McDonald’s Nasi Lemak Burger Is Sold Out, Try Makcik’s Chicken Rice Burger Instead

This takeout halal eatery in the Arab Street hood is co-owned by husband-and-wife Saldriana ‘Nana’ Idris and Haziq Yusoff, both 29, who partnered their pal and boss of gastro bar Spiffy Dapper, George Abhishek Cherian, 32, to set up shop. Who is Makcik? They refuse to say (we caught a glimpse of her but were sworn to secrecy). “We built some hype around a legendary makcik [with chicken rice-cooking skills second to none],” says Nana, adding that the Makcik provides the recipes while she and her younger bro do the cooking. Their witty, tongue-in-cheek marketing via social media is influenced by the duo’s advertising background — they both worked as art directors at advertising firms before setting up their own design studio where they craft Makcik Chicken's marketing campaigns.


Photo: Makcik Chicken

This colourful, compact number is reminiscent of Mos Burger’s rice burger. The ‘buns’ are made with Japanese short-grain rice cooked with chicken stock, ginger, garlic and pandan leaves. Subtly fragrant, slightly dry and a bit too clean-tasting — it lacks the oomph of the chicken fat-infused hawker version. But the filling is gourmet and good: tender, juicy chicken thigh meat is sous vide then seared and topped with shredded cucumber and tomato. Sedap. Mashed gooey-yolked ramen-style egg on top adds texture. Dip the burger in Makcik’s lovely tangy green and red chilli sauces for maximum shiokness. The accompanying creamy mashed potatoes cooked with chicken jus hits the spot, though the cabbage yogurt slaw is blah. Overall a pretty successful take on the classic chicken rice dish, but quite pricey for its petite size.

The deconstructed version of the Chicken Rice Burger, with more rice that is not moulded into the shape of a burger bun. We prefer the fluffier chicken stock-scented loose grains here, which go well with the succulent, generously portioned sous vide chicken breast meat infused with ginger and garlic, and a delish Japanese-style egg. Quite "steeemmm" lah, except that the rice was undercooked and slightly tough when our colleague ordered it on another occasion (plus it still needs more flavourful chicken fat). Love the super cool packaging, though.


Photo: Makcik Chicken

A thick piece of chicken thigh meat marinated with coconut milk and spices, then clapped between fluffy semolina buns with a sunny side up egg, onions and lashings of sambal. Despite there being no coconut rice in this nasi lemak burger, the flavours are similar to an actual plate of nasi lemak. The bird is juicy, lemak (Malay for ‘rich’) and its crushed cornflake coat pleasantly crunchy. It pairs nicely with the mildly spicy sambal. Pity McDonald’s used regular buns instead of coconut milk-infused ones, though. Would we order it again? Probably, if it weren't sold out! But we’d still choose a plate of nasi lemak over this if we were going to sin on all those calories.

Which burger replicates the taste of its inspired dish successfully? We say it is McDonald’s, who wins the taste test for serving up a bizarre concoction that actually does a traditional plate of nasi lemak justice. Kinda. But Makcik Chicken’s chicken rice burger, cooked with heart by cool young Singaporeans, is also worth trying for its more refined, wholesome flourishes.


Makcik Chicken, 77 Aliwal St, S199948. Makcik Burger available on Aug 9 at Feastival 2017, National Museum of Singapore, and via online delivery from Aug 10 at www.makcikchicken.com. 8 DAYS readers get 10% off with promo code makcikloves8days.


McDonald’s, www.mcdonalds.com.sg