Mamak, Chinatown.

Dinner had been organised for weeks. Uni friends, Mamak, a sumptuous feast. Easy, right? Yeah, until someone double booked themselves. No worries, we would postpone until Monday, Monday should be a good day to visit Mamak, you know, people still getting over their weekend, lines will be shorter and all that. Then Monday rolls around and our numbers are again dwindling. Members of our party are dropping away like flies, until there are only three stalwarts left. But we are excited, and I have a hunger only roti can satiate, and besides, Mamak will be better with only three.

Kari Kambing – Spicy Lamb Curry, $14

Kangkung Belacan $12

It looks as though everyone else seems to have caught on to the Monday trick too. The line is long, even at 6:30pm, but soon enough we are seated, and ordered. The Kari Kambing is a flavourful and tender, spicy lamb curry, comforting but not mindblowing. The Kangkung Belacan is well cooked, but much milder with less fishy belacan than I have eaten her previously. This dish is nice, but I wanted a bigger chilli hit.

Limau Ais and Teh Ais – $3.50 each

Rojak $12 – Malaysian style salad with coconut and prawn fritters, fried tofu, hard-boiled eggs, jicama and cucumber in a thick peanut sauce

I have been wanting to eat rojak for months. One of the sounds I remember from Malaysia is vendors shouting their wares ‘Rojak, Rojak, Rojak‘, but I abstained, because of Felix’s peanut allergy. On previous visits to Mamak I have looked on enviously as towering servings of rojak landed on the tables around around me.

All the while I imagined an orgy of textures and flavours all combined with a nutty spicy sauce. Unfortunately the rojak didn’t live up to expectations. Instead it was all grainy jicama, soggy tofu and stale fritters doused in a sweet, bland peanut sauce. Maybe Monday isn’t the night to visit Mamak.

Chicken Murtabak $9.50 – Roti filled with spicy chicken curry.

Roti Canai $5

The roti is where its at. Fluffy, hot, crispy, light and delicious. Reminds me of Malaysia, that is how good it is. The Murtabak is a hearty, solid dish, and this one is better than I’ve eaten recently when eaten with the sambal provided. Murtabak isn’t really my favourite, give me drool-worthy roti any day!

Ais Kacang $5

For dessert we bypass the towering cones of sweet roti (I think that we may have ordered too much), and go for some cooling, but mediocre Ais Kacang and Cendol. Well, average for Malaysia, the best Ais Kacang and Cendol that I have ever had in Sydney! The balance between the gula melaka and coconut cream in the cendol doesn’t lean toward the sugar enough, leading to a bland, flabby dessert. The Ais Kacang needs more bits. Small complaints for a little slice of Malaysia in Sydney’s chinatown.

I really want to love Mamak as much as I have on other occasions, but instead I only liked this visit although the promise of better executed food here is everpresent (and I would come back tomorrow for more delectable roti).

The service here is fast and kind, and although the food sometimes misses, Mamak is fast becoming a favourite haunt of mine, and hundreds of other Sydneysiders.

(If only they opened for breakfast for strong coffee and kaya toast sets!)

Mamak
15 Goulburn st
Sydney

Open 7 Days
Lunch 11:30am – 3pm
Dinner 5:30pm til late