NEAR THE FAR end of Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City, a new restaurant has been quietly luring diners these past seven months with its authentic Asian cuisine. This is Nasi Lemak, a small cozy restaurant just across the big McDonald’s outlet with French fries on its roof.
There’s a queue at lunch and dinner on weekends, and during weekdays at peak hours, the restaurant gets almost full too. And it’s all due to word of mouth, as satisfied customers rave about the tasty dishes, mostly Singaporean, at reasonable prices.
Restaurant consultant H.K. Tan, a Singaporean, says they are very particular about the quality of the food they serve, to the point of being paranoid. “We import ingredients to be assured of consistent quality,” he says. They also don’t scrimp on the ingredients to be used in the dishes so as to give customers the real deal.
But it’s a true blue Filipina, Cora Lelina, who owns the business with her family. Cora worked in Singapore for 20 years as personal assistant to a paper industry executive. In the course of her work, she would travel to many countries with her boss, exposing her to a lot of cuisine.
Since she was based in Singapore, Cora developed a taste for Asian food, and can cook it well. In the end, when her boss passed away last year, Cora decided to come back home to the Philippines. “I have been abroad for half of my life. I went back here to try life here,” she says. And since she has long planned to have a business, Cora invested in the food business in the Philippines upon the advice of her longtime friend, H.K. Tan.
Tan has been coming to the Philippines for business for the past 10 to 15 years. He noted that there are many Spanish and Italian restaurants here already. As for Chinese restaurants, most of them use vetsin which isn’t really healthy. This is why he advised Cora to go for Singaporean food, and offer other Asian dishes as well, without MSG of course.
Popular items on the menu includes Kueh Pai Ti, a sort of fried lumpia with lettuce, turnip, carrots, and prawn on top to be popped in whole in the mouth.
There’s Hainanese Chicken, a favorite in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong; the lightly spicy Malaysian Sambal Fish, which is crispy outside and tender inside; Japanese Tofu Sautéed with Prawns; Singapore Laksa, a noodle dish with spicy coconut gravy which you can have with either prawns or chicken; and Stir-Fried Kang Kong with Blachan, among others. Of course, there’s Nasi Lemak, a dish like our binalot, which is rice cooked with pandan and coconut cream. The Onde Onde dessert is like our pichi pichi but with a filling consisting of palm tree nectar.
“We didn’t expect this kind of success,” Tan says. It’s Cora’s first business venture. But they’re handling it well, putting a premium on customer service. Tan takes the time to train the chefs and educate customers on the dishes and how best to eat them. They also offer delivery service. And there’s free wifi too. This early, they’re already looking at opening branches in other locations.
(All photos courtesy of Nasi Lemak)
May 20th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
My email is hungtan@bigfoot.com
May 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Hi HK Tan,
I am currently in Brunei and won’t be back to the Philippines soon. But my husband and I would be happy to correspond with you guys.
Please give me your email address if possible. BTW does your NASI LEMAK resto got a website that I can visit?
May 17th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
For those people who are giving a big fuss about the name, please show a little kindness and just be happy with the success of Cora and her business.
The person is making an honest living. Her success stems from continuous hardwork and dedication which is highly commendable and encouraging.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Read about this restro from the Phil Stars yesterday and decided to check it out today.
Ordered pomelo salad and kueh pai ti very nice, especially the kueh pai ti which is “out of this world”.
The tofu prawn and honey glazed ribs were absolutely very tasty and very tender for the ribs.out this resto in the phil-stars yesterday and decided to try it out today
Pomelo
Unfortunately, the sambal fish was not available tonight.
Thanks, Nasi lemak for serving good food and very affordable price.
Allen & Gina
May 14th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
name can sometimes give wrong info to its bearer. however, reasonable & smart guys know that name is just a cover.
like they say - don’t judge a book …
so guys, the bottom line is - what is inside count the most. all other things? just leave to where it belongs coz those are just big B.S.
these is about food & service. so what’s the point trying to be recognized making very simple things look like any of those unwanted crap? back off.
hey Cora, give me those food please.
( i can’t wait )
May 11th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Dined there again last night (5/10/08) and the it was full house from the time we got there (745pm) and still full house when we left at 915pm.
