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10 of the Best: Sydney's Malaysian Dining

There’s no doubt that we’re spoilt for choice with Asian cuisine in Sydney – and the Malaysian sector is no exception. The bold-yet-balanced flavour profiles of Malay cooking is irresistible and we highly recommend getting up close and personal with a Penang laksa or a satay skewer so smoky it’s almost sexy. 

Below are our top places to visit for your next Malaysian indulgence….

Chinta Kechil

Chinta Kechil evokes nostalgic memories of hawker vendors, bustling markets and tantalising flavours from Port Klang Malaysia from the 1960s. Parkers gems ($7.80) is the entrée not to miss, with bite sized pieces of minced chicken blended with potatoes, coriander, silver thread noodles and special spices that are lightly batter and snap fried. The King toh beef ($19.80) melts in the mouth, while Sassy’s duck ($24) and the Mingus scallops ($26) boast that balanced richness and depth of flavour done so well in Malaysian cuisine.

342 New South Head Road, Double Bay

Albee’s Kitchen

It’s all about flavour – and rich, classic Malaysian flavours at that – with over 16 different full-bodied sauces cooked in house by Albee to ensure authenticity. The sambal ikan bilis ($5.50) – anchovies and peanuts in sweet chilli sauce, provide a punchy segue into a hearty serve of the sambal belacan bihun goreng (Malaysian fried rice, $12) or an Asam curry hot pot (from $26.80). Team your spicy dishes with a refreshing shaved ice dessert with palm sugar syrup and evaporated milk ($7.50).

279 Beamish Street, Campsie

470 Anzac Parade, Kingsford

Hawker

As the name suggests, Hawker solely focuses on the hawker-style street food found in the open-air dining halls of Malaysia. Immerse yourself in their snack menu featuring beauties including the Lor bak ($12) platter of five-spice pork rolls, prawn cakes and tofu, or the Ikan bakar ($16) grilled stingray with a tangy and spicy dipping sauce. The Tau yu bak ($17) braised pork pieces or the kam heong prawns ($20) with special sauce of fragrant curry leaves, chilli and dried shrimp are always winning dishes.

G.02, 345B-353 Sussex Street, Sydney

Café Rumah

Thinking of themselves as an Asian inspired deli, Café Rumah brings the best of Malaysian and other Asian flavours to the fore with a creative breakfast and lunch offering. Specials rotate daily, but with dishes including Mama Yang’s pork belly rice bowl ($18) and a lamb shank rendang ($28) with Asian slaw and sourdough it’s well worth checking out the specials board before ordering. Check out their sambos menu using bread straight from Brickfield Bakery or their salad of the week for something a little lighter.

71 Campbell Street, Surry Hills

Jimmy’s Recipe

A saving grace for laksa-loving city slickers, Jimmy’s Kitchen slings out hundreds of bowls of steaming laksa every lunch service. With chicken, beef, vegetable, fish, seafood, prawn and combo laksa options (from $7.30-$11.50) you’ll have plenty of coin left to add a serve of the perfectly crisp roti canai and curry chicken bowl ($7) to your meal. Eggplant or chicken sambal and kapitan chicken or fish are also available on the lunch menu with fried or steamed rice or noodles ($7.90-$9.90).

500 George Street, Sydney


Mamak

The kings of Malaysian roti and satay, customers crave the restaurant’s signature dishes and delectable teh tarik. Roti dishes come both sweet and savoury, the latter served alongside two curry dips and a spicy sambal sauce, while the sweet varieties are delicious with ice-cream. The smoky chicken or beef satay skewers (from $13) are grilled over charcoal for an authentic Malaysian flavour, and the classic Malaysian sweetened tea or ‘teh tarik’ ($4) is expertly ‘stretched’ for a frothy, light consistency.

15 Goulburn Street, Haymarket

P9, 1-5 Railway Street, Chatswood

Ito’s Malaysian

Hidden in a small food court beneath Starbucks opposite Hyde Park, Ito’s is run by the To’s – Sydney laksa royalty – Ito’s consistently delivers creamy, flavoursome laksas with perfectly cooked meat ($8.50 - $13.50) that has earned them the reputation of creating one of Sydney’s best laksas. Their rendang beef with boiled rice ($9.50) is also a crowd pleaser, especially when teamed with a fistful of satay chicken skewers ($2.80 each).

5/201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

Credit - The Food Diary

Temasek

Offering a mouth-watering blend of Malaysian and Singaporean fare, Temasek is the go-to for a laksa that will have you hooked with the first mouthful. The nasi lemak ($17.80) is served with acar, eggs and sambal chilli, and the ikan pangang – balacaan fish barbecued in banana leaf – is available at market price if you have the foresight to order a couple of days ahead. Same goes for the Singapore chilli crab and black pepper crab – well worth getting organised and planning in advance.

71 George Street, Parramatta

Kopitiam

Utterly unassuming, Kopitiam is a best kept secret. Generous bowls of laksa (from $11) or Malaysian curry (from $14.80) are eminently satisfying, and the sambal dishes (from $16.50) of fish, prawns or squid stir-fried with onion in sambal sauce are a knockout. On the pork front, the bak kut teh ($15.80) herbal soup with pork and rice is perfectly fragrant and the ice kacang ($6) – a shaved ice dessert topped with sweet corn, syrup and palm sugar – is a refreshing note to finish on.

584 Harris Street, Ultimo

The Malaya

Waterfront dining at its best, The Malaya on spectacular King Street Wharf is a delight from start to finish. The aromatic and spice-driven Nonya flavours are put on show across the huge range of seafood dishes on offer. The san choy bow laden with spanner crab ($32) is a promising start, while the old Malaya favourite of king prawn laksa ($29), and the Kapitan Chicken ($29) with battered chicken thigh fillet, fresh chilli and coconut milk are always a must.

39 Lime Street, King Street, Wharf

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