Coconut milk rice with pandan, served with sambal, fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, cucumber and egg. The early-morning banana-leaf hawker parcel is the well-known form; restaurant versions add curry chicken.
Where to eat it: 1 restaurant across 1 city.
Tip from the editors. The sambal must be cooked long enough for the oil to separate; undercooked sambal tastes raw and harsh.
Michelin Bib Gourmand nasi padang institution near Sultan Mosque. Traditional Malay and Indonesian recipes since 1992; buffet spread changes daily.
Signature: Beef rendang, Ayam bakar sunda, Lemak siput sedut
Order: Beef rendang and the lemak siput sedut (spiced snail in coconut curry), available only on certain days
Tip: Arrive before noon on weekdays; the best dishes sell out fast and the queue moves quickly once you know the system.
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