KR Banana Leaf Masala Chicken Nasi Lemak: 55 Year-Old Ex-Civil Servant Starts A Nasi Lemak Stall

After working as an immigration officer for over 20 years, Elizabeth, 55, who has always wanted to sell food that she loves, took the leap of faith last year to resign from her job and start her own nasi lemak stall, KR Banana Leaf Masala Chicken Nasi Lemak . The passionate lady’s dream became a reality when she decided to try for the Tiger Street Food Support Fund 2017 .

With her “sedap sambal” that she spent years perfecting the recipe with her mother, Elizabeth impressed a panel of judges from Tiger Beer. Received a grant which gave her the financial means to start a hawker stall. The process – from the moment the judges gave their thumbs-up, the filming of short videos, and being part of the Tiger Street Food Festival 2017 – as well gave her the confidence she needed to start out on her own. Owner of KR Banana Leaf Masala Chicken Nasi Lemak It is common to see the wet trade vendors at Chinatown Complex Market setting up their stalls in the middle of the night, and Elizabeth joins the group of early risers as she starts preparation at 3:30am every day.

For three hours before her stall opens at 6:30am, she single-handedly whips up various components for her nasi lemak. Roti Prata ($0.80 per piece) , which she serves as a breakfast item from 6:30am to 10:30am. A cheerful lady exuding much youthful and positive vibes, along with the occasional laughter that she injects into her sentences, most would not be able to guess that Elizabeth is in her mid-50s. Shortly after she finally became satisfied with her “sedap sambal” method, she came across the Tiger Street Food Support Fund, and was convinced that it was still possible for her dream to be fulfilled.

Having always had the heart, the $10,000 and the boost in confidence given by Tiger Beer was what gave her the means to finally get a stall at Chinatown, buyout the equipment required, and start her own business. Food at KR Banana Leaf Masala Chicken Nasi Lemak With over 200 stalls in the food centre, KR Banana Leaf Masala Chicken Nasi Lemak did not stand out initially. When we asked for the simplest meal she serves, Elizabeth prepared her Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak ($3) .

We weren’t afraid to mix all the sambal up with our rice and Elizabeth was more than happy to give us even more of it to go with the other elements. With roti prata at $0.80 and nasi lemak at $3, this stall offers relatively affordable food at Chinatown.

What makes her the happiest is that she is finally living her dream of serving her favourite food to people and her only wish is to be able to serve a wider variety. Another speciality that we tried, which was also our favourite, was Elizabeth’s Masala Chicken ($4) .

Another nasi lemak dish that you can find at the stall is the one that comes with Rendang Mutton ($4) . From the preparation of food to the way Elizabeth served her shoppers, it was clear that she not only knew what she was doing, but was enjoying every moment of it.

A chosen hawker of the Tiger Street Food Support Fund 2017 , Elizabeth was given a $10,000 grant to start her business. This fund was started by Tiger Beer in a bid to relieve the financial burdens of aspiring or current hawkers who have their heart in this business, so as to promote and support the continuation of the hawker trade.

Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-55, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335 Opening hours: Mon-Fri 6:30am to 4pm, Sat-Sun 6:30pm to 8pm KR Banana Leaf Masala Chicken Nasi Lemak is not a halal-certified stall.