Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak stands as one of Singapore's most celebrated and award-winning nasi lemak establishments, earning prestigious recognition including The Straits Times Readers' Choice award for favourite nasi lemak in 2008. Operating since 1998 from the iconic Adam Road Food Centre, this second-generation family business led by Abdul Malik Hassan has gained legendary status among both locals and international dignitaries, including the Sultan of Brunei who regularly orders their nasi lemak for embassy visits.
What distinguishes Selera Rasa from other nasi lemak vendors is their innovative use of premium Basmati rice instead of traditional jasmine rice, creating a lighter texture with beautifully separated grains that enhance the dish's overall flavour profile. Their signature sambal represents the perfect balance of sweetness and spice, specially adapted for Singapore's diverse palate while maintaining authentic Malaysian roots. The fragrant rice, cooked in rich coconut milk and pandan leaves, pairs harmoniously with traditional accompaniments including crispy fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, cucumber slices, and perfectly cooked eggs.
As part of Singapore's treasured food heritage, Selera Rasa exemplifies how traditional Malay cuisine has evolved to become an integral part of the nation's multicultural identity. The stall's commitment to quality and consistency has inspired partnerships and expansion, while their approach to balancing authenticity with local preferences demonstrates the dynamic nature of Singapore's evolving food culture, making nasi lemak accessible and enjoyable for all communities.
Malaysia has better food than Singapore. Fight me.
Had some overseas guests and after a visit to Bot
Malaysia has better food than Singapore. Fight me.
Had some overseas guests and after a visit to the Botanic Gardens, we ended up at Adam Road Food Centre. This stall had the longest queue, so naturally, we thought it must have at least some standard – wrong.
Portion was pathetic; peanuts and ikan bilis were so few you could count them. The chicken wing was so small that my guest asked, and I quote, "Did this chicken grow up in poverty?". The otah was tasteless and without texture. The sambal had no kick. Grade C eggs. The rice was so-so.
Attached is another photo of nasi lemak 'dapao' (takeaway) from a Malaysian hawker centre. Don't even talk about price or exchange rate. If you brand yourself as "the original" or "number one nasi lemak" and people have to queue for half an hour, this is the minimum expectation. I think the queue part just boils down to gullible Singaporeans having no standards at all when it comes to food.
Kase Wu
Sambal too sweet for me. Rice nice and fluffy but not very fragrant. Chicken wing, fried kuning and
The sambal was too sweet for me. The rice was nice and fluffy but not very fragrant. The chicken wing, fried kuning, and bergedil were mediocre. I did like the otak and crispy ikan bilis. Overall, it was decent at best for me.
Jonathon
Only nasi lemak store with a queue at 9am in the morning, took 20 mins to serve the 6 people in fron
This is the only nasi lemak store with a queue at 9 am. It took 20 minutes to serve the 6 people in front of me. The rice was mushy and overcooked, with not much coconut flavour. The otah was cold and sour, probably leftovers from the previous day. Only the chicken wing tasted freshly fried. If this is their most popular store, I probably won't come back to this hawker centre.
Winnie S.
Happened to be at the area and decided to join the long q with no context. On a public holiday at 10
Happened to be in the area and decided to join the long queue with no prior context. On a public holiday at 10 am, I queued for about 45 minutes. The fried chicken was great. The coconut rice, however, lacked coconut flavour. It's worth trying if there's no queue, otherwise, I'd give it a miss.
Positive Reviews
Keng Soon Tan
Very popular stall and there was a queue at 9am on a Sunday while the rest of the food centre is sti
A very popular stall, with a queue at 9 am on a Sunday while the rest of the food centre was still quiet. I ordered Set E with the chicken wing and otah. The rice flavour isn't too strong and pairs well with the sambal chilli. The chicken wing comes with fried crumbs and is delicious, though it would have been nicer if it were more piping hot. The price is okay at $6 for the set.
Aisha Hamid
My #1 nasi lemak place in Singapore! I love the begedil, otah and fried chicken paired together with
My #1 nasi lemak place in Singapore! I love the begedil, otah, and fried chicken paired with the flavourful basmati rice. The sambal has a good kick to it, not too spicy and not too sweet, making your breakfast truly satisfying. 10/10 would recommend!
Ivan Tan
First time trying. Didn't know Selera Rasa actually is a joint venture of Crave nasi lemak. Came on
First time trying. I didn't know Selera Rasa is actually a joint venture of Crave nasi lemak. Came on a Tuesday morning around 10:30 am and there were quite a number of patrons queuing up. It took around 15 minutes of waiting, and I ordered the royal flush set.
The Nasi Lemak is above average. I find it better than Crave, maybe because of the freshly cooked wings. The rice is light and fragrant, paired with the slightly sweet sambal, it's heavenly. Definitely a must-try if you come to Adam Road Food Centre.
Ethan Lim
I tried this Nasi Lemak 30 yrs ago & I think they retained much of their quality & standards, though
I tried this Nasi Lemak 30 years ago, and I think they've retained much of their quality and standards, though I cannot say the same for their offshoot, Crave. It is good to be back to savour this familiar taste and enjoy the friendly Adam Road hawker ambience in the morning.
Chris Tan
Overall the Set C Full House nasi lemak is satisfying. The otak is juicy, the fried chicken is crisp
Overall, the Set C Full House nasi lemak is satisfying. The otak is juicy, the fried chicken is crispy, and the sambal has a well-balanced flavor. The rice is fragrant and cooked well. The queue was manageable at lunchtime (12:15 pm).
