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Restoran Malaysia
Category: Restaurants Malaysian Malaysian [Edit]
815 Major Mackenzie Dr ERichmond Hill, ON L4C 9X2
(905) 508-1432
- Hours:
Tue 11:30 am - 10 pm
Wed-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
71 reviews for Restoran Malaysia
Review Highlights
"Anyhow, the pad thai was absolutely amazing."
(in 17 reviews)
"5) Roti: very thin, but nice and chewy, sooo delicious."
(in 32 reviews)
"Also, kids had Mango Lychee freezies that they loved."
(in 6 reviews)
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71 reviews in English
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Review from Jeanan A.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2012
So far the best thai food I've had in Toronto! The service was amazing (thank you Joyce for seating us so quickly), the time it took to get our food was quick AND the food tasted amazing. We had the pad thai which was A LOT but oh so good! We also had the red curry and sweet and sour pineapple shrimp...which was amazing as well but did not have a lot of sauce to it. Not to mention, our bill was surprisingly low for all that we had. So I left the place with a full belly, leftover pad thai, and big smile on my face :-)
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Review from Jiao S.
10/15/2011 7 photos
Another one between 3 star and 4 star ......Might as well just round it lol
I've been to this place many times. It was recommended by a famous food blogger from Malaysia, and at the same time I was reading about the hockien mee in a book and can't wait to try it.
First time I was there i ordered hockien mee right away. It looks/taste exactly like the book described. Very dark soy sauce, but after that. for some reason they changed the soy sauce to a much lighter one. It taste slighter different too. Although I still like it, but I am disappointed.
Malay fried chicken was one of my fave too. Marinated with curry, it was very juicy inside. (Although later i found a better one in gourmet garden in Scarborough, i still like it very much).
I had a chance to try 3 major kind of curry on the menu, but I am not a big big fan of curry dish, so that my memory of those dished didn't last.
I had one bite of Singapore laksa, it was not bad but not amazing, but I didn't try the soup so that it is not fair to judge.
Pad Thai was another very pleasant surprise, it has a very nice combination of sweet and sour taste.. hard to describe, have to try it yourself.
I still think of this place from time to time, and right now every time I go, I still order my hockie mee, only wish when it was served that strong soy sauce color can show up again.
Recommend:
hockie mee if you are crazy about soy sauce and sea food taste like me. although a little bit to the salty side.
Malay fried chicken. one more pack to go too lol
Lychee Freezy, very fruity taste. -
Review from Hussain S.
North York, ON
2/11/2012
I had no idea what Malaysia's food was, now I know, i am feel lucky for finding this place. Excellent food and very affordable lunch menu. Go there you will love it.
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Review from Belinda I.
North York, ON
Very authentic malaysian food. One Iof the best Pad Thai in Richmond hill.
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Review from idonttrust a.
Updated - 9/21/2011
Ok pricy but i like the food, it's a bit of Indian/pakistani flavor to the food. meaning it's curry type... I personally love it, but you have to know what you are ordering, if you don't make sure you ask the waiter and they explain to you, cuz some of the dishes sound nice, but are unflavored and waste of money
wait time is a disappointment, and too crowded and noisyListed in: Halal Places to Dine
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/3/2011
some like it some don't. but I loved it in our party, there was a bit of a wait when we walked in,… Read more »
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Review from Michael L.
Richmond Hill, ON
7/18/2011
I haven't been to this place since 2010, if anything drastic has changed about it I'm probalby behind on that.
Lunch menu here is well priced, I find that it is probably the most popular section of their menu which is a shame because it also has the most mainstream foods available.
Dinner Menu: I've had their nasi lemak and their other Malay foods and I found them to be good for canadian standards (I have an indonesian background). Their prices are quite high for dinner but considering their cuisine it is nothing out of the ordinary (unfortunately).
Overall, I find that this place is a good stop for those who want to tryout malay food. However if you are looking to expand your malaysian food repertoire you'll have to suck it up and either suffer with canadian style malay food or wait till the malay food niche hits the level of popularity as thai and viet cuisine. -
Review from Irfan R.
11/5/2011
Halal meat is served here. Halal certificate is on display. Very good food with excellent customer service in a classy atmosphere. We tried the Beef Randang (very good), Yellow Curry with Chicken (good but i like the Thai version better), Shrimp Curry with Pineapple (very good), the Tom Kah Gai Soup (lemon grass soup with chicken - which was excellent) and the Roti (very good). Also had the Teh Tarik Hot Tea (tea with condensed milk). Very fast and friendly service and very attentive waiters. Nicely decorated interior. Prices are a little on the high side, but this is the type of restaurant you go to on special occasions, so it is worth it. I highly recommend it.
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Review from Antonia W.
Toronto, ON
7/28/2011
I totally understand the pull that everybody has to Restoran Malaysia considering our lack of mainstream Malay/Indo restaurant scene. I'm also putting a disclaimer that I might be biased because I'm Indonesian and get a chance to eat this type of food regularly :) On with the review!
