We were very excited to try this Malaysian restaurant, but came away with subpar and inconsistent experiences. The spacious and casual interior was conducive for small and large group gatherings. For some reason, we were the only diners in a sizable restaurant during these visits. Given the subdued atmosphere, it was difficult to get excited for an excitable cuisine when the food was this poorly put together.
The Roti Canai ($3.95) was the highlight of the meal. The Roti was warm, soft, crisp, fluffy, flaky, and thick enough to soak up the bowl of spicy chicken curry. The side of curry was complex, nicely balanced between sweet and spicy flavors. Additionally, the embedded chicken and potato were nicely simmered and flavorful. Very tasty, I really enjoyed it.
The Hainan Chicken ($7.50) was made with steamed chicken layered on soy sauce, rice seasoned with chicken fat, and a side dish of sweet red chili. The chicken tasted very bland, heavily dependent on the two sauces for seasoning. There were also more bones than meat in the chicken, making this dish difficult to eat and to complement the aromatic flavors stemming from the rice. It was off putting, and I was underwhelmed.
Equally underwhelming was the Nasi Lemak ($8.50) that came with coconut-flavored rice, chicken, fried anchovies, cucumber slices, and hardboiled egg. For some reason, there were no shrimps in the dish, even though the menu suggested that it would be included. The chicken was spicy but overcooked. The salty-sweet-spicy anchovies were the only item that nicely accompanied the coconut-flavored rice.
Service was very pushy, as we were encouraged to order their Lobster Special on several occasions. We came with so much anticipation, but find the food and service to fall below expectations. Completely underwhelmed and unsatisfied. We will not be coming back.