Tucked into Medan Selera Jaya 223 (Selera Jaya 223) at No. 2, Jalan 51A/223, Seksyen 51A, Petaling Jaya, are two neighbouring stalls that have sparked friendly — and sometimes fierce — loyalty battles among PJ locals: Nasi Lemak Panas Yati (Chop Merah / Red Ink Stamp) and Nasi Lemak Panas Suri (Chop Biru / Blue Ink Stamp).
Both serve the same format — piping-hot nasi lemak bungkus wrapped in banana leaf and newspaper, stamped with their colour-coded ink — but the difference lies in the sambal personality.
Locals will tell you: Yati is the spicy one (red), Suri is the sweeter one (blue). Regulars often buy one of each to compare, or pair them with a bowl of sup kambing from the famous stall across the aisle.
If you are looking for a good place to bring visiting friends to try out delicious nasi lemak and local dishes, Medan Selera Jaya 223 is the place to go.
There are two stalls – Nasi Lemak Panas Yati and Nasi Lemak Panas Suri – serving freshly wrapped nasi lemak bungkus that comes with hard-boiled egg, anchovies, peanuts and a delicious dollop of sambal.
Yati serves a spicier rendition while Suri’s version is slightly on the sweeter side.
Another plus point is the ‘muhibbah’ atmosphere that is filled with live music and basking performances.
First Impressions & Ambience
Selera Jaya 223 is a covered hawker court — open-sided with corrugated roofing, ceiling fans, and rows of plastic tables.
It’s grittier and noisier than a restaurant — expect the hum of woks, clatter of plates, and the occasional busker or live music act on weekends.
The two nasi lemak stalls sit near the entrance; you queue at the glass counter, shout your order (“Suri satu! Yati dua! Ayam!” ), watch them scoop rice onto banana leaf, add sambal / egg / ikan bilis, wrap it, and stamp it.
The court gets lively from 6:00 pm onward — especially Thursday–Saturday nights when the supper crowd rolls in.
Tables turn fast but can fill up.
You’ll be approached by drink vendors — it’s courteous to order a drink if you sit at their table, though it’s not enforced.
Parking is available at the rear lot (fills up by 7:30 pm) or roadside — consider Grab if coming late.
Cash & e-wallet accepted at most stalls.
The Rice
Piping Hot, Santan-Moderate, Banana-Leaf Scented
Both Yati and Suri use the same style of coconut rice: steamed with coconut milk and pandan, soft-clumped rather than separate-grained, and served genuinely panas (hot) — the name isn’t marketing fluff.
The banana leaf wrapping traps residual steam, subtly perfuming the rice.
Santan presence is moderate — enough to coat the palate but not Wanjo-heavy.
The base bungkus (RM2.50 – RM3.50 depending on year / inflation) contains a half hard-boiled egg, cucumber, ikan bilis, peanuts, and a generous smear of sambal.
Rice portion is modest — locals often buy 2–3 packs or add lauk.
The Sambal
The Only Real Difference
This is the crux of the Red-vs-Blue debate:
The sambal tumis leans chilli-forward with a sharper heat — still has palm sugar for balance, but the dried-chilli punch is noticeably more pronounced than Suri’s.
It’s a warm, building burn rather than an instant throat-scratcher.
The sambal is onion-sweet with milder heat, more caramelised shallot notes and a glossy, slightly jammy texture.
The chilli kick is there but plays second fiddle to the sweetness.
Both are legitimate old-school KL-PJ nasi lemak bungkus styles — not the dark savoury-sour Ujang type, not the asam Pak Hassan type.
Think traditional roadside tumis with personality.
Lauk & Add-Ons
Neither stall offers elaborate lauk like rendang or sambal sotong — this is a bungkus-focused operation:
• Ayam Goreng (Fried Chicken Piece) — Marinated in basic spices, fried crisp. Usually drumstick or wing; freshest early evening and again around 8:30–9:00 pm when a fresh batch drops. Adds ~RM3.50–RM5.
• Telur Mata (Sunny-Side-Up) / Telur Rebus — Hard-boiled is standard in the bungkus; you can request telur mata for a small top-up (~RM1–RM1.50). The fried eggs are pre-cooked in batches — yolk is soft-set rather than runny.
• Extra Sambal / Extra Ikan Bilis — Ask and they’ll usually add a bit more for a few sen extra.
• Pair With: Most regulars grab a bowl of Sup Kambing / Sup Daging from the adjoining stall (Stall Yunus 223 / Sup Stall No. 51) — rich, peppery broth with tender meat — and/or otak-otak kuning (yellow basket) from Jom Otak nearby. Half-boiled eggs from the drinks counter are also a popular add.
Typical spend: RM8 – RM14 per person for 2–3 packs + ayam + drink.
Drinks:
The drinks stall pours a competent Teh Tarik (frothy, not oversweet if you say kurang manis), Kopi O Kaw, and Milo Ais. The Air Asam Boi or Limau Ais cuts through the sambal nicely on hot nights.
Location & Hours
Nasi Lemak Panas Yati (Chop Merah / Red Stamp) and Nasi Lemak Panas Suri (Chop Biru / Blue Stamp) at Medan Selera Jaya 223, Petaling Jaya — two adjacent stalls famously known as the “Red vs Blue” nasi lemak bungkus rivalry.
| 🔴🔵 Nasi Lemak, Medan Selera Jaya 223 | |
|---|---|
| Medan Selera Jaya, 223, Jalan 51a/223, Seksyen 51a, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. See Google map. | |
| 012-385 4541 | |
| 7:00 am – 1:00 am | |
Practical Tips:
• Accessible from Jalan Klang Lama or Federal Highway; Taman Bahagia LRT ~10-min Grab.
• Parking: Rear lot fills fast; roadside along Jalan 51A/223 is an option. Weekends = busier.
• Pro Tip: Try one of each (Yati + Suri) to decide your team. Go ~6:30–7:30 pm for freshest fried chicken. If pairing with sup kambing, order the sup first — it takes a minute — then grab your nasi lemak while it steams.
Verdict
Nasi Lemak Panas Yati & Suri aren’t trying to be heritage fine-dining destinations — they’re PJ’s quintessential late-night bungkus duel.
The rice is hot and banana-leaf fragrant, the format is unfussy, and the sambal divide (spicy-red vs sweet-blue) gives you a reason to try both in one sitting.
Paired with a peppery sup kambing and a teh tarik under the hawker court’s hum, it’s as authentically PJ as it gets.
Come for the “Red or Blue?” debate — stay because RM3 buys you a genuinely satisfying, piping-hot plate of old-school nasi lemak.
⭐ Rating: 3.9 / 5.0 — Best for: PJ supper runs, nasi lemak bungkus hunters, Red-vs-Blue sambal taste-tests, sup kambing + nasi lemak combos.
