Nasi Ayam 5 Rasa

Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Highly Recommended)

Address: 51, Jalan Harmonium 23/14, Taman Desa Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/W3NjEeiSYrfoy8w16
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)

Video Music Credit: Rasa Sayang (Malay Traditional Folk Song) taken from Ave Maristela Villaflores YouTube Channel.

Nasi Ayam 5 Rasa = RM56.90

No Service Charges

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

When I was Exploring around Taman Desa Tebrau, I came across this Eatery with this Adorable Signboard.
According to my Malay Colleagues that I checked, Nasi Ayam 5 Rasa can be translated to "5 Varieties of Nasi Ayam (Chicken Rice).

Protip: This Eatery actually has an Air-Conditioned Dining Hall next to it. It is really Comfortably Cooling. The Friendly Abang tried to tell me in Malay but I didn't understand what he was saying and only realized it AFTER my Meal hahaha.

As for the Main Non-Airconditioned Area, the First Thing you will notice as you step in is a Fragrant Delicious Aroma of Classic Chicken Rice, not unlike a Chinese-Styled Chicken Rice Stall. It is a Relatively Large Kopitiam that is Humble Looking and Cleanly Maintained. The Music Background were some Soft Malay Slow Rock from some Radio Station.

Run by a Couple of Friendly and Welcoming Young Malay Lads, they are not Conversant in English so some Basic Malay is required here. The Abang (Big Brother) at the Front Counter chopping Chickens looks like the Boss of the Place and he is especially Welcoming and All Smiles.

While there were initially not much Customers at 11.30am on a Saturday, I observed More and More Customers streamed in as time goes on. That said the Restoran is also Not Crowded until like Super Full House Level lah.

Despite the name of the Place, they actually have More than 5 Varieties of Chicken Rice. Based on the Menu, I think actually 9 Varieties. They not only have Nasi Ayam but also other items like Thai, Noodles etc.

The Main Signature is of course their "Nasi Ayam 5 Rasa" right on the 1st Page. This is really meant for 4-5 People actually, but as I wanted to test as much variety as I could, I thought this was a Good Choice. This Set comes with 4 Plates of Rice, but I told them to just serve me 1 Plate will do. The Price remains the same despite Lesser 3 Plates of Rice, but I also didn't mind it.

The Friendly Young Lad that took my Order Eyes Open Big Big and was Visibly Shocked. 😳 He even tried to re-confirm with me in Malay probably saying that this is a Very Big Meal. 😅 His Mind was probably thinking "Oei this Guy Gila is it? 🤪 Satu Orang Solo this Big Set??" Hahaha I don't blame him for his Reaction but It was Legit Adorable! 😄

Of course I calculated the Timing they took to serve this. It took 8 Mins for Everything except the Crispy (Fried Chicken), and 18 Mins for the Fried to be served up. Everything was Up and Ready on my Table in 18 Mins.

This was Very Impressive Timing at Sub-10Mins for Most Items and although the Fried Chicken took 18 Mins, I am actually Very Happy. Because that means it was Freshly Fried and is not something already sitting Cold on a Rack somewhere. This is Most Excellent.

Quality of the Chilli

The Chilli Condiment they have here almost taste like a Classic Chinese Chicken Rice type of Chilli but it is Noticeably Sweetish, not Sourish.

Spiciness is Gentle that won't Bite, but forms a Gentle Heat in your Mouth. This was a Decent Chilli for Chicken Rice if abit More on the Sweetish Side.

Nasi Ayam 5 Rasa = RM56.90

This was a Truly Magnificent Spread of Food in its Entirety as you can see.
Bright Colourful and I'm happy that the Meat Portions provided didn't look Stingy.



This Whole Set consists of:

4 Plates of Rice (I requested for them to serve up only 1 Plate)

1 Small Bowl of Soup

1 Plate of Ayam Roasted

1 Plate of Ayam Hainan

1 Plate of Ayam Sambal

1 Plate of Ayam Black Pepper

1 Plate of Ayam Crispy

1 Plate of Veggies (Pak Choy)

1 Plate of French Fries

Really Alot of Food. Bear with me as I describe them all in Detail.

Quality of the French Fries

Classic Shoestring Fries that are certainly from some Supermarket Package. Served with a Sweet Fast Food Type of Chilli Sauce, Processed Nacho Cheese and Mayo on the Side. Nothing Special about these, they were Freshly Fried and Decently Crispy.

Quality of the Soup

This was boiled with a Decent Chicken Essence. A Tad Oily with a Slight Bit of MSG Added but still ok. Slightly Peppery but Not Spicy.

Not Bad Tasting actually and Quite Decent, I would consider this to actually be Above Average compared to some SG Kopitiam Chicken Rice Stalls that provide Simple Low-Effort Cabbage Soups (if they even provide Soups at all).

Quality of the Chicken Rice

Wow this legit doesn't taste Too Different compared to a Chinese-Styled Chicken Rice! Jasmine Rice is used of course and while its a Tad Oily, its 粒粒分明, Not Mushy Nor Too Dry with a Familiar 油香味. Slightly Salty in a Good Way. Amount given doesn't feel Stingy at all. Not Super Elite High-End Level of Chicken Rice, but I would consider this to be at least Above SG Kopitiam Level.

Quality of the Plate of Veggies

Wah, the Zhup they have for this tastes like Chinese Tze Char Style of Zhup leh! Slightly Oyster Sauce Powered, Saltish in a Good Way and Very 开味. The Pak Choy itself is Soft and Tender and I like the Slices of Fresh Chilli Slices hidden within that gave an Ocassional Spicy Chilli Hit. Nicely Done.

If you were to be given a Plate of this, I reckon most people won't be able to tell that this is a Malay-Styled Sayur and Not Chinese-Styled Tze Char Veggies. 

