak stall and gained massive popularity after a TikTok by her customer went viral. In fact, there was a point in time when customers queued up for her food from 12am!
Post-going viral, her little business saw its ups and downs but as for now, they’ve still been going steady. But the question remains— does the food here deserve all its hype?
What I tried at the Akka Nasi Lemak stall
After initially being located by the side of the road near a fuel station, Akka Nasi Lemak stall has now relocated to a designated spot where other hawkers are also present. My initial concerns about the stall being crowded were unfounded, possibly because I visited only around 11 am.
Despite it being after rush hours, the side dishes were still abundant with eggs and chicken, being fried freshly on the spot. Upon my first encounter, I was struck by the warmth and hospitality of the Akka (big sister in Tamil) was. She has a few loyal customers and new ones like me, and the friendly energy she exuded was truly wholesome.
You get to choose between normal nasi lemak or nasi lemak pandan. Even the sambal came with 2 options; spicy and non-spicy. The side dishes varied from chicken to prawn and anchovies.
I got the Nasi Lemak Pandan with Spicy Chicken (RM7), Nasi Lemak Pandan with Prawn Sambal (RM7) and Nasi Lemak Biasa with Chicken Sambal and Petai Anchovies (RM12). Now let me tell you, how the pricing caught me completely off guard!
When I confirmed it with the akka, she explained that the nasi lemak with 1 side dish costs RM7 and for 2 side dishes, you pay RM12. Regardless of the side dish you choose—chicken, prawn, or squid—the price remains the same.
Now, for the taste itself. The nasi lemak was good, classic with the sambal slightly on the spicier side. The chicken piece was generous and tasted homemade. While the nasi lemak wasn’t the most mind-blowing one I’ve had, it was a solid one, especially for those grabbing it on the way to work. The huge portion could definitely tide you over from breakfast to lunch.
The prawn was also spicy, generous and most importantly, fresh! The highlight was definitely the petai and anchovy stir-fry. Typically I detest petai for its odour and taste but this dish was amazing in making the bold flavours of both ingredients more subtle.
Final thoughts
It’s hard to determine what exactly made Akka Nasi Lemak go viral but for me, it’s definitely her wholesome attitude. It’s hard to find such affordable food anymore, especially around Seri Kembangan.
Would I find myself queuing for hours on end for the food? No. Nevertheless, the food is still yummy and makes for the perfect for lunch or dinner. In a nutshell, go for the yummy food, stay for your daily dose of wholesomeness.
Expected damage: RM7 to RM12 per pax
