MyMakan in Norwich is one of the few restaurants serving Malaysian food in this part of the country. But how does it compare to more popular Asian cuisines? Food reviewer STUART ANDERSON went to find out.
Malaysia is ‘truly Asia’ - at least according to the national tourist board’s long-standing slogan.
And having been there myself a can attest to how diverse the country is - a heady mix of cultures, religions and landscapes spanning everything from tropical rainforests and beaches to temperate highlands and high-tech cities.
What fills the country’s dinner plates is just as varied - as the excellent MyMakan (makan means simply ‘food’ in Malay) has set out to prove.
My wife Bec and I were quickly impressed by the look of the menu after we’d taken our seats amid the relaxed interior of this new restaurant in Norwich's Westlegate.
There were loads of interesting drinks to choose from, including a grass jelly drink called Cincau, a red rose syrup number called Sirap Ros and even Horlicks.
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We both opted for Milo (£3.75), which is a Southern Hemisphere equivalent of Nesquik, just a little crunchier.
Turning to the food, we asked for our starters and mains to arrive at the same time, so the table turned into a smorgasbord of south-east Asian delights.
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The first thing I tried was the vegetarian satay starter (£8.95), which was three skewered pieces of grilled plant protein, marinated in lemongrass, coconut, molasses, and spices.
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It was presented beautifully on a little wooden plate with sides of coconut rice, cucumber and red onion.
It came with a pot of delicious satay sauce that I could gladly have added to everything on the plate.
The other starter was the Keropok Lekor (£8.95) which we affectionately nicknamed the ‘Malaysian fish twists’.
These crispy, savoury snacks were served with a sweet and tangy chilli dipping sauce that had just the right amount of kick.
Our mains were the Rendang chicken (£14.95) and the vegan Kari Ayam (13.95).
Becca couldn't get enough of the Rendang and proclaimed it the holy grail of chicken dishes.
The meat was slow-cooked in a thick coconut sauce, balanced out with lemongrass and aromatic spices that left her humming in bliss.
I happily dived into the vegan dish, which was a blend of onion, ginger, and spices in creamy coconut milk.
We had a side of plain rice, which came with one of the mains, and also upgraded the other rice to the sticky ‘Lemang’ version for £1 extra.
Although we were quite full by this point, the dessert menu looked fascinating so we both ordered the Babur Pulut Hitam (£7.20). This was essentially black glutinous rice pudding served with thick coconut milk and vanilla ice cream.
It was like a culinary yin and yang, with the rich, warm rice pudding perfectly complementing the cold, creamy vanilla ice cream.
Every spoonful felt like a dream, and we couldn't help but savour each bite until our bowls were spotless.
The ambiance of the restaurant was pleasant and inviting and the staff were attentive and quick.
What really impressed us was the fact that practically every dish had a vegan option, making MyMayan a haven for both carnivores and herbivores alike.
The chef's expertise in crafting such delectable dishes was applause-worthy.
I would highly recommend MyMayan to anyone looking for an adventure through the tastes of Malaysia.
Disclaimer
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The establishment is not aware of our visit, is not informed we intend to write a review and bills are paid by the reviewer. The choice of places reviewed is also independent and is not based on venues which do or do not advertise in our publications.
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