Qi Ji – Quick Bites

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When you get a craving for nasi lemak, where do you normally go? I usually head to Qi Ji, which has ten locations scattered across Singapore.

The no-frills eatery first became popular for its popiah (spring rolls). Nowadays, it has diversified with a much larger offering of local dishes that include laksa, mee Siam, and of course, nasi lemak.

The halal eatery is operated like a fast food restaurant. Queue up, order, pay, and collect your food immediately. The process is pretty much quick and fuss-free. In true fast food style, the nasi lemak even comes in eight “sets” comprising different selections of ingredients!

Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk)
SGD3.90 / 4.80

All sets come with the staple accompaniments of ikan bilis (dried anchovies), fried peanuts, cucumber slices, egg and sweet sambal chili. The coconut rice bears a slight greenish tinge, and has a nice fragrance. For more oomph, always ask for extra sambal! In my opinion, the chili is at the perfect spice level — mouth-tingling hot but not to the nostril-flaring extent.

My favorite nasi lemak set is the one that comes with otah (spicy fish paste), an omelette slice and a fried chicken wing that I love. On the occasions when my tummy calls for a fuller meal, the chicken cutlet set does the trick.

For a nasi lemak with even more pizazz, go for grandma’s!

Mee Rebus

Mee Rebus
SGD3.30

Also worth a mention is the mee rebus. The garnishes include a hard boiled egg, fried tofu, fried shallots, green chili and beansprouts. It may not be the best, but the tasty sweet potato gravy is good enough for me.

Homemade drinks

Homemade drinks
SGD1.30-1.50

To neutralise the spiciness of the food, Qi Ji offers a range of homemade drinks with cooling effects. There’s barley, chrysanthemum, grass jelly, and many more. Speaking of which, does anyone know how frequently these “homemade” beverages are replenished? I tend to stay away from them because, frankly, they don’t look very fresh!

Having visited the branches at Marina Square, Tiong Bahru Plaza and Century Square, I find that the outlet that serves consistently yummy food is the last one.

So, where do you go for your favorite nasi lemak?

Qi Ji (

Halal certified)
Various outlets
www.qiji.com.sg

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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25 responses

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rendykstan
September 19

RT @sparklette: When you have a craving for nasi lemak, where would you normally go? http://bit.ly/3tr1O0
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
don_alano
September 19

The coffeeshop below my flat RT @sparklette: When you have a craving for nasi lemak, where would you normally go? http://bit.ly/3tr1O0
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
Kidtalentz
September 19

sparklette@ Qi Ji – Quick Bites: when you get a craving for nasi lemak, where do you normally go? i u.. http://bit.ly/dOVXf
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
Melissa
September 20

I only have the Chinese poh piah at Qi Ji. The rest on the menu are just side dishes to me. Seeing that you recommend the nasi lemak, next time I shall give it a try.
Reply
- Veron
  September 20
  
  Truth be told, I’ve had their Popiah only once before some years back. It didn’t leave me with a deep impression, mostly because I’m not particularly fond of Popiah in the first place. Yes, do try the Nasi Lemak and let us know if you like the Sambal as much as I do :)
  Reply
jalapeno
September 20

Thanks, this is on my must-try list now. Hope the laksa there is good? The best Nasi Lemak I have personally tasted is Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak @ the Adam Road Food Centre. The sambal is superb and really makes the whole experience. The rice is equally good.
Reply
- Veron
  September 21
  
  So far I have tried only the Popiah, Nasi Lemak and Mee Rebus at Qi Ji, so I can’t comment on the Laksa :)
  Some of my readers have also highly recommended Selera Rasa, which means that I must hurry there soon. I find that the two most important components of Nasi Lemak are the Sambal and the Lemak rice. So if both are superb, then the dish must definitely be awesome.
  Reply
XWings
September 20

Hi,
tried twice 1-3 yrs ? back, tried mee siam? n mee rubus, barely leave any impression, except packed, table n chairs uncomfortable…just not a good experience….din go back since…
But since u like it, maybe i will try it again one of these days when i am seriously hungry or crazed for malay food…
Personal experience…
Reply
- Veron
  September 21
  
  I agree that the place is always cramped and packed during the chow hours. Many times when I go there for dinner, I can’t find seats! Sometimes when I get a nasi lemak craving I don’t mind waiting around though :)
  Reply
walter
September 21

There are quite a few good places for Nasi Lemak here in Melbourne too at Malaysian opened eateries and cafes. The price is a lot higher though, like AUD9.50 or so (SGD 12.00) for a plate! I agree that the Adam Road place is good and so is the one at Changi Village. Will certainly check out Qi Ji when I’m back!
Reply
- Veron
  September 21
  
