Chillipadi

If your Malaysian, put your hand up and say “LAH!”. I love a cheap eat and this lovely Malaysian eatery delivers it in the heart of the city. Solid dark wood tables and dim lighting provide a relaxed, casual feel, the giant champagne bottle displayed at the back provides a talking point. How long’s it been there? Random novelty? Maybe they could hold a fastest laksa eating competition for it…

The choices are what you could order from a street hawker stall in KL. Only you don’t have to eat it sitting on a milk crate. Penang prawn noodle in a spicy prawn soup looks like it could leave you with problems on one end for a couple of days but is mildly hot and flavoursome. The curry chicken is pretty standard with the usual spice suspects of cumin, coriander, cinnamon in the mix. Whilst the beef rendang was good, slowly cooked to a fibrous paste, the roti was a little rubbery and lukewarm when it arrived. The search for a quality roti continues (a trip to Brunswick soon). Same Rendang in the Nasi Lamak, but you get some small condiments of achar and roasted peanuts. Slippery wet goodness in the eggy sauced Watt Hor Fun while the Nasi Goreng, full of chilli balanced with kecap manis was a little oily. Unfortunate they completely forgot about the fried koay teow, after politely asking 3 times after the rest of the meals had arrived. A small blemish but Chillipadi is forgiven lah.

2.5 / 5 yums!

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Where? Shop OE7, Menzies Alley, Little Lonsdale St (Cnr Elizabeth St), Melbourne

What? Average Main - $10

Left to Right : Penang prawn noodle, Curry Chicken Rice, Roti with Rendang, Hainan Chicken Rice, Fried Koay Teow, Nasi Lemak Rendang, Watt Hor Fun, Nasi Goreng