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Ponggol Nasi Lemak

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Ponggol Nasi Lemak is a home-grown nasi lemak brand that was founded in 1979.[1][2] As of February 2020, the family-owned business has been in operation for 41 years. The brand has four outlets at Upper Serangoon (Kovan), Tanjong Katong, Jalan Besar and Capitol Piazza.[3][4][5][6]

Ponggol Nasi Lemak at Upper Serangoon Road. Photo from source.

Background

 
The Upper Serangoon road outlet (pictured) was opened in 1999. Photo from Facebook.

Mr Ang Chye Choon and Mdm Koh Ah Tan founded Ponggol Nasi Lemak in 1979[3][7] when they started delivering traditional nasi lemak packed in banana leaves to various hawker stalls across Singapore.[8][9] Before entering the food trade, Ang Chye Choon and Koh Ah Tan were agriculture farmers.

Early beginnings

In 1989, the husband-and-wife pair rented a retail space at a shophouse along Old Tampines Road. In 1999, Ponggol Nasi Lemak shifted their operations to Mee Sek Food Court along Upper Serangoon Road.[8] The outlet was manned by Madam Koh Ah Tan and other members of the Ang family.[10]

Growth

Following the success of the first Ponggol Nasi Lemak outlet at Upper Serangoon Road, the brand has expanded by three more outlets as of 2020.[11]

 
Ponggol Nasi Lemak's stall at Tanjong Katong Road. Photo from Foodchiak.

Second outlet at Brighton Crescent (1997 - 2004)

In 1997, Ang Chin Chua, the son of Ponggol Nasi Lemak's original founders, opened a second outlet at Brighton Crescent where he and his wife manned the stall.[12] By the turn of the century, the business was flourishing. In an interview with The Straits Times, Ang Chin Chua shared that:

“The line stretches from (the) coffee shop to the road. On weekends, customers wait in line for 30 minutes.”[13]

Relocation to Tanjong Katong Road (2004 - present)

In 2004, the stall at Brighton Crescent was relocated to Tanjong Katong Road.[14][15] It was during this time that other food stalls tried to ride on Ponggol Nasi Lemak’s name and popularity. Customers have mistaken other stalls with similar names as one of Ponggol Nasi Lemak’s outlets. The Ang family had to clarify that the Ponggol brand only consists of the Upper Serangoon outlet and the Tanjong Katong outlet. Anything else bearing the same name was an unrelated business.[16]

Jalan Besar (2014 - present)

 
Edmund Ang (left) is Ponggol Nasi Lemak's third-generation owner. Photo from The Straits Times.

The two-storey Jalan Besar outlet was Ponggol Nasi Lemak’s first stand-alone restaurant.[17][18][19] It was launched in December 2014 to celebrate Ponggol Nasi Lemak’s 35th anniversary.[20] Edmund Ang, the third-generation owner of Ponggol Nasi Lemak, oversees the Jalan Besar outlet which has been equipped with air-conditioning, automated fryers and grills and a new ordering system with on-screen menus.[21][22][23] Ponggol Nasi Lemak has also diversified its menu. Apart from nasi lemak, it now offers affordable local side dishes such as chicken skin at S$1.50 a portion and S$4.70 a tub.[24] To cater to families with younger children, their improved menu also includes house-made sorbet and ice cream.[25][26]

Capitol Piazza (2019 - present)

In late 2019, Ponggol Nasi Lemak opened their latest outlet at Capitol Piazza located in Singapore's downtown core.[27][28]

Debt rumours (2011)

Allegations

In 2011, the local news reported that the son of a certain famous nasi lemak franchise owner owed money to the Marina Bay Sands Casino.[29] The nasi lemak franchise had not been named. However, rumours started circulating that the identity of the “famous nasi lemak franchise” was Ponggol Nasi Lemak. It was later proven that Mr Lester Ong of Chong Pang Nasi Lemak was the individual who owed the casino.[30]

Clarifications

To clear the air, Ponggol Nasi Lemak took up an uncustomary method of damage control.[31] The business spent about S$2,000 on two advertisements in The Sunday Times and Lianhe Zaobao that passed as press release statements from the brand.[32] The advertisements also stated that:

“(it) reserved the right to take legal action against anyone making defamatory remarks against it”.