Love the honey glazed spare ribs, now it comes with the sauce (dip), so tender. Its not sweet like the normal filipino dish, and I can taste the ribs, so yummy just like ham.
Enjoyed the other dishes like…. Laksa (v rich full of gata), Japanese Tofu Shrimps (my favorite), Kang Kong (very much better than our Kang Kong Bagoong, Malaysian chicken curry was very tasty.
The tea tarek (Milk tea) was a good refreshing finishing to the whole meal after savoring the Onde Onde. I will cetainly order 2 orders next time.
Good job, hope they open 1 outlet in Makati.
May 10th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Hi my dear friend cora i’m really proud of you for doing a great job…when i looked all the comments here i’m so thrilled what a big success for your restaurant…and i promise when i come for holiday my first pit stop no other destination only NASI LEMAK RESTUARANT i’m looking forward to taste again your dishes because i already proved how excellent cook you are when we are in Singapore…thiers no question that all your dishes are soooo yummy!!!!
April 29th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hello Krismark,
Yes, franchise is always possible. Do come and take a look and discuss how we can work together and introduce all the good tasting dishes to the Philippines.
The tel no there is 376 6108. We are next door to Office Warehouse, opposite McDonalds of Tomas Morate, cor A Roces Avenue. Plenty of parking space.
Regards
H K Tan
April 29th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Myth about using Nasi Lemak for the Singaporean restaurant in QC, Phils.
I am the consultany for Nasi Lemak, responsible for introducing Singaporean dishes in the Nasi Lemak restaurant.
We engaged an atterney to register a trade name with DTI, and each time our names were rejected by them. Our atterney was extremely slow as each round took 10 days. Out of desperation, we decided to use non English/Tagalog words and the phrase “Nasi Lemak” was suggested.
We have no intention of offending anyone. All Cora wanted was to introduce all the good tasting food from Singapore to her filipino back home.
She worked hard for over 20 years in Singapore and saved up the money for the venture. She’s obviously brave, courages and passionate about bring good food to you, her kebabayan.
I am still in the midst of improving on the dishes, though the quality of the food is now acceptably good, judging by the comment I received from customers.
Last 2 Sundays we had seen the restaurant filled up by more than 3 times its seating capacity. We road-test our dishes with our regular customers (suki) and they help us to finalize the dishes b4 we release them to the other customers.
Latest additions are the sauces for Shrimp Paste Chicken and that for the Honey Glazed Spare Ribs (most tender ribs you will taste in your life), our sincere thanks to our regular customers!
We are also able to individualize few of the dishes for the pure Singaporeans/malaysians. These are Sambal Kangkong and Laksa.
Please come and try the food.
April 28th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Hei Cleo,
Your Comment about Nasi Lemak is very unfair, I’m a Europian who have been in and out of Singapore and as far as I know, Singapore was once a part of Malaysia so it has all the right to claim it as their own. Don’t you think so? I salute Cora for takind the risk Using that name as its not well known to the Philippines but of course except for those who have travelled to their neighbouring country.
April 27th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Hi Ate Cora i’m so happy with you for doing a great job…can’t wait to taste all the authentic food that you have i misssed all of that…even names of all the food its already taste soooogood…
April 27th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I just want to express my congrats for the big success of my dear friend Cora as a new in restuarant business then its already a huge hit what a great job….looking forward to taste all the menu that you offer when i’m going for holiday hopefully next spring…CONGRATS TO YOU MY DEAR & ALL YOUR STAFF!!!!
April 26th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I’m a filipino based in Brunei. My family and I have been accustomed to eating Indian, Malay & Chinese cuisine…nasi lemak, beef rendang, curry.
During my first few years in Bunei (been living here for more than 15 yrs now), my friends and I were planning to put up a “Chicken Rice” restaurant in the Philippines. But we were not sure then whether it will click. We should have proceeded with our plans….hehehe
congratulations Cora! Can we apply for a franchise of your Nasi Lemak ?
