The last two times I was in Melbourne I really wanted to try one of the Old Town Kopitiam places in Chinatown but certain things prevented that happening. Catching an early flight from Sydney on a Friday for work on Saturday gave me most of the day to roam about town and finally eat at one of them. What was my pick? The mamak version, or course.
Nestled beneath the cluster of QV Square concrete buildings is this central business district Malaysian hot-spot that dishes up a number of Malaysian street food favourites and while the term mamak is used in its title it far-from-resembles the traditional mamak places that are peppered across the mother country. Let’s just say it’s mamak, Melbourne style.
Simple wooden chairs and tables, vertical bands of printed colour climb the walls and span the ceiling breaking up the overall pale shell that make up the dining room. The kitchen is split-level and provides a view of the roti-tossing action while those that are not all that interested in pastry theatrics can kick back on the outside terrace.
Lunch-time in the CBD is a frantic affair and when I took a seat inside soon after they opened their doors it didn’t take long for the hordes to descend. Staffing on that particular Friday was on the slim side so grabbing someones attention proved a little challenging but once an order was placed it was in the hands of the kitchen brigade.
I kicked things off with a generous plate of char kueh kak, a tasty fry-up of daikon radish cake, dark soy, egg and bean sprouts. The salt levels made me reach for my beautiful pink drink quite a few times just to balance out the salty with the sweet. What’s the pink drink all about? Bandung cincau is a cooling drink of grass jelly (cincau), evaporated milk and rose syrup (bandung) and a bit of ice. Incredibly refreshing and a great palate cooler when eating chilli.
The sotong bakar is nothing more than bbq squid with cubed cucumber, red onion and coriander. Nice and tender, charred flavour and tangy and spicy sauce to dip into. I was hoping to try the roti tisu for dessert but it wasn’t available at lunch. Next option had to be the roti bom, a dense patty of roti cooked on the hotplate and served with condensed milk and sugar to drizzle and sprinkle over. The roti was a little too dense for my liking but the sugar kick it gave was just what I needed.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, stunning pictures, and a great read. I so want to visit now. Awesome post, keep it up.
monica recently posted..Physical Therapist Assistant
Oooh, the sotong looks pretty good actually – love me some tender squid
Tina@foodboozeshoes recently posted..Getting in the Mood for Love: Chinta Ria at Westfield Sydney
how crazy is the roti bom! definitely several sugar kicks!
I love your Melb posts, gives me ideas of places to try when I am next down for work!
Richard Elliot recently posted..Project Sourdough: B Bread
Great photography and the food sounds brilliant – makes my mouth water!
Looks good, your pictures make it look clean and serene. ( although its probably not)I’ll put on my Melbourne list
tania@mykitchenstories.com.au recently posted..Long week end
I have never heard of bandung cincau, it looks like a perfect summery drink! Photos are amazing as always.
Anna @The Littlest Anchovy recently posted..My Very First Soufflé
Hi, John!
Really interesting and useful post! Melbourne is awsome! It’s well worth to see it! I went there 2 years ago and, like you, I was impressed by The Old Town! I recommend it to everyone!
Sarah recently posted..Best Workout DVD
i dont know why but i like to have my drinks in a jar and that roti looks sooo delicious
sugarpuffi recently posted..Sugar’s Sweet Blog turns TWO and celebrate with cakes and giveaways
the food in old town mamak is delicious and the price is quite reasonable,i did have a good supper at the QV old town mamak,but the table service is really bad…. my friend did order a nasi briyani combo which is the curry chicken,rendang lamb…. but the meat of the chicken curry is pinkish(the part is chicken thigh) and my friend couldn’t chew it when we tell the supervisor he respond to us that the meat is actually cook… due to there is no blood apppear…if the meat is over cook it will be dry…i found that quite funny and i ask him is that the raw chicken meat is pink colour and he feedback to us that i study cookery so the meat is cook….and he also tell me that don’t be so rude. if any thing happend please come to complain me my name is calvin tan i am the supervisor at QV mamak store working hours from 6:00p.m. until 6:00a.m….haha what a good table service to the customer.