umake mehungryFinally visited Timbre+ at Hillview after talking about it for so long. The place is easily accessible via Cashew MRT Station, and there are ample parking lots if you’re driving. There was a live band during our visit, and that area was quite crowded. However, the section of the food court where 57 Nasi Lemak is located was much quieter. We came here especially for the nasi lemak, as it had been widely advertised on social media. Besides the usual chicken wing nasi lemak, they also offer versions with BBQ chicken, half a fried chicken, and chicken cutlet, along with local favourites like lontong, mee siam, curry chai tow kway, and wings. I don’t often see a BBQ chicken leg option for nasi lemak, so I decided to give it a try. The menu described it as a juicy chicken leg, grilled to perfection. The nasi lemak came with a sunny-side-up egg, ikan bilis, peanuts, sambal, and pickles. Unfortunately, the BBQ chicken leg turned out a tad dry and tough. The quality of the utensils was also disappointing, they bent while I was trying to cut through the chicken. The Salmon Steak Nasi Lemak was what first caught our attention on social media. The salmon was nicely grilled and felt premium, though it was slightly on the dry side. Overall, we found the nasi lemak to be rather average. The rice could have been served hotter, and the sambal, being a key component of the dish, could definitely be improved. For the base, you can choose between nasi lemak rice or fried mee siam. There’s also an option to add on a homemade lemongrass drink for $1.20. We added wings as a side, but there was nothing much to shout about. They weren’t oily, yet they didn’t stand out either.East Asian Cuisine For nasi lemak in that area, I believe there are better options around. If I return to Timbre+ at Hillview, I would be keen to try the other stalls instead.
Wiz YeoI tried 57 Nasi Lovemak located in Timbre+ Hillview @ CMPB. I ordered the Golden Harvest Fried Leg Nasi Lemak Set ($8.90) and decided to double down on protein and added an extra Ayam Merah Chicken Leg ($5.90) ... So that I can try both styles of chicken. The Food: The Fried Chicken (Golden Harvest): Visually, this looked impressive. The batter was golden brown and turned out to be the highlight of the texture—very crispy with a satisfying crunch. However, once I got past the skin, the meat itself was a bit of a letdown as it was a tad too dry inside. The Rice: For a Nasi Lemak place, the rice is the foundation. It was fragrant and "lemak" enough (you can taste the coconut milk), but the texture missed the mark for me. It was a bit too soft/mushy; I usually prefer my nasi lemak rice to be fluffier with distinct grains. The Ayam Merah (Add-on): This was the surprise winner of the meal. Unlike the fried version, this chicken leg was coated in a thick, rich sauce. It was very flavourful and savoury. If I come back, I might lean towards this over the fried version. Sides & Sambal: The sambal chilli was decent—it did its job without being overly memorable. The standard sides (fried egg, cucumber, ikan bilis, and peanuts) were fresh and added the necessary variety to the plate. The Verdict: At $14.80 for the meal, it’s a hearty portion. The flavours are there—especially the Ayam Merah sauce and the coconut fragrance in the rice—but the texture of the rice and the dryness of the fried chicken meat hold it back from being perfect.
CYEGenerous portion, healthier option. pro: Fish fillet and chicken (tried it previously too) are lightly but well seasoned. Rice is on drier side of fluffy. con: chilli tastes generic, like from a bottled sambal. rice may be fluffy but flipside is that it becomes dry when served alongside other components which are all less oily. inconsistent quality of Ikan bilis – last time it was crispy but today it was chewy and hard to bite.