Ponggol Nasi Lemak had the ads pasted prominently at the Upper Serangoon and Tanjong Katong outlets. The rumours did not disrupt business at the two outlets.[33]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ “Popular Upper Serangoon coffee shop suspended after failing to provide soap in toilet”. Channel News Asia. October 6, 2017. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  2. ↑ “The 7 Most Popular Places To Eat In Katong And Joo Chiat”. The New Paper. April 7, 2016. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 “About”. Ponggol Nasi Lemak. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  4. ↑ “Ponggol Nasi Lemak (Capitol Singapore) Location”. Singapore Food Advisor. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Singapore Atrium Sale. “Ponggol Nasi Lemak is coming to Capitol Piazza B1 beside Food Republic”. Facebook. December 3, 2020. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  6. ↑ “Ponggol Nasi Lemak Capitol Singapore (new outlet) - Which dishes to pick?”. The Ordinary Patron. January 20, 2020. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Tan, Shaun. “Chinese Nasi Lemak Vs. Malay Nasi Lemak. Which is Better?”. Rice Media. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Croucher, James. “Food is great but you’ll have to wait”. The Straits Times. April 8, 2001. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  9. ↑ Phoon, Audrey. “cream of the crop”. Business Times. February 6, 2010. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  10. ↑ Croucher, James. “Food is great but you’ll have to wait”. The Straits Times. April 8, 2001. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  11. ↑ Croucher, James. “Food is great but you’ll have to wait”. The Straits Times. April 8, 2001. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  12. ↑ Phoon, Audrey. “cream of the crop”. Business Times. February 6, 2010. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  13. ↑ Phoon, Audrey. “cream of the crop”. Business Times. February 6, 2010. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  14. ↑ Quek, Eunice. “Eateries from coffee shops upgrade their locations and menus”. The Straits Times. March 29, 2015. Accessed 8 January 2020.
  15. ↑ Phoon, Audrey. “cream of the crop”. Business Times. February 6, 2010. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  16. ↑ Phoon, Audrey. “cream of the crop”. Business Times. February 6, 2010. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  17. ↑ Quek, Eunice. “Eateries from coffee shops upgrade their locations and menus”. The Straits Times. March 29, 2015. Accessed 8 January 2020.
  18. ↑ Ang, Adeline. “Ponggol Nasi Lemak: Comfort Food Served Fast-Food Style”. Makansutra. March 20, 2015. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  19. ↑ Lim, Wilsurn. “35 Years Of Ponggol Nasi Lemak - Jalan Besar Road”. Metropolitant. March 7, 2015. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  20. ↑ Ang, Adeline. “Ponggol Nasi Lemak: Comfort Food Served Fast-Food Style”. Makansutra. March 20, 2015. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  21. ↑ Quek, Eunice. “Eateries from coffee shops upgrade their locations and menus”. The Straits Times. March 29, 2015. Accessed 8 January 2020.
  22. ↑ Ang, Adeline. “Ponggol Nasi Lemak: Comfort Food Served Fast-Food Style”. Makansutra. March 20, 2015. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  23. ↑ Lim, Wilsurn. “35 Years Of Ponggol Nasi Lemak - Jalan Besar Road”. Metropolitant. March 7, 2015. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  24. ↑ Yeoh, Wee Teck. “5 places to get crunchy, crispy, and cheap chicken skin treats”. The Straits Times. February 1 2018. Accessed 8 January 2020.
  25. ↑ Quek, Eunice. “Eateries from coffee shops upgrade their locations and menus”. The Straits Times. March 29, 2015. Accessed 8 January 2020.
  26. ↑ Ang, Adeline. “Ponggol Nasi Lemak: Comfort Food Served Fast-Food Style”. Makansutra. March 20, 2015. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  27. ↑ Singapore Atrium Sale. “Ponggol Nasi Lemak is coming to Capitol Piazza B1 beside Food Republic”. Facebook. December 3, 2020. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  28. ↑ “Ponggol Nasi Lemak Capitol Singapore (new outlet) - Which dishes to pick?”. The Ordinary Patron. January 20, 2020. Accessed on 18 February 2020.
  29. ↑ Lin, Wenjian. “Nasi lemak chain squashes debt rumours”. The Straits Times. July 5 2011. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  30. ↑ Lin, Wenjian. “Nasi lemak chain squashes debt rumours”. The Straits Times. July 5 2011. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  31. ↑ Lin, Wenjian. “Nasi lemak chain squashes debt rumours”. The Straits Times. July 5 2011. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  32. ↑ “Nasi lemak chain places ads to deny debts rumours”. AsiaOne. July 6, 2011. Accessed on 19 February 2020.
  33. ↑ Lin, Wenjian. “Nasi lemak chain squashes debt rumours”. The Straits Times. July 5 2011. Accessed 8 January 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
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