Good ‘things’ come to those who wait. Simple, pungent, and powerfully tasty, Malaysian cuisine ‘things’. And patience is the price to pay when you’re after Mamak’s hawker dishes, a fast and furiously served type of meal that die-hard Malaysians are known to seek out and devour.

Mamak’s second cafe restaurant has just opened. Its satays, rotis (fry-breads) and noodles are now available on Chatswood’s new ‘Eat Street’, a vibrant culmination of alfresco, street style restaurants and cafes.

The interiors and seating for 110 is unfussy, and easy on the eye wall photographs catalogue a day in the life of one of Sydney’s busiest Malaysian restaurants.

Refined presentation and white table cloths are not normally associated with Mamak food. What it lacks in grace it makes up three-fold in flavour and speed. Expect dishes to fly out as soon as you’ve ordered; their famous roti served with two curry dips and chilli sambal, mee goreng (wok-tossed hokkien noodles) and nasi lemak (an ensemble of sambal, peanuts, crispy anchovies, cucumber and hard-boiled egg served with coconut rice (arguably Malaysia’s national dish).

If there’s a wait – and judging by their Chinatown cafe queues, there will be – the front show kitchen will keep you entertained. Watch the flaky roti being twirled over hot stoves and decide on which teh tarik (classic Malaysian sweetened tea) or kopi (Malaysian coffee) to try.

Mamak Chinatown
15 Goulbourn Street Sydney 2000
T: (02) 9211 1668

Mamak Chatswood
Shop P9, 1-5 Railway Street Chatswood 2067
T: (02) 9411 4411
Open 7 Days

Eat Street is located at Chatswood Central 1-5 Railway Street Chatswood 2067
Rocket Restaurant, Bavarian Bier Café, Three Beans, Izakaya Arigato, Mamak already trading. The Bell Thai (opening 1 November) and Crazy Wings (opening 22 November)