Nasi Melayu Lidiana is famous for its cheap and delicious Malay rice meal, Nasi Campur.
The eatery is directly opposite the Penang Floating Mosque, and the stall is also known as Nasi Melayu Masjid Terapung.
Masjid Terapung can be viewed from Medan Selera, as it is at a higher elevation along the main road of Tanjung Bungah.
The stall is best known for its cheap and economical Nasi Melayu meals and Ikan Terubuk Toli Shad Fish.
The Toli Shad is highly prized among Malaysians for its meat and eggs.
We visit the place earlier to enjoy the food spread and a shorter queue.
The best time to visit would be before noon.
Nasi Melayu Liliana’s food is reasonable and affordable.
Best Time To Grab Lunch
If you enjoy authentic Malay food and want to make it your selection leisurely, it is best to go for an early lunch.
Perks have ample parking spaces and shorter queues, and the best time to visit the popular lunch venue is before noon.
Nasi Melayu Lidiana @ Medan Selera Tanjung Bungah
Nasi Melayu Lidiana is a down-to-earth place, a no-frills eatery to enjoy delicious Malay curries
if you’re bored with having Penang Nasi Kandar for your meals.
The Sambal and Kuah Gulai smack of lemak taste is light and not so spicy.
All the curry gravy is excellent.
Remember to try the yellowish gulai gravy tasting of turmeric and coconut milk.
We arrived at 11.30 AM.
As Nasi Melayu Lidiana is on a knoll, the road is steep.
Be careful to avoid cars turning out at the narrow entrance.
It’s easy to get a parking spot now, with plenty of empty lots on a Monday!
Getting a table is easy, too, and we quickly ordered.
There were mainly locals, with many police officers enjoying their food, and we saw a few tourists.
Go before noon before the crowds show up for lunch.
Vegetarian Options Available
If you’re not a meat eater, many raw Ulam Ulam (Malaysian herbs) with Sambal Belacan is available.
Try Malaysian Salads like the lovely Kerabu Kacang Botol (Winged Bean) or Kerabu Taugeh (Beansprouts).
Kerabu is a riotous, tropical local salad made with vegetables and herbs. It is dressed with a fiery Sambal Belacan and Kerisik (Grated and Toasted Coconut).
Sambal Belacan is a popular Malaysian chili condiment that adds zest to your favorite dishes.
It is made by pounding red chilies and belacan.
Before using the sambal, you squeeze in lime juice for a touch of sourness.
A great Sambal is the only condiment or side dish you need to finish your meal of hot white rice.
Just add some Ulam Ulam or crunchy cucumber slices.
If you’re not keen on raw greens, Nasi Melayu Lidiana has several crunchy stir-fried vegetables that are not spicy.
All the beautiful greens you can eat!
Firey red Sambal Belacan, Kerabu, and Pajeri Nanas are some of the favorite must-order at Nasi Melayu Lidiana.
Nasi Melayu Lidiana Menu
The best thing about the menu is the food is freshly prepared and sold out daily.
You will find various delicious flavourful dishes from Ulam Ulam to Kerabu and stir-fried Kankong.
Not all vegetable dishes are spicy, so there is a nice balance of sweet, lemak (creamy), spicy-sweet, and spicy dishes.
Recommended is the Brinjal with Sambal and Pajeri Nanas (Pineapple Curry)
The most popular mains at Nasi Melayu Lidiana are deep-fried fresh fish.
Most customers will look for the prized Ikan Terubuk.
What is Ikan Terubuk?
The Toli Shad (Tenualosa toli) is a fish from the shad family.
It is sometimes called the Chinese Herring, or Jié yú (节鱼) in Chinese.
This fish has many bones, including fine splintered ones, making it difficult to eat.
So, what makes Terubuk a prized catch?
This seasonal fish is caught during its breeding period at the end and start of the year due to overfishing.
If you love Terubuk, you can find it in Kuching.
Many visitors take home Sarawak’s famous Salted Terubuk Fish (Terubuk Asin) from Satok Market.
To preserve the sweetness of the meat, the fish is usually deep-fried with its scales, which are easy to remove.
I’ve tasted Terubuk, and its sweet meat is worth the effort of clearing the bones.
