To be honest, I’ve only discovered Malaysian food in the last year or so. I’ve had laksa a few times prior not ever knowing where it came from, I suppose I never really thought about it. Organising lunch dates with friends led me to more and more Malaysian places so eventually, I finally realised what everyone was talking about on twitter and instagram, namely CKT haha (and I’m not even kidding).
The Boy and I venture out to Beamish Street at Campsie knowing that there is a huge variety of restaurants to pick from. We decide on Albee’s Kitchen for serveral reasons. 1. We’ve not eaten here before. 2. The smell from the kitchen is just amazing. 3. We haven’t had much Malaysian food.
The restaurant is rather small and jam packed with tables and people. Walking into Albee’s Kitchen almost feels as if you’re walking into a Hawker Centre full of food stalls and tables and chairs, obviously minus the food stalls.
I love how the walls are covered in pictures of the menu items. It sure helps newbies like me choose what to order.
Nasi Goreng (Malay Style Fried rice) $10.50
With Nasi Goreng being our absolute favourite dish at Temasek, seeing it on the item here made us very excited. A Malaysian fried rice is cooked with shrimp paste, chilli, onion, egg, seafood and chicken. Sadly it did not remind us of anything similar to the one at Temasek. This dish was quite strong with the shrimp taste flavour and was rather dry.
Traditional Rendang Beef $16.80
The Boy orders been rendang as his meat dish. Chunky pieces of beef are slowly cooked in coconut and asian aromoatics which is what makes it so tender. It didn’t give us the same feeling as the one we had at Chinta Ria Mood For Love but was still enjoyable. The dish only nuke warm when it was served so by the time we got to the end of it, it was cold.
Char Kuey Teow $10.50
Everyone seems to love a good CKT. There seems to be a lot debate as to where the best CKT is served in Sydney. I don’t know any better and think this is a pile of good, comforting food. Flat rice noodles stir fried with shrimp, clam meat, chinese sausage, eggs, bean sprouts and chives in a mix of soya sauce.
The serving sizes here at Albee’s Kitchen are very generous, quite large I think. And it sure resembles the food I would totally order at a Hawker Centre (apart from their ridiculously dirty cheap prices, no one can beat that). The Boy and I really struggled trying to finish off our food. Overall we had a decent feed at a good price. I don’t think we ordered the right dishes but that won’t stop us from giving it another go. Feel free to recommend any dishes that we should order for next time =)
Albee’s Kitchen
282 Beamish St
Campsie NSW 2194
Tel: +61 9718 8302
Ohh you haven’t had much Malaysian food? :) I’m surprised because there are quite a few popular Malaysian restaurants in Sydney namely Mamak hehe i’m addcited to Malaysian food, as a matter of fact, I think I like it even more than Chinese food which my parents disapprove of but meh :P
Ohhh a shame that you didn’t you didn’t order the correct dishes, have you had Nasi Lemak before with curry chicken, coconut rice and peanuts on the side? One of my favourite hehe
I know right? Shocking. I have had mamak but ages ago. It’s a bit far for me to travel so that’s probably why I only am exposed to Malaysian food whilst at work :p it tends to be quick and easy so it’s a good lunch. Nasi lemak? Never had it lol think I should try!!
I haven’t ever really had Malaysian cuisine prior to this year either – it seems to be becoming much more popular lately I think and my BF is *always* eating Malaysian at his job in the city so I always hear about his Nasi Lemak adventures hehe. Need to get into it more :D
I need to have some of my own nasi lemak adventures haha
Love Albee’s – I went with a big group last time (and were seated out the back, past the kitchen) and we ordered and ate up a storm! I still remember the pandan chicken… *drool*
I knew I should have ordered the pandan chicken. All good, guess I have to go back!! :)
Oh it’s changed a bit! I don’t remember seeing those pictures on the walls but that’s very helpful :)
Pictures do help but sometimes pictures can also be deceiving haha
i haven’t been to too many Malaysian restaurants either but that’s not to say I don’t like Malaysian food. I love it. I really like Rendang curry. I’ve never found those photos to be very reliable or helpful in helping me choose what to order. I prefer an accurate description in the menu xx
Dear Tina,
They have certainly up the ante on their previous shabby decorations and the wall pics are quite helpful.
Personally, the best CKT in Sydney is at Chinta Ria Temple of Love & Petaling street.
http://pinterest.com/pin/305611524683132763/
http://pinterest.com/pin/305611524683303331/
The best CKT in Australia is at Cambridge Food Court in Wembley, Perth.
http://pinterest.com/pin/305611524683133145/
Happy eating! :)
Thanks for the recommendations! And thanks for the link to your photos. It really helps :) sadly since I’m
Not going to Perth anytime soon the ones in Sydney will have to do :) cheers’
Looks like some delicious Char Kuay Teow, I haven’t had that for so long ever since getting hooked onto Laksa (had at least 10 in the last month alone) :D
Laksa is just SO good. Where do you go to get your fix?? :)
I work in North Sydney so my usual fix is underneath 181 Miller at To’s Malaysian. They’ve been at it for 25+ years!
I think that’s the one my friends go to. If I’m ever in north syd I’ll have to check it out!
Oh this is one of my favourite restaurant, they recently extended and renovated the back too. The beef rendang looks really hearty and delicious! I am like you struggle to finished and had to take away the left over =p
Hmm I think another revisit is in order and perhaps with more people :)
nice choices! i live in the area so i frequnt this place a lot! live the CKT here, the rice drops is really nice!
Think I may need to do another visit :)