With its cheeky tagline — “The Second Best Nasi Lemak in PJ (because Mom’s is still No. 1)” — Botak Nasi Lemak at 13, Jalan SS 3/37, Taman Universiti (SS3), Petaling Jaya has been a neighbourhood breakfast-and-lunch staple since the early 2000s.
Now with a second branch in Sea Park, the OG SS3 outlet keeps the old-school corner-shop charm: order at the counter, food lands in under a minute, eat and go.
The draw is simple — fragrant coconut rice, a sambal that leans sweet-oniony, and an ayam goreng with one of the crispest, lightest batters in PJ.
It doesn’t try to dethrone anyone; it just does its thing very well.
Botak Nasi Lemak self-proclaims itself as the second best nasi lemak in Petaling Jaya.
If you are here, do try out their best-selling dishes include nasi lemak ayam goreng and nasi lemak sotong sambal!
Don’t forget to pair your meal with iced Thai green milk tea, iced kedondong and iced white coffee to cool down after finishing a plate of spicy nasi lemak.
First Impressions & Ambience
Botak occupies a corner shoplot in the SS3 residential-commercial row — tiled floors, fluorescent lights, a glass display case of lauk, and a handful of formica tables both indoors and on the five-foot-way.
It’s a quintessential PJ eat-and-run spot: you queue (briefly — turnover is fast), order nasi lemak with your choice of lauk, collect your tray, and sit.
The SS3 branch feels more neighbourhood-y and slightly worn-in compared to the newer Sea Park outlet; both share the same efficiency.
Weekend mornings (8:00 – 10:00 am) see a proper queue of locals — students, families, office workers — but it moves.
Cash & e-wallet accepted.
Note: the SS3 outlet closes at 3:00 pm daily (Mon closed per some reports — verify), so this is strictly a breakfast/lunch destination.
The Rice
Fragrant, Santan-Moderate, Soft-Clumped
The nasi lemak rice is steamed with coconut milk and pandan — soft-clumped rather than separate-grained kukus, with a moderate santan presence that’s noticeable but not Wanjo-heavy.
The grains are short-to-medium, which helps the sambal and rempah coat each spoonful.
A base plate (RM5.90 – RM7.50) comes with a halved hard-boiled egg (you can request telur mata/sunny-side-up for a small top-up), cucumber, crunchy ikan bilis, roasted peanuts, and a scattering of battered fried shallots/onions — a signature Botak touch that adds sweetness and extra crunch.
Rice portion is modest; most add a lauk or go for the “Special” plate which ups the rice slightly.
The Sambal
Sweet-Onion with Visible Shallot Shreds
Botak’s sambal tumis is sweet-leaning with a mild-to-medium chilli warmth and prominent sliced shallots — almost sambal bawang in texture.
It has palm sugar caramelisation and a faint asam jawa tang to keep it from being pure candy.
The sweetness is the divisive bit: fans of dark savoury-sour sambal (Ujang Corner style) may find it too gentle; folks who grew up on school-canteen-style sweet-sambal usually love the familiarity.
It pairs especially well with the savoury fried chicken. Ask for extra — they’re usually happy to oblige.
The Star
Ayam Goreng with Light, Airy Crust
The Nasi Lemak Ayam Goreng (RM11–RM14 with rice & sides) is the signature — a whole chicken leg/thigh piece marinated in a mild spice blend, dipped in a thin, bubbly batter that fries up shatter-crisp and unusually light.
The crust isn’t the thick rempah-coated style of Village Park — it’s thinner, almost tempura-ish in its airiness, with faint curry-leaf fragrance from the frying oil.
The meat is juicy when fresh (morning/early lunch = best window); occasional off-batches can be slightly bland inside but the skin texture alone sustains it.
Many regulars say this is the crispiest nasi lemak fried chicken in PJ — and they have a point.
Other Lauk & Sides
Typical spend: RM12 – RM18 per person for a plate with ayam goreng + drink.
Drinks:
The Teh Tarik and Kopi O Kaw are standard kopitiam fare — ask kurang manis.
Their Air Asam Boi / Limau Ais is a popular cut-through after the sweet-leaning sambal. The Milo Ais Kaw is thick and reliable.
Location & Hours
Botak Nasi Lemak SS3 (Taman Universiti), Petaling Jaya — the self-proclaimed “Second Best Nasi Lemak in PJ” famous for its crispy ayam goreng and sweet-savoury sambal.
| Botak Nasi Lemak, Taman Universiti | |
|---|---|
| 13, Jalan SS 3/37, Taman Universiti, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. See Google map. | |
| 019-700 7193 | |
| Temporarily Closed | |
Practical Tips:
• ~10-min Grab from Taman Bahagia LRT.
• Parking: Roadside along Jalan SS 3/37 fills fast 7:30–9:30 am; circle the parallel residential streets or try the small lot behind the shop row. Weekends = tighter.
• Pro Tip: Go 7:00 – 8:30 am for freshest fried chicken and shortest queue. The ayam goreng + telur mata + extra sambal combo is the way to go. If the SS3 branch is sold out or closed, the Sea Park branch serves the same menu into the evening.
Verdict
Botak Nasi Lemak doesn’t pretend to be Kampung Baru heritage or a gourmet reinvention — it’s PJ comfort food with a wink: “Second Best” is the brand, and they wear it proudly.
The coconut rice is solid, the sweet-onion sambal is nostalgic, and that light, shatter-crisp ayam goreng batter is genuinely distinctive in a city full of rempah-crusted competitors.
If you like your nasi lemak with a smile, a side of self-deprecating humour, and a fried chicken that crunches louder than most — Botak earns its spot on any PJ breakfast run.
⭐ Rating: 3.9 / 5.0 — Best for: PJ breakfast / lunch runs, crispy-batter fried chicken fans, fans of sweet-onion sambal, quick eat-and-go spots.
