If you’ve ever wandered Kampung Baru after sunset and caught the scent of coconut rice drifting from a zinc-roofed stall beside the old SK (Sekolah Kebangsaan) Kampung Baru, chances are you’ve brushed past Nasi Lemak CT Garden.
Locals also call it “Nasi Lemak City Garden” — a fixture on Jalan Datuk Abdul Razak that opens strictly for the dinner-and-supper crowd, dishing out banana-leaf-wrapped nasi lemak bungkus with an almost dizzying array of lauk pauk.
Nasi Lemak CT Garden at Kampung Baru is where the locals go with their family and friends to satisfy their cravings for the nasi lemak. Simply grab a packet from the table and unwrap this parcel of savoury goodness.
To accompany the humble portion, follow everyone else’s order or settle for fried chicken, sambal tempeh and beef rendang for a firework of flavours.
First Impressions & Ambience
This is not a dine-in restaurant — it’s a classic roadside nasi lemak counter with fluorescent lighting, stainless steel trays, and plastic stools if you choose to eat on the spot.
The setup is utilitarian: one long glass display case of lauk, a stack of banana leaves and newspapers for wrapping, and a drinks counter around the corner.
It gets lively from 8:00 pm onward, especially on weekends when the supper crowd rolls in after movies or mamak rounds.
Don’t expect polished cleanliness — it’s a functioning late-night hawker stall.
Cash only; bring small notes.
The Nasi Lemak Bungkus
Small Pack, Big Aroma
CT Garden’s calling card is its pre-packed nasi lemak bungkus — fluffy coconut rice with a sliver of hard-boiled egg, cucumber, ikan bilis, peanuts, and a dollop of sambal, all wrapped in banana leaf and newspaper.
The portion is intentionally modest (traditionally RM0.90–RM1.20 per pack, lauk charged separately), which is the point — you’re meant to take two or three packs and build your plate from there.
The rice is fragrant with pandan and coconut but not swimming in santan — light enough that you can comfortably eat multiple packs.
The banana leaf imparts a faint grassy aroma that regulars swear by.
The Sambal
Onion-Sweet & Comforting
Unlike the dark, savoury-sour sambal at Gerai Pak Hassan or the caramelised Ujang-style, CT Garden’s sambal leans onion-sweet with mild heat — a sambal tumis that’s more mellow and approachable.
It’s not a chilli-burn challenge; it’s the kind of sambal that even non-spicy-eaters can handle (though it still has a kick).
This sweetness is exactly what makes it pair so well with their savoury lauk — the contrast is the whole point.
Lauk Pilihan (Side Dishes)
This is where CT Garden shines — the lauk spread is broader than most nasi lemak stalls:
A typical satisfying supper plate: 2–3 packs nasi lemak + sambal paru + sambal kerang or ayam goreng + telur puyuh.
Expect to pay RM12 – RM20 per person depending on how ambitious you get with lauk.
Location & Hours
Nasi Lemak CT Garden (Nasi Lemak City Garden) on Jalan Datuk Abdul Razak, Kampung Baru — the legendary late-night nasi lemak bungkus spot that’s been feeding KL-ites after dark for decades.
| Nasi Lemak CT Garden | |
|---|---|
| Jalan Datuk Abdul Razak, Kampung Baru, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. Google map | |
| 6:00 pm – 3:00 am | |
Practical Tips:
• Parking: Tricky along Jalan Datuk Abdul Razak; consider Grab or park further down toward Jalan Raja Muda and walk.
• Pro Tip: Go 7:30–8:30 pm for the fullest lauk selection. Popular items like paru and kerang can sell out past midnight. Ask for extra sambal if you like it — they’ll usually oblige.
Verdict
Nasi Lemak CT Garden isn’t trying to be fine dining or a breakfast spot — it’s a late-night Kampung Baru ritual.
The nasi lemak bungkus is aromatic and modest in portion (encouraging you to mix-and-match), the sambal is sweet-oniony and crowd-pleasing, and the lauk variety is genuinely impressive for a roadside stall.
Come for a post-movie supper, a “moreh” session, or just to experience one of KL’s enduring nasi lemak traditions wrapped in banana leaf.
⭐ Rating: 4.0 / 5 — Best for: supper hunters, nasi lemak bungkus purists, late-night KL food crawls through Kampung Baru.