I went here twice for dinner in the past few months, first as a large group of 30 ppl (poor waitresses did a good job taking care of us all) and then as a group of 4 people, both times sharing the entire meal. I hadn't gone there in a looong time till this year. I still remember this place when it was a hole in the wall, before they expanded the restaurant and totally reno'd the place!
We tried a whole range of items: laksa, roti, fried chicken, nasi goreng, bami goreng, lamb curry, fish, rendang... I liked the laksa, which was a huge bowl, pretty rich from the coconut milk and flavourful. I also really loved the fish.. which I can only guess was the hot and spicy sambal version because it was HOT and I loved that. The fish had good texture and the sauce.. I would drink it. Or if I had rice, I'd completely soak it in sauce and eat that. The roti is great for soaking up sauce, but $2 for one piece of roti is a bit much.
In the end, we each ended up paying close to $30, no alcohol involved. I think several of their dishes are overpriced. I would only come here again if my friend absolutely HAD to come here, otherwise, I could think of other places I could go to for half the price and enjoy just as much. -
Review from Darren S.
Markham, ON
5/20/2011
Does this place serve authentic Malay/Singaporean food? Yes, as close as you can get in Toronto and area. Does it mean that it's tasty? Uh...not really.
Doesn't really make sense, right? Hear me out. I think Restoran Malaysia takes great pains to provide actual menu items that would be served in Malaysia/Singapore. Nasi lemak? Check. Nasi goreng? (I canNOT understand why they spell it as GORING) Check. Even the desserts are ones that I used to enjoy growing up.
So they get lots of points for authenticity, and not just slapping something Southeast Asian-looking and calling it that.
However, I find the food to be a little lacking in taste. While I have undisguised loathing for its cousin, Villa Malaysia, Restoran Malaysia's food isn't bland, but it feels way too toned down. The spices don't "kick" as much as it's supposed to, the aroma isn't as fragrant as I'm used to, and the overall taste is just barely tasty enough.
I had Hainanese Chicken Rice, and the portion was good and the chicken was moist, but the taste lacks the kick of Phoenix Restaurant (and even the one at Phoenix, if you read my review, is not as good as the "real" thing)
Nice ambience? Yes. Good service? Mostly yes. And authentic food options? Absolutely. But good taste? Meh. It's not awful, but it's not very good. I'd prefer tasty food over efforts on authenticity.
As such, I officially crown Restoran Malaysia as "Most Unbelievably Overrated Southeast Asian Restaurant in Toronto Area".
It ain't that bad. But that's exactly the problem. It's just.....alright. -
Review from Fajinder S.
Woodbridge, ON
12/19/2011
Excellent food. Really enjoyed the currie roti nice depth of flavor. Overall I highly recommend this restaurant.
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Review from Gracee B.
Markham, ON
6/29/2011
Coming across a Malaysian restaurant is a pretty hard find, let alone one that is actually good.
Since being first introduced to Malaysian cuisine from Edison, New Jersey's Penang in 2002, I've been on this fruitless search for really amazing Malaysian cuisine that really knocks my socks off and ALAS, my search has finally ended.
Every time I eat there, I always leave feeling absolutely content and satisfied with my meal.
There is an array of dishes there that you obviously can't get to all at once, so every visit back, you can always change up the usual order and try something different. I'm the kind of girl though that likes to stick to the usual favorites. What can I say, I know what I like and I stick with it. My husband on the other hand is of the more daring sort, so he'll order something we've never tried before.
The Roti Canal, the fried chicken, garlic okra, and Pad Thai are always part of our standard order. I just can't go to Restoran Malaysia and not have any of these make it to our table.
This "Restoran" is definitely an absolute favorite of mine. -
Review from Imran N.
3/27/2011
A lot of people say there are no good places to eat in Richmond Hill. They're half right because it's one or the other in richmond hill - good food or good service. Finding both is rare.
Restoran Malayasia's food is amazing. Service is a hit or miss. Accept this and then you will have a good time.
It openend about 5 years ago, and then closed a year later to expand because of it's popularity. It opened up again about 3 times the size with a much more modern upscale look. Not bad because it used to be kinda divey.
The food is really good. Malaysian food is kinda like thai meets chinese meets indian. Richer curries, spicier food, rose syrups and condensed milk, and roti's. Definately an amazing experience.
The place tends to attract a large muslim crowd because the food is also halal and decently priced. This is a good sign that a restaurant is providing good value.
Food wise, nasi goreng is a must (fried rice with egg), the curries are amazing but watch the spice level, chili chicken is a favourite, but the only thing i would not order again is the pad thai. It just looks and tastes funny (red in colour) from what i'm used to. Also, order a thai iced tea - they're caloric and glorious.
You will have to wait for a table - this place is that busy. Also i think they close at 10 -
Review from Carol C.
