Mamak Village

It's a well known fact that Malaysian hawker food is one of the best cures for a nuclear hangover. Well, at least in our neck of the woods. It's that mix of clarified butter, salt, chicken fat and peanuts that really gets those booze-soaked receptors buzzing. And all those classics are here at this newish Malaysian joint at the bottom of Glebe Point Road. Head upstairs to grab one of the seats on the balcony and watch the activity down below. 

Roti of all persuasions are on offer, including the tried-and-true roti canai. Here, the gossamer bread comes on a tin plate sectioned off with sides of curry, pickle chutney and sambal. There are also a few exotic options such as roti Hawaii, which is filled with chicken, pineapple and cheese, and roti sausage, which is filled with sausage and Spanish onion. Or go a little sweeter with roti planta (butter and sugar).  

Chicken satay skewers are accompanied with a loose, rough satay sauce and little nubbins of sticky rice while chicken lobak sees a mix of chicken and sengkuang (a root vegetable that's a bit like a turnip) wrapped in fried bean curd skin. The char kwaoy teow isn't quite on par with, say, the version at Makan at Alice's in Thornleigh, but it's still worth ordering, if just for the fact you're eating a slippery mix of fried rice noodles, chicken, fish cakes, tofu and prawns covered in sweet soy sauce.

Mamak Village do, however, serve a really good nasi lemak with a big piece of chicken thigh covered in chicken curry sauce, thin spears of pickled carrot, boiled eggs, dried anchovies and cucumber covered in a glossy sambal, not to mention the big sphere of coconut rice. Yum. Wash it all down with a lime cordial, teh tarik (black tea and condensed milk) or even a cup of Milo.

Scratch Mamak Village up as a win for lower Glebe Point Road.

Essential eats! Nasi Lemak + chicken lobak + roti canai.