[Melbourne] Coconut House 馬來大排擋

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Coconut House 馬來大排擋

Add: 449 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9329 6401
Hours: 11am~9:30pm
Price: 10~15 AUD/person
Visited on: 2012-04

My first meal in Melbourne, curiously, was Malaysian food. A local friend asked whether I’d like to try Coconut House (馬來大排擋), apparently the best Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant in Melbourne, and I thought…why not?

As it was still early for dinner, we were seated right away, though I heard this popular restaurant is usually very packed during prime hours. What we had: Traditional Curry Laksa (8.60AUD), Hainanese Chicken Rice (7.60AUD), and Hot Teh Tarik (milk tea, 2.90AUD). I quite liked the laksa, a fiery coconut-based curry soup laden with bean curd puffs, fish sticks, eggplant, bean sprouts, seafood, vermicelli, and a thick egg noodle. This bowl is super rich and intense, so I recommend sharing this among two people and order something else on the side.

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[Shanghai] Cafe Sambal

Cafe Sambal

Add: Jiashan Market, 37A, Lane 550 Shanxi Nan Lu, near Shaoxing Lu / 陕西南路550弄37号, 近绍兴路
Tel: 3368 9529
Hours: 12pm-12am
Website: www.cafesambal.com
Price: 150~200 RMB/person
Visited: Sep 2011

Please note that this is an arranged tasting.

Lofted ceiling, exposed concrete, wooden furnitures, warm lighting. Authentic Malaysian cuisine with a modern touch? I was ready to be inspired.

At Cafe Sambal, always start with a minty Mojito (55 RMB) – highly recommended especially on a day like this when the air is thick as jam.

For a light start, Fresh Mango Rolls (38 RMB) with lemon sauce was an ideal choice.

Chicken Satay (60 RMB) was not instantly recognizable. Filets of grilled chicken, loaded with Malay peanut sauce, were held together vertically by toothpicks rather than the traditional long skewers. The reason behind this alternative presentation? Better cuts of meat (very tender and succulent indeed) that can be devoured elegantly in one bite.

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