Restoran Mana Lagi

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Recommended)

Address: 569, Jln Persisiran Perling 1, Taman Perling, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kHAmKX8X61tvGMe16
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

1 Plate of Nasi Lemak = RM15.00
Comes Default with Rice, Sambal, Half Egg, Cucumber. 

Ingredients Taken:
🍗 1 Ayam Goreng Drummy
🐮 Some Pieces of Beef Rendang
🥚 4 Quail Eggs on a Stick

No Service Charges

 Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.
Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.

It has been awhile since I've had Nasi Lemak in JB and this is apparently a Very Famous One in Taman Perling. 😋  Really Adorable Name, "Mana Lagi" means "Where Else" in Malay. 😅 Its a Large Eatery and although not Air-Conditioned was still Comfortably Airy and Windy within. The Staffs are Friendly and Polite and mostly keep to themselves.


Although not Full House on a Thursday at 5.40pm, there were noticeably alot of Local Customers that kept streaming in the longer I was here. 😳 Seems to be a Very Popular Place for the Locals. One Interesting Thing I noted is that despite being a Malay Eatery, a Large Percentage of Customers are actually Chinese with Whole Group of Families just coming here to have their Dinner. 🤔

Malaysian Malay Eatery Honor System:
How to go about Ordering your Food.

1) To start things off, go towards the Rice Station and let the Staff know you want a Plate of Rice. 🍽️ You have a Choice of Classic Nasi Lemak Rice, White Rice, or Bee Hoon. Or you can mix and match if you want, its up to you. 👍

She'll then give you the Carbs and top it off with Half a Boiled Egg, some Cucumbers Slices and Sambal Chilli. 🌶️




2) Once you've collected your Rice Plate, move on to the Ingredients Section where you are free to Self-Service take whatever you want from the Metal Counters they have. 😋 Feel free to take as Much or as Little as you want. Its up to you. 👍 Don't forget to take your Eating Utensils too. They are located at this Ingredients Section.

3) Once ready, go ahead sit down and eat your Food. 🍽️ You don't have to show them what you took, you don't need to pay first. This is a Very Unique Honor System that is used by some Malay Eateries in Malaysia. 👍 Eat first, then tell the Cashier what you took after you finished.

As a Singaporean, this Honor System is practically an Unheard of Alien Concept to many of us. 😅 If you're unsure or very new with this Honor System, you can show your Dish to the Cashier like I did who will take note of it and he'll pass you a piece of paper detailing the prices and total amount to pay. 👍

Really Friendly Chap btw. 😄 Feel free to choose whichever method you want. There is No Wrong or Right Way. 👍 Anyway, once you've finished eating, just go ahead to the Cashier to pay.




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1 Plate of Nasi Lemak = RM15.00
Comes Default with Rice, Sambal, Half Egg, Cucumber. 

Ingredients Taken:
🍗 1 Ayam Goreng Drummy
🐮 Some Pieces of Beef Rendang
🥚 4 Quail Eggs on a Stick

Of course when we talk about Nasi Lemak, the Sambal is the Soul of the Dish. 🌶️The Sambal here is Deep and Complex with a Earthy Sweetness and a Spicy Heat that won't bite your Tongue but will linger long. 🌶️

It has a Gritty texture and I felt that Onion is Very Heavily Used as a Major Component. 🧅 There are also pieces of Ikan Bilis within providing a Slight Crispy Crunch. This is an Excellent Sambal for Nasi Lemak. 😋

The Rice has a Coconuty Milky Robust Taste with a Very Flavourful 马来风味. 🥥 It uses Jasmine Rice that has a Somewhat Stickier Bite Texture. 🍚 This Lemak Coconut Milk Taste is not Simple. This is not your typical "Throw Coconut Milk into a Rice Cooker" type of Nasi Lemak and be done with it type. This Rice got Standard One. 👍

🍗 Ayam Goreng

I chose Ayam Goreng because this is Very Highly Raved by Google Reviewers in this Place. Quite a Big Juicy Drummy, the 1st Bite into it has an Intense Hit of Saltiness followed immediately by a Good Savoury Taste of the Marinade. 😋

The Meat itself is Soft and Tender to the Bite. 🍗 If I have a criticism about it, its that its not Freshly Fried although it is Warm, not Cold. I can tell why many people liked this one. 👍 This is worth to try.

🐮 Beef Rendang

I myself enjoy Rendang alot and this was also quite Raved by Google Reviewers. It has a Good Beefy Savoury Rich Rendang Taste that is appropriately Saltish but I feel the Meat Texture is abit Tough for my Liking. 🤔

I prefer my Rendang to be those Melt in Mouth type. The one they have here is not my Preferred Style or Softness of Beef Rendang I'll admit but I can also tell why this is Popular. 👍



Nothing really special about the 4 Quail Eggs on a Stick, its literally just Quail Eggs slathered with their Sambal. 🥚🌶️ What I am surprised is that there aren't many Vegetable Options available. 🥬🤔 Most of the Ingredients are Very Meat-Heavy as you can see from the Photo Collection.


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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At RM15.00 (S$4.60) for everything and No Service Charge, I thought it was Affordable for what I took. 👍 This Nasi Lemak tasted Very Decent and Above Average Quality. 😋 There are definitely alot of work being done to this and its not just a Simple Throw Coconut Milk into Rice Cooker type of Quality. 👍 Sambal is definitely worth your time as it is definitely Complex in Taste and Texture. 🌶️

Ayam Goreng is Delicious and is definitely a Must-Order here, although I wished I got a Freshly Fried Batch which would have been Mind-Blowing. 🤯 Although the Rendang is abit Too Tough for me and not the Melt in Mouth type that I prefer, I thought it was still good. 👍What I wish is they have more Vegetables available though. 🥬🤔 I do understand their Lontong Sayur is also quite popular here so you can order that if you want a Vegetable Component to the Dish although it will cost an Extra RM6.00 (S$1.90).

The Honor System used by some Malaysian Malay Eateries always fascinates me. 👍 

The Amount of Trust between the Customer and the Eatery never fails to impress. ♥️ This is something that unfortunately cannot be found in Singapore Eateries. There is no such thing as "Eat before you Pay Honor System" in Singapore. 😅 If you visit JB, I highly recommend to give this Honor System a try if you have never experienced it before. This is Customer Service and Trust on a Whole Different Level. ♥️

Very Popular Nasi Lemak Eatery even among the Locals. 👍 During the time I was here, I saw that the Stream of Customers were Neverending even on a Weekday Evening. 😳 If you are here in Taman Perling craving for some Nasi Lemak, I can definitely recommend to give this place a try. 😋