April 24th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
kakaiba talaga sa lahat ng natikman ko healthy wala kasing vetsin, yan hinahanap ko!!di ako magsasawa bumalik sa nasi lemak!!!subukan nyo ng malaman nyo nagsasabi ako ng totoo!!!pinakamasarap walang katulad!!!
April 24th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Hey Cleo, I am Singaporean, I find your nick picking, hmmmm.. not so valid.
(from Taguig,sigh!)
Using your line argument, if I start up an indian based cuisine. in Manila and market it as Singaporean cuisine, would I be wrong?
Due to the multi racial nature of the country the Singaporean cuisine, is a combination of the different races cuisine,
as such the nasi lemak of Malaysia & Indonesia would differ from the Singapore style…
And lemak is to me coconut milk.
In the meanwhile, I am really looking forward to making this trip to this Singaporean Rest.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
I am a Malaysian, my friend and I visited the restaurant last night (4/21/08) and we ask for more sambal/blachan and added chillis in the stir fried Kang Kong, and this is the first time I tasted Kang Kong Blachan so good in the Phils. Thanks to Nasi Lemak staff who are so eager to please their customers.
We ate Kueh Pai Ti (Appetiser), Malaysian Chicken Curry, Nasi Goreng, and Kueh Talam for dessert. They were real good.
Will certainly ask all my Malaysian friends to come here and support the restaurant. I have been to many so called Malaysian/Singaporean restaurants in Metro Manila and this is the most authentic Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant in Metro manila.
They know what they need to cook, there is someone in the restaurant who knows how to cook real authentic food and knows the tastes well.
Rating 8.5+ out of 10.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 am
some bloggers are so rude. cleo just gave her opinion, it was really informative. she seems to know what she was talking about. but there are those who lambasted her at once. i learned something very important from my mom - ‘if you’ve got nothing nice to say , dont say it at all!’ this is the spirit of it - to learn from one another. we are talking here of cuisine , i think , food will be sweeter and tastier if we could have a pleasant exchange of words.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Hey Cleo! dont be a “know it all Guy”, have u been to singa pura? is that malay? whats classy w/ singa pura? its is as good as my RP,right?
April 21st, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Sorry about the typo error, it was 4/19/2008 when we last visited the restaurant. Sorry about that. Ingat!
April 21st, 2008 at 10:51 am
My family and I visited Nasi Lemak Restaurant again on 4/25/08 (our 3rd time in 4-5 weeks) and we were presented with the latest version of the Nasi Lemak fried chicken for our review and comment. It looked and tasted as authentic as the ones I tasted in Malaysia and Singapore.
In some restaurants in QC I visited, the Nasi Lemak rice is simply gata poured over steamed rice and it was completely tasteless and non fragrant.
The Nasi Lemak rice in Nasi Lemak restaurant has the distintive coconut scent and flavor as well the the pandan scent. The chilli is now much better than what they served in the past.
I talked to the owner and was told that they constantly review and upgrade their dishes.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am
This is a great start to taste something new in Metro Manila.
I have tasted almost all the dishes in Nasi Lemak Resto.
I have been in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia and this NASI LEMAK resto is superb because it serve food with real good taste of Asian food cuisine at a very reasonable price! You really have to try it to know it from yourself…
Thumbs up to Ms Cora and of course to the Chef and Business Consultant Mr. HK Tan!
Cheers;)
Juliet
http://www.pinoyvision.blogspot.com
April 21st, 2008 at 1:19 am
Singapore is a fusion of a number of cultures and the cuisine that goes with them. If this restaurant carries that theme, then it should not matter what name it takes to promote the business. If it is truly singaporean, I don’t think a lot of people will notice except for those who know exactly what it meant to be authentically singaporean. The good thing is, it delivers something new to those who have a more adventurous pallate. And yes! Nasi Lemak is one good meal for a start up.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:51 am
I agree with cleo. There is just something wrong with the name of this restaurant. Nasi Lemak Authentic Singaporean Cuisine. One look at the name and you know its not authentic anymore. Why not change the name to Nasi Gila? The place might even get the attention from locals of Jakarta staying in Manila.
April 20th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Just visited the restaurant tonight (4/20/08) and it was packed with happy faces.