  Thanks for sharing, Walter :) Are the Nasi Lemak in Melbourne similar to the high-end ones with ample servings of ingredients like Madam Kwan’s and Grandma’s or are they like the regular Nasi Lemak that you see in this post?
  Reply
  - walter
    September 21
    
    The nasi lemak here is closer to the high-end stuff that you get at Madam Kwan’s or Grandma’s. One of the places called Chilli Padi which I suspect was either opened by a Singaporean or Malaysian Chinese guy has great fabulous ones with the right lemak rice and sambal chilli that can bring on a sweat by Melbourne standard. Thinking of it makes my mouth water! The only thing stopping me eating this regularly are the calories and fats per meal! hehe
    Reply
XWings
September 21

Hi Xiao Mei Mei (aka Ms. Veron Ang),
Nasi lemak ?
“5″ stalls.
2 at Golden shoes.
1 at Changi.
1 at Upper Serangoon road, punggol ?
“1″, any stalls serving freshly cooked, hot, nasi lemak after u came back to singapore after a long overseas trip, or when u super hungry at 3am in the mornings… After pubbing/clubbing n not drunk.
Reply
Fei
September 21

Although Qi Ji is rather commercialised (as in it has branches), the food’s tasty and always piping hot/fresh. I like the mee rebus and fried chicken. Sometimes order half-portion rice, 2 chicken wings and veg. Good place to pop by when there’s the craving for fried chicken. Haha. Poh piah is not bad too. Reasonable prices and fuss-free eating place without much fumes.
There are other nice nasi lemak stalls (no branding) around the neighbourhoods. So long as rice is freshly cooked, it can’t be that bad. At worst, I just eat with ikan bilis and chilli.
Hard to find hot/fried/sweet kunning. Only my grandma can fry alot of them! So nice I eat the entire fish. Now she doesn’t have the energy to fry fish and wings like she used to anymore. (I’m a pro-home-cooked-food person…)
Reply
- Veron
  September 25
  
  You love the fried chicken, too? How much does it cost to add an extra wing?
  And yes, home-cooked food is the best.
  Reply
  - Fei
    September 25
    
    I have my own combi at Qi Ji. Usually it’s nasi lemak with egg, ikan bilis, kunning and chicken for standard. I simply ask to replace items with just ikan bilis and 2 pieces of chicken. I think add-on is $1.20? Not sure. Usually I am dizzy with craving by the time I see the food and don’t care how much I have to pay ‘cos I know it’s not exorbitant. Haha. I can do without pork, beef, venison etc but I know I can’t live without eating chicken, prawns and fish!!
    Reply
7ano
September 27

RT @sparklette Qi Ji – Quick Bites | Singapore Food Blog | Sparklette http://bit.ly/hMsxQ yummy !love it
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
Angeline
October 5

Hi Veron, not sure whether you’ve tried pungol nasi lemak at katong before? Their chilli was pretty good too. I’ve tried the one at Qi Ji as well but prefer the chilli from pungol nasi lemak maybe because they added dried shrimps to it. And not forgetting to mention their super crispy chicken wings! Best i’ve had so far!
Reply
- Veron
  October 6
  
  Thank you for the recommendation. To be frank the long queue is what keeps me from having the Ponggol Nasi Lemak. Are the queues still as long as before?
  Reply
  - Angeline
    October 21
    
    the queue is still going long and strong! But it is definitely worth the wait! Must try the chicken wings and tempura prawns!
    Reply
Lyd
October 6

who in the world,has NEVER eaten at Qi Ji has missed out on quite a lot :)
everyone should try eating at any of the outlets,at least once.it’s rilly not bad.the greenish rice made it different from e typical nasi lemak i’ve seen around.chicken’s good.so is the popiah.i love the variety of combination they provide JUST for nasi lemak alone.
must try ;p
Reply
- Veron
  October 6
  
  Oh yes, those combination really cater to different tastes don’t they? For me, I’m a fan of chicken so I go for the one with the chicken wing or chicken cutlet. The rice and the sambal are among the best I’ve ever had!
  Argh! Having a craving now!!
  Reply
  - Lyd
    October 6
    
    haha…oops..my fault? ;)
    Reply
sylv
January 31

yum, love this place!
My bf and I found this place nestled at the corner of Funan IT Mall some time ago. He was craving for something more Malay/Indonesian rather than pastas or Chinese food. So we went here. We really liked it! Price is also good :)
Reply
- Veron
  February 2
  
  Yes, the prices are great! There are many Qi Ji outlets scattered all over the island, so you won’t have to go to Funan just for it :)
  Reply