5/2/2011
Best Malaysian food in Toronto! Only have had slightly better Malaysian food in HK. Their curry dishes are awesome. I would also recommend the indonesian fried rice- very tasty!
I love the decor of this place- very modern and chic. -
Review from Jeet A.
Toronto, ON
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
OMG great food! Malaysian cuisine should be the next Thai cuisine - whatever that means.
Roti Canai and curry chicken = damn. i've been searching for this dish ever since i've moved here from nyc and man o man have i found it.
Staff is really friendly!
Atmosphere is very nice.
note: Halal so that's good for people who only eat halal stuff. -
Review from Monica K.
North York, ON
3/21/2011
I'm a fan, I'm definitely a fan!
I was a little skeptical at first when I saw the sign... it just seemed like another ghetto restaurant, but as soon as I stepped inside, I was looking forward to something good.The décor is nice, nothing fancy or anything but definitely not ghetto, nor plain. The service was great, although the quality of the service will differ with every waitress. We were lucky enough to be served by one that was very knowledgeable and someone whom we could actually communicate with.
Now for the most important part of this particular review, THE FOOD. Most of us have had Thai and Indian before and things like green and yellow curry were nothing new to us. For the majority of our group however, this was generally an unfamiliar territory, so they were a little hesitant at the beginning. For a group of 6 we shared 6 dishes, and 6 rotis. Every single one of us left the restaurant full and very happy with the experience. We'll be coming back here for sure.
1) Green curry: The spiciness really sneaks up on you, but it's dang good! Word of advice: avoid if you can't handle spicy, but if you LIKE spicy, then Green curry is generally the spiciest.
2) Fried Rice (I honestly forget which one we got but it was tasty) Word of advice: get a rice dish if you're going to have green curry, it works much better than water when it comes to spice relief.
3) Fried fish (I can't remember which one we got but I'll update when I find out), it was swimming in delicious curry and loads of veggies. Definitely a crowd favorite that afternoon.
4) Red curry with beef : it was kind of like a stew, the meat was really tender and the curry wasn't that spicy, mmmm~
5) Roti: very thin, but nice and chewy, sooo delicious!!
6) Last but not least, Ayam Goring Kampung (Crisp fried chicken with ground turmeric, topped with shrimp chips ) was my favorite dish. I'm a major fan of fried chicken and this was extra crispy with just enough saltiness. The shrimp chips were yummy too, dip both in one of the curry sauces and you will just sit there flabbergasted :)
When the bill came around we were all expecting to have to dish out at least $20 each including tax and tip (we're poor students) but we were pleased with paying $15/per person for such a great meal. That extra $5 can pay for a lot of photocopies/morning joes at school!! Lastly, apparently this place is usually super busy, but we were seated immediately on Sunday at around 4:30-5PM. By the time we were leaving, the place was crowded so go early if you don't want to wait! -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
Restoran Malaysia is my go-to place for reliable and always delicious Southeast Asian food. Their version of Pad Thai is my absolute favourite! I just can't get enough of it! In addition, their curry roti and Singaporean Chicken rice are consistently excellent. This place doesn't take reservations, so go early to avoid a wait!
lListed in: Gems in suburb
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Review from Rudy W.
2/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
First impression.
I ordered roti canai, that don't turn up right. the bread was supposed to be thin, flaky and yummy. and the dipping (Curry) sauce supposed to be thicker and have taste.
this one is just bad. so I'm leery for the rest of my food.
Order rendang, they put too much water in the rendang. it supposed to be dry and sweet and spicy with enough spices to spice it up. but no, it was bland, no taste.
then Chili crab. well, first they are supposed to crack the crab, so you can get the spices absorbed by the crab. and then the sauce.
apparently, the way they make it. they just boiled the crab as a whole, and then cut it into pieces and then throw in the sauce on top of it. (bah...)
if the sauce have flavor, then yes, it might taste ok. but still, they are just plain bad. (don't get me wrong, the crab was fresh, so it spoiled everything, because the sauce was bad).
ordered desert (black sticky rice - it was quite nice) and mango pudding. it wasn't a pudding. it was a mango with sticky rice (thai).
how they can fix these.
they need to reduce the amount of water the put into their cooking, then it will turn out right. (they still need to work on roti canai)
they have the right spices, but too much water, so the whole food has no taste. -
Review from Eileen S.
12/28/2010 2 photos
Their version of chow keuh teow is one of my favorites. Roti canai is also a must order for me when dining at Malaysian restaurant and this version is as tasty as any I have had.
This place is popular so be prepared to wait. Nice decor and friendly service. Prices are a little higher than it should be, but I guess they can get away with it ... -
Review from Karen G.
I really enjoyed the Peranakan curry fish and the chilli chicken. The Indonesian friend rice (with chicken and shrimp) was too bland for my taste and just ok. The Fried Banana with coconut ice-cream was also good but not outstanding. Our server was attentive and friendly. I would go back but will read past reviews beforehand to get a better idea of what to order next time.
