Monday, September 20, 2010

Jalan Alor, Melbourne

Recently, there have been quite a number of restaurants serving Malaysian cuisine opening and popping out everywhere in Melbourne. The latest is Jalan Alor which is hidden in the new 206 Bourke St (between Russel St and Swanston St).

What or should I say where is Jalan Alor? Jalan Alor is a street back in Kuala Lumpur, famous for its cheap and delicious hawker food that is available day and night. It is a street where you can get practically almost whatever hawker food there is in Malaysia.


On the day we had lunch, we were introduced to the name of the restaurant. The Chinese characters actually meant "Ma Lai Jan" in Cantonese which is also known as "Belacan" in Malay. Belacan is one of the favourite spices that is used loved in Malaysian cooking and the restaurant has a few dishes cooked with Belacan that you can try as well. The Chinese name of the restaurant is actually given by the famous food critic from Hong Kong, Mr. Choi Lan.

The interior of the restaurant is quite cheerful with bright colours. The use of wooden benches and stools along with the hand painted murals of banana leaves on the floor and walls gives a feeling of dining at the beach.


Satay Ayam

Satay Ayam (Chicken Skewer) is one of the favourite snacks in Malaysia can be found easily in most of the hawker stalls. The Satay Ayam at Jalan Alor is served just like how it is in Malaysia, with chopped onions, cucumbers and the most important Satay sauce (Peanut sauce).

Personally, I like the Satay sauce very much with the smooth but not chunky peanut sauce eaten together with the skewers. It just makes me want more after the first bite. Only difference is that they don't charcoal grill the skewers like what you can get in Malaysia. Instead, the skewers are deep fried and the chicken is well marinated.

If the dish is served together with Ketupat (cooked rice wrapped with woven palm leaf), I reckon it will be really good.


Penang Har Mee

The Penang Har Mee is prawn noodles. The soup has a very nice prawn taste to it and a generous serving of rather big prawns as well. I know of other restaurants in Melbourne that serve good prawn noodles as well but none of them have prawns this big. Only downside was I find it a bit too oily for my taste.


Penang Char Kway Teow

I like their Char Kway Teow here as they have slices of Chinese sausage as well. The dish tastes exactly like how it should be from Malaysia. I find the price very worth it as well, again for the big prawns that is in the dish and the serving size. I wished there were more slices of the Chinese sausage because I really like it.


Nasi Ayam Taugeh

Nasi Ayam Taugeh is similar to Hainanese Chicken rice but the only difference is this dish is served with bean sprouts. In Malaysia, Nasi Ayam Taugeh (Bean Sprout Chicken Rice) is very famous in Ipoh just like how Char Kuey Teow is famous in Penang.

I wished they served fragrant rice with this dish, but it tastes good with just steamed rice as well especially if you mix the soy sauce with the rice.


Nasi Ayam Bakar

Nasi Ayam Bakar or Barbeque Chicken rice is also one of my favourite. I like the taste of the chicken as it sweet but not too dry as well. It is served with fragrant rice which is full of flavour and tastes really authentic.

I'll definitely be back soon to taste the other dishes they offer. This restaurant serves Malaysian food that is very similar to what you can get in Malaysia, I guess partly it's also because the chefs are from Malaysia!

UPDATED post, please click here.

My Ratings;

-Environment: 2/4
-Food: 3/4
-Price: 4/4
-Service: 3/4

Jalan Alor :
7/206 Bourke St,
Melbourne, VIC 3000

03 9663 1138

Jalan Alor on Urbanspoon

5 comments:

  1. Finally...A modern hawker style Malaysian food in Melbourne with AUTHENTIC flavor and great atmosphere!!!

    Today I was walking around the city and walked pass the restaurant. After seeing the menu, I TOTALLY had to stop by for dinner. There were so many awesome dishes that I wanted to try. It was so hard to choose, but after 10 minutes of contemplating, I went with the Seafood Curry Laksa and Ice Cendol.

    I LOOOVED the Seafood Curry Laksa. It wasn't too oily, had great balance of spices (nothing too overpowering) with just the right amount of heat.

    I do agree with you with their generosity with the king prawns... Those prawns were HUUUGE.. The mussels also gave out nice flavor to the dish. I went to Laksa King once because everyone was raving about it.. But IMHO, it wasn't that great. I prefer the Curry Laksa from this restaurant, plus it's in the city.. Double Yayy!

    Ohhh and the Ice Cendol is to die for!!!! OMG..Yummmmm!!! Finally there's a place in Melbourne where I can go to fix my Cendol cravings!!! Very Malay/Indo style. Love it!

    The service was very friendly, the owners actually came out and helped people with the menu and suggesting their specialties. Although, I must say that the waitresses might need a bit more training with their knowledge of the menu. In my humble opinion, waitresses/waiters need to know the name of the dishes and what's in it and not just the numbers. But to be fair, it is only their first week. So it is very understandable

    The thing that I really really loved about this place other than its homey ambiance and flavor-authenticity is that you can eat your dinner/lunch in peace without being rushed and/or kicked out (unlike in some other Asian restaurant).

    I'm definitely going back again!!! Actually can't wait to take my friends there and try their Nasi Ayam.. and Satay Ayam.. mmmmmm.....

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've not tried the Curry Laksa yet! I shall have that during my next visit! Don't you just love the prawns, they are REALLY prawns not shrimps!

    I love the Ice Cendol as well! Lots of red beans and green cendol. Best thing about it, it's not ridiculously sweet!

    Totally agree with you about the waitresses. They are still new and I made a special request for sweet chilli sauce (doesn't come with the Ayam Taugeh) and she didn't really know what to do. But as you said, it's only their first week!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the heads up, will try the Prawn Mee and Char Kway Teow when I head there today.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lol.. Dont forget to try their Kon Loh Ayam Pangang Pan Mee as well! Iove that very much. Check that out in my updated post!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I visited Melbourne recently and my friend recommended this place. The curry laksa was good and I was taken aback by the portions! Another friend ordered fish head bihun soup and it was massive! I have to agree with you on the prawn mee. Delicious soup.

    ReplyDelete