Nasi Lemak-Malaysian in Chicago?

Does anyone know of a place that serves authentic Malaysian food, such as nasi lemak in particular? I've been to Panang (its been awhile) and it was good, but don't remember that item on the menu. I was in KL last year and am missing the food, but need some more suggestions on where to go. Ideas?

I think Penang is still your best bet. They have the dish at lunch, at least.

It is more of a breakfast and lunch dish, so that makes sense. Thanks.

Penang's output is somewhat inconsistent, though a few months ago I was very pleased with the Nasi Lemak and Hainanese chicken rice there. Beef rendang was tasty but the beef in it was not tender as it should be.

Although the Nasi Lemak and Hainaese Chicken Rice are listed as lunch specials, I just order and they've always made it (for pick up).

Penang
2201 S. Wentworth Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
312-326-6888/9

Any other suggestions besides Penang? Especially northside or northwest? I'll try Penang again and order off the menu, but I'd love something closer to me.

I just returned from Vancouver and had some excellent Malaysian at a place called Banana Leaf.... I mean absolutely wonderful. It struck me as I was indulging in my meal, that I've only had some okay Malaysian in Chicago..... evidently at the only Malaysian place - Penang.

i'm hearing that Penang is not a good choice. Any alternatives in the metro?




Kevin - Kansas City MO

Especially since the Chinatown branch recently burned down.

Hi,

Penang, while not getting the best reviews on Malaysian food, is just about it. While the Chicago location had a fire recently, it does have a suburban outpost:

Penang
1720 Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights
(847) 222-1888
http://www.penangarlington.com

Regards,

It doesn't have nasi lemak, but Miss Asia has several Malaysian items on its menu (as well as Indonesian, Nepalese, and other Asian cuisines not all that common in Chicago, as well as the usual suspects like Thai). I've enjoyed everything I've had there so far.

Miss Asia
434 W. Diversey
Chicago IL
773-248-3999
http://www.missasiacuisine.com (warning: music and long Flash intro)

We had Nasi Lemak at the Penang in the burbs. A bit serious for my taste, but the Beef Rendang included with eh meal was absolutely amazing.

I guess Panang is no longer on Wentworth? Any other good places for nasi lemak?

Pie Lady wrote:I guess Panang is no longer on Wentworth? Any other good places for nasi lemak?

Rickshaw Republic in Lincoln Park is a fairly new place that has Nasi Lemak. Also, I believe Penang still has a location in Arlington Heights if you want to make the trek.

Pie Lady wrote:I guess Panang is no longer on Wentworth? Any other good places for nasi lemak?

Penang had a fire a few years ago. Unfortunately the owner of the restaurant, Ken, is not the owner of the building, and he and the building owner could not meet a resolution to rebuild and reopen the restaurant. There is a Penang location in Arlington Heights if you are really fiending for some.

http://www.penangarlington.com/
Penang
1720 Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights
(847) 222-1888

I have eaten at the one in Arlington Heights, but not too impressed by it except their Cendol. I just got back from Malaysia for the first time and I have to say...Malaysian food is so underrated in Chicago is criminal. If people here only knew how good their food is..

This article appeared in the Reader a few months ago:

The region's best (only) Malaysian restaurant is in the burbs

The article is about Asian Noodle House, in Hoffman Estates. Clearly, the contention that it's the only Malaysian restaurant in the region is not correct.

I have not been to Asian Noodle House or to the remaining Penang location in Arlington Heights, so I have no opinion about either.

marothisu wrote:I have eaten at the one in Arlington Heights, but not too impressed by it except their Cendol. I just got back from Malaysia for the first time and I have to say...Malaysian food is so underrated in Chicago is criminal. If people here only knew how good their food is..

Agreed, most of it is great. Some of it is cats found in the alley. Also Durian is gross.

Suiname wrote:

marothisu wrote:I have eaten at the one in Arlington Heights, but not too impressed by it except their Cendol. I just got back from Malaysia for the first time and I have to say...Malaysian food is so underrated in Chicago is criminal. If people here only knew how good their food is..

Agreed, most of it is great. Some of it is cats found in the alley. Also Durian is gross.

LOL cats. Hope not. Durian is gross, BUT when I was in Malaysia last week, I smelled some Durian that actually smelled kind of like fruit. My girlfriend and friends say the durian in Chicago is not good (even though they eat it anyway). I was *almost* tempted to try some over there as it smelled way better than what I tried here, but yeah. Most of the other food in Malaysian Cuisine is so good...

You rubes, how dare you speak ill of the king of fruits? Durian is delicious, a delicacy, I say.

Habibi wrote:You rubes, how dare you speak ill of the king of fruits? Durian is delicious, a delicacy, I say.

Durian is the only thing I've never been able to even just try. I couldn't make myself swallow it, my body had like a behavioral response or an evolutionary reaction or something, it just rejected it. Also you get fined if you eat it on the subway, that's gotta be the only fruit you can say that about.

Oh and about the cats thing, I dunno if that is true or not, it might just have been my family messing with me as is popular to do in Malaysia, but every night we would go eat "garbage" in the streets and there are just random cats walking around. There are also plenty of street hawkers in these markets who have strange meats, so it was at least believable.

Durian tastes much better than it smells. And I love the taste.

*Hi Five Habibi!!*

marothisu wrote:I have eaten at the one in Arlington Heights, but not too impressed by it except their Cendol. I just got back from Malaysia for the first time and I have to say...Malaysian food is so underrated in Chicago is criminal. If people here only knew how good their food is..

agreed there should be more Malaysian places in Chicago.

What did you have at Penang Arlington Heights besides the Cendol?

I get to Penang quite a bit, when on, the beef rendang is amazing. (I state when on, as I have had rendang which didn't have the pop it should, so I've noticed potential consistency issue). Penang freqently has skate wing done Malaysian BBQ style in banana leaf, this is also a winner dish.

Sonny the mgr is very accomodating, he & I were able to put together a nice tasting menu for a group of 26 some months ago.

Sweet Willie wrote:]agreed there should be more Malaysian places in Chicago.

What did you have at Penang Arlington Heights besides the Cendol?

I get to Penang quite a bit, when on, the beef rendang is amazing. (I state when on, as I have had rendang which didn't have the pop it should, so I've noticed potential consistency issue). Penang freqently has skate wing done Malaysian BBQ style in banana leaf, this is also a winner dish.

Sonny the mgr is very accomodating, he & I were able to put together a nice tasting menu for a group of 26 some months ago.

The actual place is nice and we had nice service, but when we went, the food was not very good. It was adequate but not that great. My girlfriend had the Nasi Lemak and I had some Salmon wrapped in banana leaf with some sauce. Sauce was decent, fish was cooked OK. Nasi Lemak was OK.

This and Rickshaw Republic (although technically Indonesian, has some Malay dishes) were my only introductions up until 1.5 months ago. So looking back on it, definitely not impressed, although Rickshaw Republic is fairly decent (overpriced, BUT you have to expect that from a place in Lincoln Park).

After I got back, I talked with some of my other Malaysian friends who either live here, have lived here, or have visited Chicago a lot and every single one agreed that Penang's food needs to get better and it's not up to standard with real Malaysian food. After spending a few weeks in Malaysia..I definitely agree with them.