Page 35 - Our Hawker Stories

The hawker centre I visited is a large, open-air food
centre. Many types of local food are sold at each
stall. Each stall sells speciality food. There are shared
tables and chairs that allow people to eat in a relaxed
environment. The prices of the food are lower. The food
sold reflects the different cultures.

The stall I bought food from is a halal stall that sells
Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang. This dish marries the rich,
coconut-infused flavours of traditional malay nasi lemak
with the bold, spicy character of Indonesian ayam
taliwang.

The dish features fragrant coconut rice served with
an array of sides. A classic example is ayam taliwang
— a grilled chicken leg smothered in spicy sauce —
paired with sambal (a sweet and spicy chilli paste) and The shop has a fascinating history, started by a man
traditional accompaniments like a fried egg, crispy ikan and his family decades ago, and now proudly passed
bilis (anchovies), roasted peanuts, fresh cucumber slices, down through generations. Though business seemed
hot dogs, otah (spiced fish cake), and fish. At its core, steady, there were only a few customers when I arrived.
this is nasi lemak — but elevated with extra ingredients. However, as I ate, more people began trickling in —
What sets nasi lemak apart are its two key elements: proof of the dish’s enduring popularity. Clearly, nasi
banana leaves for wrapping (which infuse the rice with lemak remains a beloved favourite!
aroma) and coconut milk for cooking, giving the rice a
rich, distinct flavour unlike plain steamed rice.

When I visited the nasi lemak shop, the friendly Malay “The nasi lemak I ate wasn’t just yummy —
staff greeted me warmly, chatting in Malay as they it was full of tradition, family history, and
worked in the halal-certified stall. The food was delicious,
rich in flavour and tradition. flavours that tell a story.”

Nur Safiya Nadirah Binte Syamzari
P5.3
North Spring Primary School

Our Hawker Stories 31