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Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
11/14/2010 5 photos
Yay! I got to wait with everyone else in the Club scene that was the Lobby waiting space near the seats and bar. I didn't know any of the others waiting but it felt like I was at a Yelp Elite event and wanted to walk through and start mingling especially those Ladies at the bar.
Teh Tarik($4.00) was the first item I ordered while I was sitting down and started to look at the Menu. FROTHY smooth creamy lightly sweetened Milk Tea. Four dollars is about 3x more costly than HK style Milk Tea but this was my treat and without being price conscious, it's awesome! Every Starbucks or Tim Hortons should have this. (+0.5 *Star*)
Roti(2) & Curry Sauce($6.00) had decent Curry Sauce flavours but the spiciness was quick tame. We found the Roti had a sweetness to it?!? It came out unexpectedly rapid as well so maybe the Roti was prepped ahead.
Nasi Lemak Melaka($12.00) looked interesting but the Rendang Beef and Sambal Ikan Bilis lacked flavour specifically Spice once again. The flavour from the whole composition came from the Peanuts and Vegetable Achar.
Singapore Laksa Meehoon($10.00) had Fish Cake Slice, Tofu, Shredded Chicken but once again it lacked Spice from their description of Spicy Laksa Broth(Shrimp Paste). By now we figure we should call all Curries here Mellow Yellow.
Malay Kari Beef($11.00) had an intermediate spiciness only because it's inbetween the Laksa(Least) and the Curry Sauce(Most) above. Beef was tender but when they say Potatoes, what they really meant was singular Potato.
Black Rice Pudding($5.00) was so anti-climatic coming out in a simple bowl without any exotic presentation. Chinese Dessert places would do the same style and it tasted good to end the meal however I just wish they presented it more suitable to the class of this place.
Service was quite nice and the space/atmosphere is nothing you would expect from just driving pass this place as it is quite Westernized thought-out designed which suits the multiple Ethnics and Canadians that enjoy this place.
As a Food first, Decor second person, I now understand why Gourmet Garden has such a reputable place for Malaysian Cuisine. I'll still come here if Friends ask. Teh Tarik(Pulled Tea) will bring me back.Listed in: 2.5 **Stars**, T, Sing Ma Thai, Fire'd - Asian, Pull My Noodles - Southeast…
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Review from Jenny T.
10/18/2010
I honestly don't know what Malaysian people eat, but if it's anything like what they serve at this restaurant then it's fantastic! It's like a mix of Indian and Thai food, lots of curries, pad thai-like dishes, fried rice and roti. Very exotic!
We ordered the pappadum, pineapple fried rice (served in a quarter pineapple) and one of the curry seafood dishes. The portions were large and the flavour was complex and very delicious. For all the food that we ate, the price was very reasonable and the service was excellent.
The feel of this place was very similar to the nice Congee places like Congee Queen, Congee Wong, etc. The place was large and had long tables for group dinners. I just wished they had something like this in Toronto. -
Review from Herman S.
Markham, ON
5/9/2011
visit 15+ (lunch & dinner)
From a little 1 unit hole in the wall to buying out the unit beside them, tearing it down and BAM you have a great and still busy all the time restaurant. There's so many nice things to say about this place, but I'll will keep it simple. Coz I know you guys want to get out there and dig in =P
First thing is please forgive the limited parking in their lot. It's well worth the wait. The customer is service is decent enough, if you get the right server. A few servers in there have the lack of knowledge of the food. I think it's because they don't speak english well.
They offer a wide variety of food on the menu, from curry, roti, fried rice, noodles and soups. Not a fan of "too" spicy, they offer non spicy items aswell.
Personal recommendations:
1. Beef Curry Roti
2. Chicken Curry Roti
3. Ayam Goring Kampung (fried piece of chicken with spice, topped with shrimp chips)
4. Pineapple Fried Rice
5. Tom Yam Goong (clogged sinus? this soup will cure you)
Last but not least #6, order extra helpings of Nan to sop up the left over curry. Mmmm
Almost forgot. Your'e going to need something refreshing to accompany all those spicy. Have a Mango Milkshake! -
Review from slaman S.
Toronto, ON
10/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Best roti canai out there!
Normally I don't venture north of Bloor but given recent work circumstances, I find myself in Richmond Hill often... and today I had a craving for roti canai. Normally, I would check out my favorite Malaysian dive in a plaza on Steeles, but was across the street from Restoran and thought I'd give it a try.
I didn't come for the atmosphere, but the dark furniture and modern bathroom makes this more fancy than expected... as were the prices - average dish will cost between $11 to $18. Service was quick... no complaints.
On to the food... the best roti canai I have had. Absolutely delicious curry and the roti was the perfect texture... a MUST have while here. I also ordered the chili chicken as well, which was bad... very bad. Four stars because of the horrid chili chicken, but otherwise five stars! -
Review from Jonathan S.
