Top 5 Malaysian Restorans in Melbourne

Hi again, as promised here's the Top 5 Malaysian Restorans* in Melbourne, Australia for your review:

1. Malaymas
320, St Georges, Rd, Fitzroy, (03) 9486 3202

Offering an exciting array of Malaysian cuisine, Malaymas in North Fitzroy will please any spice junkie. Order the roti with curry as an entree to share, and then savour the delightful Indian Mee Goreng, spicy curry laksa and the oh-so-tender beef rendang in the aromatic Nasi Lemak with fiery sambal chilli. For non-spicy alternatives, go for the Hainanese Chicken Rice with extremely generous portions of succulent chook & fragrant chook rice. Other options include the flavoursome beef / seafood horfun & authentic fried kway teow.

2. Laksa King
320 Racecourse Rd, Flemington, (03) 9372 6383

A sure-win crowd-pleaser, Laksa King is indeed the King of all Laksas! A huge claim some say but this restaurant in Racecourse Road, Flemington, serves up a vast variety of laksas from chicken curry, to seafood curry, to assam curry to vegetarian curry; one of which will definitely satiate your laksa fantasies. For under $10, you get a massive serving of laksa in a giant bowl, typically each bowl of laksa comes with chunks of eggplant, bean shoots, fishcake, tofu and the like. If you've got a huge appetite, make sure you order a side of crispy Loh Bak or piquant chicken satay to share. Might I say that this, is in my opinion, is the best laksa in Melbourne.

3. Chilli Padi
Shop OE7, Menzies Alley Melbourne, (03) 9663 5688
267 Chapel St, Prahran, (03) 9533 7022

This restaurant offers a more upmarket and classier alternative to authentic Malaysian. Located in a swanky Melbourne Central locale, the long dark teak dining tables make it a great place to hang out with friends over spicy traditional Malaysian. The "Chilli Malam Supper" occurs most nights after 10pm and provides customers with value-for-money menu items under $10 including laksa, penang prawn mee, fried kway teow, nasi lemak and mee goreng.

4. Sambal Kampung
234 Little Bourke St Melbourne Vic 3000 ph (03)9663 2666

Situated in Little Bourke St, Chinatown, Sambal Kampung presents fantastic Malaysian fare at reasonable prices. I particularly like how they have combined a little bit of Singapore in their menu to cater to the hungry neighbouring Singaporeans. For instance, they feature the hokkien mee in 2 styles - the Singapore version which is with prawn stock, prawns and calamari with a side of sambal as well as the Malaysian version which is cooked in dark soy sauce, with lean pork & more often eaten with a side of green cut chilli. Note that you have to place your orders by writing them on an order sheet yourself, then submitting it to your friendly waiter; probably leaving less room for error. Oh, the ever so practical Malaysians. :)

5. Old Town Kopitiam
195 Little Bourke Street 03 9639 6098

Recently opened, this new joint, gives Sambal Kampung some strong competition as it is located diagonally opposite them in Chinatown. If you like oysters, make sure you try the oyster omelette which features huge whole fresh oysters fried in crispy omelette and a side of chilli sauce. Another authentic dish to look out for is the fish head bee hoon with crispy fried fish in wholesome fish soup layered with creamy evaporated milk. It adds a dimension to the soup and certainly has flavours that will make you come back for more.

* Restoran is malay for restaurant.