And with the Rice and Sides out of the Way, we come to the Main Stars of the Show.

Quality of the Ayam Hainan

This is of course Classic Chinese-Styled 白斩鸡 which I am legit surprised to find here because my Impression of Malay Nasi Ayam is usually more Roasted, Lum alot of Zhup, or Goreng Goreng type. A Whole Steamed Chicken Drummy is given for this and the Sauce they lum for this is Interesting. Its a Sweetish, Very Lightly Salted Soy Sauce, not much Sesame Oil Flavour as you'd expect from a Chinese-Styled Zhup, but has a Unique Aftertaste of Haebee? Very Unique.

Oh the Drummy itself is So Fall off the Bone Tender! Not Overly Chickeny in Taste, and while this isn't those Fat Oil Globules under the Skin type, it tasted So Clean, Smooth and Wat Wat Dei. Lum with that Unique Zhup. This was Very Decent in Quality, won't lose to even Chinese-Styled 白斩鸡 Level.

Quality of the Ayam Roasted

10 Cuts of Breast Meat is served for this, and it has the Same Sauce they lum for their Ayam Hainan. While not Super Amazing, the Roasted Skin for this taste Exactly the Same as Chinese-Styled 烧鸡.

Its the Tender Juicy Breast Meats that impressed me here. Eaten together, this Whole Thing really don't taste much Different from a Typical SG Kopitiam Level of Chinese-Styled 燒鸡饭.

Quality of the Ayam Sambal

Because this is a Malay Eatery Afterall, Sambal Flavour is of course a Requirement. This is also the One that I am wary of the Most. Because while Malay-Styled Sambal is a Powerfully Rich Condiment, it is Too Strong to be used for something as Milder Flavour as Chinese-Styled Chicken Rice.

Imagine my Surprise when I realize this Sambal does not actually taste like Regular 重口味 Malay-Styled Sambal, but actually More Closer to the Type of Sambal Zhup that you would get for Chilli Crab! No Kidding this REALLY taste like that. Bits of Soft Onion Presence, Very Mildly Spicy and Slight Sweetish. 

Of all the Variations of Sambal they could have used, I felt they hit the Perfect Jackpot for this one. Not Overly 重口味 with the Right Amount of Sambalness for a Dish like Chicken Rice. And of course needless to say the Breast Meats were Tender and Juicy. Brilliantly Done.

Quality of the Ayam Black Pepper

Amount of Chicken given looks like 5 Pieces of Breast Cuts. This Black Pepper Sauce is Nice. It has a Definite Presence of Black Pepper but Not Overly Too Much. The Main Taste of this Sauce is Sweetish but also Not Too Sweet.

There is a Initial Slight Spiciness at first which will slowly increase but it never bites your tongue and maintains a Gentle Heat. Thick and Savoury, Never Overly Black Peppery, I really love this Sauce.

The Meat given in this is Thigh Meat and they are Super Tender and Smooth to the Bite. I think this is actually their Roasted but lum with this Black Pepper Sauce actually. This Sauce and Chicken Pairs Beautifully Together.

Quality of the Ayam Crispy

Thiis is of course Classic Fried Chicken. I am impressed firstly that this is Freshly Fried and not some Already Sitting on the Rack Cold Fried Chicken.

Served with about a Tablespoon worth of Slightly Sweetish Tasting Salad, it comes in 6 Pieces and it looks like Half a Breast together with a Wing. The Breading on this won't lose to KFC Version tbh.

Despite being Freshly Fried, this wasn't Overly Oily. Slightly Salty but not Overly So, I like that even the Breast Meat was Juicy. Nicely Seasoned and Marinated Well, this is a Very Decent Level of Fried Chicken actually.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion and Closing Thoughts

At the Total Combined Price of RM56.90 (S$17.80) for their Signature Nasi Ayam 5 Rasa Set that is meant for 4-5 People, this is Obviously Well-Worth and Value for Money. Their Basic Fundamental Chicken Meats were Beautifully Tender and Juicy, Not at all Dry which provided the Rock Solid Foundation for Every Variation they did.

Every Sauce they used for each of the Variations were Well-Designed as I ate them. This is Absolutely Not a Cheapo "Combine Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce Thickened with Cornstarch type of Lazy Effort Sauce". Someone (or a Team) with a Decent Culinary Knowledge actually Sat Down and Properly Planned and Designed them with Effort to bring out the Best Flavour as best as they could.

Even for that Side Plate of Veggies that tasted almost no different from Chinese Tze Char Style Zhap Chye, this was Competently Done. I also especially loved that their Fried Chicken variation was Freshly Fried and not some Cold Sad Crap lying on a Rack. The Amount of Attention and Effort in each of the Dishes in this Restoran was something that can really put even some Bigger Restorans to shame.

As such, I'm not surprised that their Business 生意做得 quite Successful to be able to allow them to Afford to rent a Air-Conditioned Dedicated Dining Hall right beside it. Impressive.

Despite such a Big Meal, other than the Carbs, I easily soloed everything else. I Legit Swear that Everything just went down so easily, that even I was surprised. At no point during the Meal did I ever felt I was forcing myself to finish this and I truly 100% Fully Enjoyed it.

Add to that, the Very Friendly and Welcoming Staffs, especially that Abang (Big Brother) right at the Front Counter that made me feel Completely at Home dining here.

With all that I've experienced, this Eatery Easily Earns my Highest Top Score. If you are ever in the Taman Desa Tebrau Area, I can definitely recommend to come Swing By give it a try. If you are someone with a Healthy Good Appetite, try Soloing this "Nasi Ayam 5 Rasa" too! You might actually be surprised yourself!

Burrrrrrp!! Oh Excuse Me! Highly Recommended!