Mamak Sydney: wherefore art thou?

Mamak…before the renovation walls closed in

Alas! Mamak has been closed since June 8th for renovations and I’ve been at my wits end. No late-night roti runs, no gratification for my tea tarik yearnings. It’s a disaster but according to their website, the renovations will only take three weeks, which means that it should reopen on Monday 29th. And not a moment too soon! In the meantime, a simple tribute if you please, with a pre-renovation visit while we wait.

There’s only one reason to come here…

…and it certainly isn’t for the standard Malaysia fare. The nasi lemak, the nasi goreng, ice kacang…my mother makes it better frankly.

Take a good look now, as it might not look like this come Monday

It could be for the beverages. Especially if it’s the sweet tea tariks (perfect hot or iced) or maybe the Cham and its gorgeous combo of tea tarik and Malaysian coffee. It’s definitely not for the Kopi-Os…bitter, odd tasting and in dire need of more condensed milk but maybe it was just a bad night.

My friends, it has to be for the Roti Canai. Spell it for me…R-O-T-I.

I love my Malaysian food. So much so that I can get depressingly homesick when I’m debilitated by monthly cravings for Hawker Chicken Rice, Ban Jian Kway, Penang Rojak and (oh my god), a bowl of thick and rich Assam Laksa. There is a large gaping black hole in Sydney’s dining scene when it comes to Malaysian food, which certainly doesn’t help matters.

I love the prison-esque canteen tray. Très chic!

But at least the roti side of things are taken care of.

When it comes to Roti Canai, Mamak can’t be beat in Sydney. Especially when the Roti costs much less than street parking in the city! Crispy, fluffy, flaky and pretty decent curry accompaniments whick packs just the right amount of heat. All that on a prison-chic canteen tray for only $5.

A perfectly fluffed roti

What I love the most is watching them flip the tissue-thin rotis like they’re nobody’s daddy. Even I don’t get to see that often in Malaysia but here, you can watch to your heart’s content while you wait in the long queue (which Mamak is just as famous for!).

And though you can’t beat eating roti in Malaysia itself (the flies, burning sun, sweat and extreme humidity makes for a killer atmosphere), it’s an entirely new experience eating warming Roti Canai in winter and that’s something you just can’t do in Malaysia – though their subzero air-conditioning says otherwise!

Hungry yet?

Mamak’s tea tariks tonight are a little weak in taste, sweetness and fragrance for my liking but I can’t complain too much. A craving is a craving and this is about as good as I’ll get in Australia.

This Roti Kaya doesn’t look like much (and I did ask for no ice cream) but there is some liquid gold in that roti. That being homemade Kaya, a sweet, toothsome coconut egg jam. You haven’t had real kaya until you have it homemade. Too bad it’s spread so thinly inside the roti! A bit sweet but beats the store-bought jar anyday! Just ask Mamak for a bit more kaya generosity.

Roti Kaya – a thicker layer of it would’ve been nice…say, 5cm more?

Mamak has come a long way from their humble stall at Chinatown markets. I remembered when it first opened and my cousin (who knew one of the owners) pestered all of us to go try it. Who would’ve thought that it’d soon become a roti institution? You just know they have a good thing going when there are constant queues that snake out of the restaurant and the patrons are an even mix of locals, caucasians, Asians and tourists.

My guess it’s the roti that keeps them coming.

Why the sour face? Maybe he’s experiencing roti withdrawal…

Success! Fresh roti makes for a happy man.

Mamak

15 Goulburn Street
Haymarket / Chinatown, NSW
(02) 9211 1668

Mamak is closed for renovations from June 8th for approximately three weeks.

Open 7 days
Lunch: 11:30am to 2:30pm
Dinner: 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Supper: until 2am on Fridays & Saturdays

Tagged as: Chinatown, Malay, Malaysian, Mamak, Sydney