This Bendemeer Nasi Lemak Earned A Michelin Bib Gourmand—But Is It Actually Good?

Kitchenman Nasi Lemak is a Michelin-approved eatery in Bendemeer

While combing through this year’s Michelin Bib Gourmand list, we noticed a new nasi lemak entry among the many usual suspects. Its name was Kitchenman Nasi Lemak, and despite having opened just last year, the Bendemeer eatery already edged countless competitors to land a spot on the coveted list.

Image credit: Frankie Lim via Google Maps

We wanted to find out if Kitchenman truly deserved its spot, so we picked up a few of its dishes and put them to the test.

Food at Kitchenman Nasi Lemak

Kitchenman is often described as serving Malaysian-style nasi lemak, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng Berempah Leg ($13.80). A plate of fluffy coconut rice is accompanied by the likes of ikan bilis, roasted peanuts, cucumber, a sunny-side-up egg, sambal belachan, and an absolutely gorgeous piece of fried chicken leg.

Let’s start with the coconut rice, arguably the most important aspect of nasi lemak. Notice how, in the above image, each grain appears fluffy and nicely separated from the other—this was exactly how it felt in the mouth as well. Flavour-wise, the rice was creamy and coconutty, though not exactly the most “lemak”.

The sambal, another crucial element, definitely helped lift the flavours. Piquant yet sweet, with spicy notes that linger at the back of the throat.

Now for the big one: the chicken leg. Because this nasi lemak is on the pricier side, one could reasonably expect a top-notch chicken. What we got was something in the middle—a chicken leg with excellent texture, but a little lacking in terms of taste.

The fresh chicken leg was wonderfully succulent and meaty, with golden, crispy skin that crackled with every bite. However, when compared to Malaysian heavyweights such as Village Park Restaurant and The Coconut Valley, the house-made rempah fell short in both fragrance and savoury depth. Perhaps we had expected a flavour that justified the price, but it didn’t quite arrive.

The rest of the plate held up well, especially the ikan bilis, which was lightly crispy and packed with umami.

The other plate of nasi lemak we tried was the Nasi Lemak Ayam Kunyit ($13.80).

This plate swapped the chicken leg with pieces of ayam kunyit, AKA turmeric chicken. We found it fragrant, earthy, and savoury, with notes of turmeric and other aromatics. And while it was crispy on the outside, we found the insides somewhat dry, and the fact that there were bones in some pieces made them a little difficult to chew on.

This plate also came with additional veggies, which weren’t quite achar despite its appearance—it lacked the tangy and sour characteristics of the pickled dish. The beans, carrots, and onion here gave extra crunch to a spoonful, though they didn’t exactly elevate the flavours quite like the sambal did.

We also tried the Sambal Fried Fish ($9.50), which we thought would go well with all the chicken dishes.

The fish, likely ikan kuning, turned out a little dry and tough on the inside. We did, however, appreciate that it was fresh, with a sambal coating that offered a really addictive and satisfying spicy kick. Do note that you can also get this fish served with coconut rice in the Nasi Lemak Sambal Fried Fish ($13.80).

Ambience at Kitchenman Nasi Lemak

Image credit: Shiang via Google Maps

Kitchenman Nasi Lemak occupies a relatively small space within CT Hub, an industrial building that’s a short three-minute walk from Bendemeer MRT Station. Because of this, it can get really crowded during lunch hours, with some dishes such as the fabled chicken rendang selling out quickly—if it is available in the first place.

Kitchenman Nasi Lemak – Eatbook Review

Kitchenman Nasi Lemak delivers a solid Malaysian-style nasi lemak experience, though some imperfections are to be expected. Still, it’s a solid Bib Gourmand pick for a tasty fix in Bendemeer. Just be prepared to pay well above your average plate of nasi lemak!

For a nasi lemak eatery inspired by Village Park Restaurant, read our Dickson Nasi Lemak coverage. For the top nasi lemak in the country, read our best nasi lemak in Singapore guide.

Address: 2 Kallang Avenue, #01-08/13, CT Hub, Singapore 339407
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 7:30pm
Tel: 9142 6586
Website
Kitchenman Nasi Lemak is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.

Photos taken by Nabila Malek.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.