York, ON
11/18/2010
I wanted to like Restauran Malaysia. I really did.
On paper, the ingredients were all there: fiery, inexpensive ethnic cuisine; recommendations from my foodie friends and one of the cutest girls at the office; My brother, arguably the second-most adventurous palate in the family, is apparently a fixture at lunch. He swears by the place. On the strength of my visit, I'd just swear at it.
Maybe it was our mistake. We arrived on a rainy Saturday evening. We'd been warned that line-ups form early, so we called ahead to ask how long the wait would be and perhaps reserve a seat. We were told that they didn't take reservations, but that the wait was only about 10 minutes.
Famous last words.
We pulled up to the restaurant and ran to the door, and were almost bounced out by a solid wall of would-be patrons. After fighting our way to the maitre d' stand, a single harried hostess waved us in the direction of the bar. Like most of the crowd, we politely declined and asked how long it would be until we were seated. 10 minutes doubled to 20.
What followed was an onslaught of customers jamming the entrance. Tables turned over but the wait staff could barely keep up. Our hostess ran back and forth through cavernous room, occasionally shepherding a bewildered group to its table. The lack of communication between front and back of house made the wait needlessly long and unpleasant. 20 minutes turned to 30, 40, 50, 60, 70.
From it's strip-mall perch, the only options nearby were chain pizza and a Boston Market that may or may not have been open. We were stuck. And low on blood sugar. And increasingly angry.
Finally, our number came up, Not even my attempts at "give them the wrong name humour" could salvage our moods. Dick Hertz would not save this day. We were dampened by rain, sweaty from the wait, and defeated by our stint as sardines in the foyer.
I'll plead ignorance as to the authenticity of the food. The menu promised authentic Malaysian cooking, and may well have delivered, alongside the usual pan-Asian suspects. Then again, sharing a land or sea border with Thailand, Viet Nam, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines may lend itself to some culinary cross-over. Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, which might explain the lack of pork and booze for sale, and the wide range of coffee, tea and juice options.
Appetizers took their time to arrive, but were worth the wait. Fresh roti with curry sauce was pleasantly creamy and flavourful, and performed double duty with some of the more DIY dishes. A bowl of shrimp chips offered savory Styrofoam crunch, although accompanying peanut sauce verged on cloying sweetness. Nonya fried chicken (marinated ahead of time in shrimp paste) was pure crispy fried umami, and worth a return visit on its own.
Mains ranged from good to bad, None challenged the chicken's supremacy. Sambal shrimp were what you'd expect; plump shrimp that popped against your closing jaw; swimming in chilli and tomatoes. The tomatoes were actually the better part of the dish. Yellow curry shrimp were slightly overdone, but saved by a variety of crisp vegetables, and more of that complex low-spiced sweetness in their sauce. Basil chicken amped the heat up just a bit, and proved the most popular with the least adventurous in our group. Penang Fried Kuay Teow was the best of the lot; broad rice noodles in a mildly sweet-and-spicy sauce, buttressed by chicken and more seafood. Our table cleared the huge portion in minutes.
Beef Rendang is supposedly Malaysia's national dish; a testament to the complex flavors and heady aromas that come with careful slow-cooking of even the most inexpensive ingredients. Our bowl of brisket was dry; the promised sauce a loamy mixture that spoke mostly of coarsely ground peanut and coconut. It rested, mostly untouched on peoples' plates. White rice was ordered to soak up the array of sauces, but somehow never made its way to our table. It did land on our bill, until we pointed out the error.
Desserts speak best for themselves: "Let the sago pearls dance on your taste buds and savour the rich coconut cream and palm sugar syrup it is served in". We skipped the dancing pearls, although the tea was good in its hot wet astringency.
Service was less welcoming than it was mutually hostile. Wait staff bounced from table to table, visibly irked when pulled out of their course-by-course routine. -
Review from jil s.
North York, ON
11/9/2010
Restoran Malaysia serves Chinese, Malaysian and Indian food
or a mix of Chinese, Malaysian and Indian food.
This "Asian Fusion" is a reflection of the population of Malaysia = Malay, Chinese, Indian, etc.
There are also some Thai dishes on the menu. Since there are people of Chinese ancestry living in Thailand, some Thai dishes resemble Chinese food or are of Chinese origin.
Malaysia = Malay, Chinese and Indian dominates the main cultural food experiences, each with its distinct styles and favourites. Mixed cultures of the Peranakan (Nonya and Babas) and Mamaks (Indian Muslim Community) also give the country an extraordinary culinary fixture.
Restoran Malaysian is a good restaurant serving good quality food. The prices are kind of high but the portions are big or bigger than average and the quality of the ingredients in the dishes are very good. There is attention to detail in the dishes.
However, the taste of the food could be better (great). The food tastes good or very good. It doesn't taste great (next level or higher level). Example- the satays taste good or very good. But they could taste better or greater. The satays need a touch more flavor or grilling and they would taste even better (excellent).