We had the Kueh Pai tee (most delicious appetizer), Sambal Fish, Japanese Tafu Shrimps, Hainanese Chicken and the famous Singapore laksa. The food taste delicious, Hainanese Chicken was tender and taste good with their in-house chilli sauce. The Jap Tofu was interesting and extremely tasty. Laksa was rich in gata and one of the best I have tasted, just like being in Singapore.
Cost was reasonable too.
Atmosphere there was very busy, but waitressing staff were smiling and paytient in explaining the dishes and how best to eat them. We are impressed!
The air conditioning was cool despite the number of customers there.
Wish them luck.
April 20th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Get a grip Cleo. Why can’t we just celebrate the fact that we are now able to add a good restaurant to our country’s growing stable of eating establishments. Why even promote a Chinese versus Malay issue. You sound so insecure of your Malay heritage having to bring it up like this. Grow up.
April 20th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
hi, i think this is good. i think about little matters like that shouldn’t matter. i have live myself in Indonesia for seven years and I have live in Singapore as well. so, I just like to congratulate you. I’m sure to visit your restaurant as soon as go home for my vacation. God bless.
April 20th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Yes Cleo,
I agree with what you are saying. Nasi Lemak is also popular in Singapore as well as Malaysia and Indonesia. The restaurant serves very good Nasi Lemak also, besides serving Singaporean Chinese and cuisine from Malaysia and Indonesia.
They are looking for a good recipe for Indonesian Beef Rendang, if you have such recipe they will be most delighted to try it out.
Lemak in Malaysia and Singapore means food that is cooked with coconut cream, some people like yourself relate it to “coconut FAT”.
Nasi Lemak is one of the popular dish in Singapore, so why not use Nasi Lemak as a name for a restaurant serving popular dishes of Singapore.
April 20th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
The name is fine. What’s the big deal Cleo? Amidst the bigger issues you’re nitpicking on just a name!
Singapore is 1/3 malay. The cook learned the dishes in Singapore. If she’s cooking chinese dishes and calls them singaporean food i wouldn’t mind, what’s the big deal?
One traits I would like to see gone from Filipinos are being grossly vain thinking their way is always the right way.
April 20th, 2008 at 10:20 am
that is so cool, it’s like a treat to bring a different kind of cuisine in our country. but i also hope that they would also promote filipino dishes . in the U.S. and here in Canada , filipino dishes are not known, aside from chinese which is already known worldwide , thai , indian , and vietnamese cuisine are slowly being introduced. i said to myself , why not somebody would dedicate introducing our very own globally. of course, we need to improve a lot in our cuisine , people dont just go for taste , we need to consider presentation and colors too. when we serve americans and canadians with our food , they find it unattractive , and they would not give it a try , instead they would go yuckkkkkyyy!
April 20th, 2008 at 8:38 am
we are excited to try the place! my husband’s family has been in singapore since the early 80’s. he came back to the philippines when we got married. his gripe has always been unavailability of food he has gotten used to in singapore. we’d get a taste of his favourites only when we’d visit family in singapore, and that’s like at least only twice a year. thanks, cora!
April 20th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Ma’am,
My next trip when i am in manila i know where to get malaysian food .
Maraming salamat ,
Make sure it is spicy !
April 19th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Selamat Pagi / Selamat Malam, Cleo
here in jeddah, saudi arabia you can find these menus in Indonesian restaurants, like Sumatra & Surabaya (and mentioning on the menu “genuine indonesian cuisine”), there’s a lot of indonesian expats here. Likewise, there’s a lot of “Toko Indonesia” here selling nasi; ayam; udang & authentic indonesian food stuffs. I like Mi-Goreng fried noodles.
Selamat Datang,
Jerome
April 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Just FYI, nasi and lemak are malay words. nasi means rice and lemak means fat. indonesians and malaysians, i think, have more claim to the dish, them having more malay blood. nasi lemak is very common in indonesia and malaysia and eventually brought to mainly chinese singapore because of the concentration of the two countries’ citizens in there; not to mention their proximity. so i wonder why the restaurant is promoted as a singaporean restaurant. So it will sound classy? pay homage to whom it is due. and btw, i’m filipino with malay blood too.