Mana Lagi Nasi Lemak in Taman Perling, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Restoran Mana Lagi in Taman Perling is the one of the most popular nasi lemak shops in JB. For its legion of fans, Mana Lagi is the best nasi lemak in JB.

Ballet at the hectic take away section

The moment Mana Lagi opens its blue metal shutters at 6:00pm sharp, customers start streaming in. Quickly, the shop is bustling with diners and people who come in to take away by the bagfuls.

Mana Lagi's range of side dishes is extensive – in particular, their beef rendang and fried chicken are the fastest sellers. The fried chicken especially is constantly replenished and flies from the shelf like magic. For today, I picked cuttlefish, fried fish and beef rendang.

Personally, the coconut rice didn’t really stand out but its sambal chili and accompanying side dishes were simply outstanding.

The nasi lemak only hints mildly of coconut and pandan leaves, and the starchy rice grains were slightly lumpy. Many people like their rice this way and here the rice is also not oily at all – appeals to health conscious people who still want to have their nasi lemak :-D

The little ikan selar kuning is fried to a crisp, transforming it into a tasty, crackly, all natural biscuit.

I have a soft spot for cuttlefish especially its tender tentacles, so I opted for this. It tastes spicy hot yet sweet, and feels like natural, chewy jelly – simply irresistible :-D 

Never misses it whenever it is available.

Mana Lagi’s beef rendang is awesome – no kidding. Doesn’t look photogenic but taste wise, it bowled me over. Sink your teeth pass the firm outside into that tender inside and the perfumed spices seep and infiltrate your nasal cavities, triggering the pleasure centres in the brain. 

It was so seductive, I tapau (bagged) a few more pieces to bring home  – something I don’t normally do as I prefer to eat my food freshly prepared, right there on the spot. Even now, I still can’t help thinking of that beef rendang – that pleasure is permanently lodged subconsciously somewhere inside my brain, constantly urging me to go back to satisfy that craving. Gosh, am I addicted?!



That large aluminium pot in the foreground is the sambal. They sell a lot of nasi lemak every night!

The sambal chili here is also fantastic. Spicy hot and slightly sweet. The spiciness lightly stings the lips, tongue and throat but the feeling disappears rather quickly. This creates that addictive desire to get that on-and-off again pain and pleasure tingling sensation. The sambal chili really spices up the meal, especially the somewhat bland rice and also that fried selar kuning fish.

The price list is put up prominently for all to see.

I have to go back for that beef rendang as it is like that mesmerising tune from the pied piper’s pipe. Oh, I also have to check out that wildly popular fried chicken :-D

->> One of JB people's favourite nasi lemak shops :-D

Restaurant name: Restoran Mana Lagi

Address: 569, Jalan Persisiran Perling 1, Taman Perling, Johor Bahru

Map: http://g.co/maps/82m3b

GPS:  1.480779, 103.684576

Hours: 6:00pm to Midnight (closed on Friday)

Halal




Date visited: 4 Apr 2012

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