So Lemak – By a Talented 25-Year-Old Female Chef from Three-Michelin-Starred Restaurant Zen

Recently, we checked out So Lemak in Bedok, a hawker stall offering a twist on the classic nasi lemak. The brains behind this gem is 25-year-old Shanice Lim, who crafts a delightful combination of coconut rice and scrumptious har cheong gai (prawn-paste chicken wings) at her humble stall.

Shanice graduated from The Culinary Institute of America and has even worked in three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Zen. The pandemic led her to start her home-based business, Two Hands Two Woks, showcasing her love for cooking and her late grandmother’s recipes. After honing her craft in commercial kitchens, she set up So Lemak which officially opened its doors in May.

The menu at So Lemak is small and focused, with a primary spotlight on their signature prawn-paste wings. You can either savour the wings individually or opt for their So Lemak set ($7.50), which includes the prawn paste wings, grilled otah, fried kuning fish, along with the usual sides of egg, sambal, peanuts, and anchovies.

Before diving into the complete set, we suggest trying the prawn-paste wings on their own to fully relish the explosion of umami. The wings were perfectly crispy and juicy, and well complemented by the house-made sambal which added a savoury, and not too spicy, touch. The coconut rice boasted a fragrant aroma without being overly lemak.

For an extra kick, sample their fiery grilled otah ($2 per piece) and homemade achar ($1.50). If you’re looking for a lighter meal, So Lemak offers smaller sets starting from $4.80 for a grilled otah set.

Pro tip: The signature prawn-paste wings are highly sought after and often sell out quickly. Plan for a late breakfast or lunch to ensure you get your hands on these delectable delights. I can’t wait for Shanice to surprise us with new additions to her nasi lemak menu!