The food at Coconut Island (on Kennedy, half a block south of Highway 7) has more flavour compared to Restoran Malaysian. However, the quality of the food ingredients is probably better at Restoran Malaysian (example- more shrimps in the fried rice or noodle dishes at Restoran Malaysian). -
Review from Su B.
9/19/2010
It was totally worth the trek on a cold rainy night.
Being Saturday, the wait time was 30 mins so we decided to do a take-out. We got the Roti Canai with Mutton curry, nasi goreng and the Sambal Tumis Kampung - Ayam. Like someone already mentioned, the Nasi Goreng portion was massive - we have leftovers for both of us for lunch :) The dishes were delicious and I am definitely a fan but not sure I want to wait to get a table. Take out works for me. -
Review from F D.
Richmond Hill, ON
Updated - 9/10/2011
Get: mango lychee freezee, curry beef + roti, pineapple fried rice, mee goring...
1 Previous Review:
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2/5/2011
go for roti+curry beef, satay, pineapple fried rice, mee goreng
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Review from Jay W.
Markham, ON
11/15/2010
This place is a real gem in the 905. I've been coming here since before they renovated and doubled in size and the quality of their food hasn't missed a beat.
There aren't many other Malaysian restaurants in Toronto to compare this to, but I recently went to a Malaysian Kitchen event in NYC that showcased all of the various Malaysian restaurants in NYC and Restoran Malaysia's food was way better!
If you didn't know, the owners are really Malaysian and they import a lot of their ingredients from Malaysia, including their tasty shrimp chips! To experience real Malaysian cuisine, stick with dishes like their rendang beef and tumeric chicken, which are my personal faves.
They have some other Thai influenced dishes on their menu that are decent too, but it's the Malaysian dishes that taste the best. -
Review from wendy c.
6/26/2010
People who enjoy Malaysian food know it is more than one distinction of food due to multi-ethnic population of the country. I am glad TO has this one that specializes in Nyonya dishes and a little bit of everything else from around Malaysia. I am still on search for a good Malay restaurant and an authentic Malaysian Indian place.
+ Satay appetizer is ok, meat has good texture and seasoning, I didn't like the sauce (too sweet)
+ Nyonya Fried Chicken, marinated with belachan (yum, the famous shrimp sauce/paste) and fried to crispy perfection
+ Ikan Penang Gulai Nyonya, fish fillet in a mild curry sauce with veggies. This is supposed to be a mild curry, but their version is just too mild.
+ Shrimp in Sambal Tumis Kampung sauce, much stronger flavour, the shrimp paste and the spices and chili are well balanced.
+ Roti Pisang for dessert - Roti stuffed with banana and drizzled with sweet condensed milk. What's not to like.
Will be back to try other dishes. -
Review from Mochi M.
3/10/2011
One of the best Malaysian restaurants left in Toronto.
I know it seems like a hit and miss for others, but the Roti Canai for me was perfect. I like it a bit chewy, less flaky and I found it very yummy. The curry was a bit too thin, but it had the taste of a curry, just not enough spice.
I like the chicken rice, the Nonya deep fried chicken with the keropok (MMM!) and my family always takes the ice kachang dessert (which I don't like).
I also suggest trying the Ais rose flavoured drink because I'm a fiend for the rose syrup.
The service is fast, they are family friendly, and the food is hot and fast. No waiting in between courses like at other places!
The prices are also reasonable, although a bit on the high side, although it is worth it to eat such good food. -
Review from Ush P.
8/31/2011
Picked up a takeaway. Excellent food. By far one of the best Malaysian restaurants I have ordered from!
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Review from Ada T.
Toronto, ON
8/16/2011
Really like this restaurant, just wish it wasn't so far! Been here a couple times already and the food is consistently good. Their roti and fried fish cakes are delicious. The food cannot compare to malaysia but it's the best we can get in the city. The staff is friendly. The wait can be quite long tho!
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Review from Erwin M.
4/5/2010
Having spent a large chunk of my life in Singapore I know a great deal about singaporean & malaysian food. I have to admit that this place is pretty good in terms of authenticity and quality of food. The biggest thing that bums me out about this place is the prices. Malaysian coffee in hawkers is probably 50 cents maybe a buck or two for upscale places tops. Here its $6 + tax+ tip, its the biggest markup I've ever witnessed. It makes me think how much exactly does it cost to ship coffee for it to cost so much.
Don't get me wrong, this place is great. But just knowing that you can get the same dish (even better) at 1/8th the cost is hard to get over.
I still will rate this place highly because i know I'm in Canada which in itself is a reason to jackup the price.
Note: pad thai is great here -
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
8/1/2009 1 photo
There is so much truth to that age old adage; "Never judge a book by its cover." Restoran Malaysia, as you can see by so many of the previous reviewers, is that sort of book cover. It is innocuous and in a million years you'd never guess what was behind those doors. I especially liked the Budda belly just inside the front door. He just whispers to me....come rub me. :) How can a girl resist? When we first arrived we sat at the bar and watched them make this unbelievable tea that is "stretched". It is a show on its own. The guy behind the bar poured a couple of glasses for us and said "here on the house!".
