Mamak (Haymarket-Chinatown)

      
I'm sure we all know how popular Mamak is, not only because it is located in the heart of
Chinatown, but also for its cheap price for traditional Malaysian cuisine. As they do not take bookings, you often see a line outside the restaurant way before its opening time. Although if you join the queue about half hour before opening time, it is very likely you will get a table straight away.

Or if you didn’t manage to get seats when it opens, you can still look inside the window and be mesmerised by the Roti being flipped and tossed around like circus performances. Close your eyes for a moment and try to imagine yourself in the middle of the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur, and listening to the voices of food hawkers from the far distance...

Teh Tarik $3.50

You may find this classic Malaysian tea interesting with the mixture of different textures, the top was covered by a thick layer of foam and the bottom was silky and warm with sweetened flavour.

Satay (chicken/beef ) $9 for 1/2 dozen or $16 for dozen

You can't go wrong with an entree of ½ or a dozen of Satay, and the Satay at Mamak were grilled to the right temperature.  All you need then is dipping them in the sweet and spicy peanut sauce to create that tempting aroma, and bite it down with satisfaction.

 

Roti Canai  $5.50

This original Roti is probably for people who don’t like complicated tastes where fillings blend with the sauces. You simply just want to immerse yourself in the aftertaste that lingers from the finger-licking curry dips and spicy sambal sauce, nothing more. Well, you got it! Get ready to put your hands on 1 of these!

 

Murtabak (chicken/lamb) $11.50

While this choice can be flavoursome, personally I think it lost the whole purpose for the sauce dipping.  With all the salty tastes of eggs and onions, the bits and pieces of meat and cabbage, you won’t know where the centre of your attention should land for this dish.

 

Ayam Goreng ($14 for 4/ $4 per piece)

Just take a look at it and I’m sure it instantly arouses your appetite! Rip a tiny piece of the skin and you can already see its juice rushing out for a breath. Then you take a bite and feel this tenderness on your tongue and down your throat, nice and warm and full of combinations of spices. Excellent fried chicken! I would give it a big thumb-up.

Roti tisu $9.50

This sweet, thin, and extremely crispy Roti was served tall along with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream, I wonder whether this make you question the way to eat it? (Estimate about 20cm tall?) You can try chop off its peak and snap down the layers by following a clock-wise or anti-clockwise direction.

Overall, I thought Mamak would be an ideal place for students to catch up with friends after class on a weekday, an interesting dinner experience for any travellers, and for those all-nighters craving for a quick supper or snack on a typical weekend.  




Address:
15 Goulburn Street, Haymarket, Sydney

Phone number:
T: (02) 9211 1668 No reservations

Opening hours:
Lunch 11.30am -2.30pm
Dinner 5.30pm -10pm
Supper till 2am (Fri & Sat)



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