Malacca Straits Malaysian Delights

Great food, quick, efficient takeaway. This business has moved a few times around North Sydney. Very popular with lunchtime crowd in north Sydney.

Arguably you won't be taking your date to this place unless they are really outside the box. It's there to serve the fast moving lunch crowd or the rare (but the crowd is growing!) morning crowd for breakfast in the commercial centre of North Sydney.However this place begs to differ - you would want to come here to just eat (as a true Malaysian foodie would do) even if you don't have any business in North Sydney. They definitely have one of the, if not the best, authentic prawn noodles in this part of town. The broth is hearty and you can taste that nothing is wasted. Those prawn shells and heads are probably boiled out of their daylights! The Asian watercress veggies mix well with the egg noodles and meehoon, with a good sprinkle of fried shallots and chilli paste. I personally like the way they had kept the surf and turf concept between prawns and chicken tender pieces. Some other places served pork but I think the over robustness of pork can overpower the balance of this dish. It's simple, delicate, don't muck just eat.Their stir fry dishes, heaven. My only angst is to decide whether to have the Singaporean stir fried noodles or the Penang fried kuay teow, or the chicken rice, or the smogasbord of take away dishes, all thrown in with a good portion at a great price.My most outstanding award goes to the daily morning fresh chicken congee. This is a RARITY and unless you have grown up overseas in Asia, you would go "huh?". But die-hards like me were on our knees thanking the foodie gods. I love my Aussie brekky but sometimes you are just looking for that mirror image of your Bacon and Egg wrap. For $5 a big bowl of chicken, rice, stock and chives boiled heartily - it's a good way to enjoy eating and watching my waistline and well, eat some more!They have the special Tuesday and Thursday of Nasi Lemak. This is one of the signature dish for either a heavy hangover (you know you shouldn't be coming in to work now!) or a pep up. They serve it with fried chicken, and the usual sprinkles of fried anchovies, peanuts, chilli paste and cucumber. You can add rendang - chicken or beef, I normally think again, chicken in this particular way compliments the overall dish better.The Laksa? I mean, what are you waiting for?It's a chirpy, friendly place where waiting time for busy lunch hour is kept to a minimal as the team work like a well-oiled machine. I love the team there, they are boys born in Malacca, Malaysia, took their mummy's recipe and introduced their passion in food to North Sydney. I had tasted many Malaysian dishes and well, probably had the pedigree to be spoilt and fussy when they aren't cooked precisely. No complaints like that here.It's worth a pop in, and just bear in mind, they accept cash only.ps: They do sell cold beer to wash down the chilli!

After hearing great reviews, I was eagerly anticipating trying this restaurant. My friend and I decided to visit during the week, and luckily, there wasn't much of a wait to get in.

The food tasted just like homemade, which is the highest compliment.

This restaurant is located just around the corner from the Holiday Inn Darling Harbour. We visited after the lunch rush.