After reading the rave reviews here on Yelp we decided to take our out of town friends who were in town visiting, over to Restoran Malaysia. They absolutely loved it and so did we. I would arm wrestle Hulk Hogan for a plate full of those beef satays! We ordered a myriad of things, everyone picked dishes that appealed and then it was just like a food free for all. We started with the mixed appetizer platter (satays, both beef & chicken, fish cakes, spring rolls and some other crunchy thing). I have to say I could just eat the peanut sauce as a food group itself. We ordered some roti with curry sauce and some mango salad. That is what we started with.
Mains included Red Curry Chicken, Rendang Beef (love the lemongrass!), Garlic Green Beans, Mamak Mee Goring (thick noodles....oh Jay, we loved this!), Pineapple Fried Rice and some Pappadums. It was all delicious and plentiful. Leftovers were packed up in some super duper takeout containers and as I write this review my daughter is busy chowing down on the leftovers.
So what's the downside of Restoran Malaysia. No liquor license would be the very first thing that comes to mind. They do, however, have the biggest non alcoholic drink menu I've ever seen with some pretty unusual beverage concoctions. I had a Mango & Lychee freezie, let the slurping begin. If you are looking for a quiet spot for dinner then RM is not for you. This place is packed with people and the crowds never let up the whole time we were there. Of course with such a busy spot and the kitchen churning out the food, the temperature in the room was warm. The waitress apologized a couple of times and she kept bringing us more ice water. If she hadn't of said anything I would have just assumed I was having a mid-life hot flash. I didn't mind though because the food was really wonderful.
The total price tag for dinner for four, with taxes, was $115.00, which we all felt was a bargain. We will most definitely head back to RM when we are jones'in for a fix of Malaysian & Thai. To my fellow Yelpers in the heart of the city, I have some advice for you, go north younger Yelpers, go north!Listed in: The Last Supper....communal…
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Review from Jay G.
Toronto, ON
7/10/2009
I drive by here all the time and stupidly forget it exists! Located in a tiny plaza that also houses a small comic book store, convenience store, a dry cleaners, and a Subway you wouldn't think a restaurant here would be the most amazing Malaysian/Thai places you have ever allowed your lips to touch.
The dingy blue sign with crappy yellow font may just turn you off but persevere and walk through those doors that look like you're entering a dry cleaners and you are welcomed with dark hardwood flooring, a long dark wood bar, dark wood dividers, dark wood tables, green walls, and I'm pretty sure more dark wood elsewhere. As dark as it sounds, it is actually laid out very nice, it looks super trendy inside and you would never think that a restaurant like this would be here.
Not only are you surprised by the portal that transports you from the bleak Suburbia or Richmond Hill but you get hit in the face, in a good way, with explosions of delicious Malay and Thai flavors. The best textured rotis I have ever tried. Oh their curries? Only the most flavorful green curry ever! You don't like green curry? They have ever colored curry imaginable and they are all spectacular. Satay is absolute gold! I have yet to try anything in this restaurant without being completely floored by its perfect balance of complexity and home made goodness.
Service is also pretty amazing. Even on nights when the house is rammed full of people the 5 servers manage to stay on top of everything and ensure your food gets to your face as quickly and deliciously as possible. Always checking up at the proper times and noticing small cues. Some high end restaurant owners can learn a thing or two from this suburban gem.
Overall, the best roti.... ever. Better than the ones I've had in Malaysia and what I compare all other roti to. Prices are a little high and portion sizes are decent but the quality of food is downright amazing. When you ask me what restaurant I want to go to my answer will be none. I want to go to a Restauran.Listed in: My Favorite Restaurants
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Review from David P.
6/23/2009 5 photos
A gem of a Nonya Malaysian restaurant tucked away in a nondescript strip mall. Even from the front door, its hard to imagine a rather large dining area appointed in black and gold awaits you inside.
Menu is comprehensive and hits all the mandatory choices. Some items seem a bit incongruous such as pad thai and some of the soups but I assume that they have to cater to some locals who don't know the difference with Thai cuisine.
The dishes I ordered were all well executed and portions were just right. Service friendly and attentive.
My biggest gripe is that they didn't serve alcohol. How can anyone enjoy any spicy SE Asian food without a beer to wash it down. I'm guessing that licensing is pretty strict in these parts. -
Review from Devan R.
Toronto, ON
6/3/2009
I'm not even sure that I need to yelp this, because EVERYONE and their mother across the GTA seems to know of this highly successful Malaysian restaurant.
Like Richmond Court, I feel the quality has declined over the past years, yet it still remains a staple for most including myself. I used to frequent this restaurant weekly a few years ago as it was situated 1km from my house. I was so in love with the food back then that I even had my birthday dinner there. Since that last birthday they have made huge renovations and you would never think it looks as classy and chic as it does from the outside.
