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Qi Ji – Quick Bites

Rating:

By Veron Ang

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)

Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk)
S$4 / 4.90
Rating:

All sets come with the staple accompaniments of ikan bilis (dried anchovies), fried peanuts, cucumber slices, egg and sweet sambal chilli. 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 chilli is at the perfect spice level — mouth-tingling hot but not to the nostril-flaring extent.

My favourite 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
S$3.30
Rating:

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

Homemade drinks

Homemade drinks
S$1.30-1.50

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.

Have Your Say!

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Where do you go for your favourite nasi lemak? Share with us in the comments!

Qi Ji (

)
- Bugis Village
- Century Square
- Changi General Hospital #01-09/10/11 (24 hours)
- Funan DigitaLife Mall #01-17
- Heartland Mall #01-133/135
- Hougang Mall #01-41
- ICA Building #01-B-3
- Marina Square #01-06
- NEX Mall #03-10 Nex
- Shaw Towers #01-01
- Suntec City Mall #01-181/183
- Tiong Bahru Plaza #02-11
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About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

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Sparklette
195 tweets

When you have a craving for nasi lemak, where would you normally go? http://sparklette.net/food/qi-ji/
Reply
Tweeted September 19, 2009 at 2:58 pm
- tokyotribe28
  1 tweet
  
  @sparklette adam road, definitely!
  Reply
  Tweeted September 19, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Melissa
133 comments

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
Posted September 20, 2009 at 1:51 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 20, 2009 at 2:11 pm
jalapeno
16 comments

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
Posted September 20, 2009 at 4:42 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 21, 2009 at 12:46 pm
XWings
50 comments

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
Posted September 20, 2009 at 10:24 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 21, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Sparklette
195 tweets

Sparklette Digest! Qi Ji – Quick Bites: when you get a craving for nasi lemak, where do you no.. http://sparklette.net/food/qi-ji/
Reply
Tweeted September 21, 2009 at 6:01 am
- Vamshiavk
  2 tweets
  
  @sparklette Just saw your blog and it is awesome.. keep posting n eating :)
  Reply
  Tweeted September 21, 2009 at 6:33 am
  - Sparklette
    195 tweets
    
    @Vamshiavk Thank you! I’ll keep doing that :)
    Reply
    Tweeted September 21, 2009 at 7:47 am
    - Vamshiavk
      2 tweets
      
      @sparklette let me know when you are in India… we share the same passions eating, reviewing and blogging
      Reply
      Tweeted September 21, 2009 at 7:51 am
walter
72 comments

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
Posted September 21, 2009 at 9:03 am
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 21, 2009 at 1:08 pm
  - walter
    72 comments
    
    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
    Posted September 21, 2009 at 1:39 pm
XWings
50 comments

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
Posted September 21, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Fei
23 comments

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
Posted September 21, 2009 at 9:59 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 25, 2009 at 12:30 pm
  - Fei
    23 comments
    
    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
    Posted September 25, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Angeline
1 comment

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
Posted October 5, 2009 at 9:55 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted October 6, 2009 at 12:49 pm
  - Angeline
    2 comments
    
    the queue is still going long and strong! But it is definitely worth the wait! Must try the chicken wings and tempura prawns!
    Reply
    Posted October 21, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Lyd
4 comments

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
Posted October 6, 2009 at 7:57 am
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted October 6, 2009 at 1:04 pm
  - Lyd
    4 comments
    
    haha…oops..my fault? ;)
    Reply
    Posted October 6, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Sparklette
195 tweets

Coffee break at Qi Ji. My review here: http://sparklette.net/food/qi-ji/ (@ Qi Ji) http://foursquare.com/venue/665976
Reply
Tweeted January 31, 2010 at 8:19 am
- GrowlyBear
  5 tweets
  
  @sparklette yup they have nice nom at Qi Ji!
  Reply
  Tweeted January 31, 2010 at 8:22 am
sylv
10 comments

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
Posted January 31, 2010 at 4:26 pm
- Veron
  3438 comments
  
  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
  Posted February 2, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Sparklette
195 tweets

The stranger next to me has a box of nasi lemak takeout from Qi Ji and the smell is making me so hungry! http://sparklette.net/food/qi-ji/
Reply
Tweeted November 18, 2010 at 10:50 am
- CalvinTimo
  31 tweets
  
  @Sparklette that sounds so good and the smell must be heavenly.
  Reply
  Tweeted November 18, 2010 at 11:16 am