“No talking while eating this fish; concentrate!”
You can enjoy deep-fried Ikan Terubuk, Ikan Cencaru Sumbat Sambal (Stuffed Spicy Fish), Fried Pomfret, and various smaller fried fish.
A good selection of seafood dishes also includes Sotong (Cuttlefish) and Prawns.
Lots of Fish is done in several styles. The most popular is the Deep-fried Ikan Terubuk or Toli Shad. Be warned – tasty Fish are full of bones!
A lot of red Gulai is available. Not to worry, as most are not that spicy.
Here Is What We Ordered.
We decided to share food instead of ordering separately.
Fern took charge, and I helped carry the dishes to the counter so the owner could check the price.
We got the following:
A large Ikan Bawal Goreng (deep-fried pomfret)
2 pcs Ayam Goreng (Fried Chicken)
4 pcs Sambal Terung (Brinjal with Sambal)
1 serve Stir-Fried Kankong (Water Spinach)
2 pcs Pajeri Nenas (Malay-style Pineapple Curry)
1 serve Sambal Ikan Bilis (Spicy Dried Anchovies)
Kuah Gulai (Curry Gravy)
The Kuah Gulai is served separately in Malay cuisine, not mixed like Nasi Kandar stalls.
The staff is friendly and helpful.
We got them to help chop the Ayam Goreng into pieces for sharing.
I teased them about cutting up the Ikan Bawal Goreng.
They laughed good-naturedly, knowing that cutting a fried fish is impossible.
We would have ended up eating “smashed” Fish.
The Ayam Goreng and Ikan Bawal Goreng are a hit with us locals and our visitors from aboard.
Other popular dishes are Fish Curry and Prawn Curry.
A delicious meal for 4pax for RM47
Eating Alone or One Plate Meals
The Malay curry range is delicious – from seafood to meat.
When I eat alone, I enjoy a half portion of steaming white rice.
I top it with black chicken and beef curry. I also add salted egg kerabu taugeh and ulam with sambal belacan.
Don’t forget to add Ulam, Kerabu, and Sambal Belacan to your plate with white Rice.
The kick is that dollop of Sambal Belacan with the greens!
Customize your Rice by choosing your favorites or whatever takes your fancy!
Nasi Melayu Lidiana Review
I visited Nasi Melayu Lidiana with my colleagues when working in Pulau Tikus.
The last time I was here was about ten years ago, and the food quality remains the same.
To avoid long queues, it is best to go for lunch early, say a little after 11.00 AM.
Peak hours during lunchtime depend on which day of the week.
Our lunch cost RM40 for all the dishes (without drinks), which is reasonable and cheap.
As for the taste, it is fabulous.
We have nothing but praise for the delicious and yummy food we enjoyed.
The fried chicken was great. It was not too oily, and with crispy skin, it just nailed the essentials of a healthy, tasty chicken.
The curry gravies were not spicy and, in fact, more of a sweet type.
We ordered Teh Tarik to wash down the meal.
After a satisfying and lovely feast of Nasi Melayu, we adjourned to Hotel Mercure Penang Beach for coffee and chit-chat.
Pros
Nasi Melayu Lidiana has a good selection of freshly cooked, delicious Malay dishes.
The prices are very reasonable, value for money, and affordable.
People generally have a quick lunch around 15-20 minutes (eat and go), so expect a fast turnaround of tables and cars.
It is not air-conditioned, but the food quality makes up for the heat.
Cons
Lunchtime, from 12 noon to 1.30 PM, is super crowded and full of locals.
The eatery might close as early as 1 to 2 PM once their food is sold out!
The low metal roof of the dining area is a heat trap.
Crows are eyeing your leftovers.
Parking is limited and challenging during peak hours, but you can park along the main road.
Prices are affordable and cash only.
We shall be back. If you feel I left something out, please leave a comment below.
Kedai Makan Lidiana – Nasi Campur
Medan Selera Tanjung Bungah
Opposite Masjid Terapung Tanjung Bungah
GPS : 5.469029, 100.276697
Hours: 7.00 AM to 4.00 PM
Closed on Sundays
Facebook: Lidiana Kedai Makanan
Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.
Sources: Good Ikan Terubuk