The food is fantastic and the portions are sizeable. There are various Malaysian and Thai dishes that have me currently salivating as I ponder. Assorted satay skewers, assorted tom yam soups, spring rolls, rotis and stuffed rotis round out the apps. When it comes to meats and seafoods, there are at least 20 selections for each. All the rice and noodle dishes are mouth watering as well, dishes such as the several different nasi gorengs (fried rice), laksa noodles and various other rice noodle, egg noodles and vermicelli dishes.
One dish you must get is Penang Fried Kuay Teow, as a texture slut this is my favourite dish at this restaurant.
For desert there is no way you can not order the Goring Pisang. No matter how full you are, there is always space for this dish. You will smell these sweet crisp banana fritters hit your nasal passage before they hit the table, served with various ice creams such as vanilla, mango and coconut, a must for desert.
I have one quam with this restaurant however, the menu is too big! I really get turned off by restaurants with such overwhelming menus (ie. Pickle Barrel). Yes I agree you may be trying to please everyone, but it's confusing and it desensitizes various signature dishes as the rest are all spin offs. Nevertheless, this is one place worth checking out if you haven't already. Anything below with a * is an absolute absolute must for me.
Ideal Order (4 ppl)
Assorted Platter (satays, spring rolls etc.)
Roti & Curry Mutton*
Beef Murtabak (meat stuffed roti)
Malay Kari Ayam (chicken curry)
Sambal Tumis Kampung (beef)
Indonesian Nasi Goreng*
Penang Fried Kuay Teow*
Goring Pisang w/ Vanilla Ice Cream*
Teh Tarik (you have to watch buddy pour this drink)
Iced Lychee*
*I would recommend staying away from the common dishes you may be a custom to such as the chili chicken, pad thai, sweet & sour meats etc. It's best to stick to the selections above, or more traditional selections. Explore a bit!
4.3/5 -
Review from Joanne W.
Updated - 5/5/2010 2 photos
I came here yesterday with a friend for dinner to catch up. I usually don't eat Malaysian food, but I was definitely craving it.
My friend and I ordered the pad thai and the nasi lemak melaka. This time, the waitress that we had asked us if we wanted the roti pisang (a great favourite of mine) as the appetizer or the dessert. This was a great surprise, because last time we had the roti pisang as the appetizer, and it was a little strange to have the sweet food before our actual dishes.
Anyhow, the pad thai was absolutely amazing. I think it might be one of the best pad thais I've had in ages. Most places just taste liek ketchup mixed in with noodles. The nasi lemak lemaka is a very simple dish, with coconut rice in the middle served with sambal ikan bilis, rendang beef, boiled egg, sliced cucumber, toasted peanuts and vegetable achar. It was a bit too spicy for my liking, but I absolutely loved it.
The service was really good too. The waitress always came by with a great smile on her face and was very kind!
One of my favourite restaurants in the GTA!Listed in: OMNOMNOM malaysian cuisine
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/11/2010
Amazing place to go for Malaysian food. My two girl friends and I went here for one of my friend's… Read more »
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Review from Helen L.
Toronto, ON
1/5/2010 2 Check-ins Here
A gem in Richmond Hill!
I've been here years ago, had an amazing meal with a group of friends and then totally forgot about this place until last year when my work moved to Richmond Hill. Like the others said, do not judge this place by its exterior! The interior is beautiful, modern and spacious.
I took my bf here recently when we were in the area. Vegetarians, do not write this place off! Even though the menu doesn't suggest many veg options, their staff are more than willing to accommodate veg requests. One of the waitress here told us she is a vegetarian herself and made a few helpful and much needed suggestions as we are not familiar with most of the items on the menu. IIRC, we ordered vegetarian spring rolls, Nonya Mee Siam (modified veg) and Malay Vegetarian Curry. Everything was delicious and the kitchen manage to push out these dishes mere moments after we ordered! The flavours are mild but not bland and definitely satisfying like comfort food and delicious. Serving sizes were large and we left too full for dessert.
FYI - They also have some lunch specials available. -
Review from Candy W.
9/26/2009
This is one of my favourite restaurants in uptown! I've been coming to this restaurant for 3-4 years now and every dish I've tried had been very good.
The standard Pad Thai is made well here, with the noodle not clumping together and complemented nicely with crushed peanuts and lime. The red curry chicken is slightly spicy and filled with bamboo shoots, baby corn and the wonderful aroma of basil leaves. Another one of my favourite is the Laksa noodle (a bit spicy) and Ipoh noodle soup (it's in a clear chicken broth). The teh tarik (pulled milk tea) is made with strong black tea and it's so smooooth!
The service is fast and friendly but expect to wait for tables during busy hours. (weekend dinners) Also to note, the food here is all halal. Happy eating =)
