Getting here was something of a curveball for one night; there were already plans for a booking via Dimmi, but an error came up which meant it would not be the 50% deal and it was somewhere a bit pricey, and a long way out. My dining buddy was not willing to go there because of a combination of those reasons. Therefore, that booking was cancelled and it was back to the drawing board.
Long story short, it led us to Sunnybank. And this was the chosen place. It is good for what it is. The interior is probably aiming for a dining hall or food court feel, which they have managed to create well. Far from being big on atmosphere, this might be a bit rowdy for some people and it is not an ideal date place - just go as friends.
Service is done by the table, and it is at the lower end of the quality in Market Square. They have a great deal of ethic as always, aren't really personable, quick and always on their feet. It is no-nonsense and gets business out of the way quickly.
To say the menu is generous is one way to describe it. While it is nowhere near as extensive as many of its other neighbours tend to be, the range is generous: using the lot of countries from South-East Asia, it has Malaysian, Thai and Indonesian influences. "Chef's Specials", starting off the menu, showcases the best classic dishes from the region, and other meals are divided into "rice" and "noodles" also showing some of the known favourites. In addition, that is not accounting for various special orders off the menu in which advertisements are plastered around the eatery. Then there is the drinks menu which is extensive, having all kinds of frappes, milk teas and pearl drinks among others. It may vary from outlet to outlet. Whatever you have though, the portions are generous.
It is big enough to render me indecisive, which is not all that much of a feat. However, the indecisiveness was short-lived when my dining buddy pointed out a limited time special. They had one dare where the customer could order their chicken laksa at heats hotter than the usual spice range on the menu. The spicier they opted for, the less they (money) would have to pay less. One to four chilies, medium to something insane - a master level. Going crazy as I am, I jumped right for the absolute spiciest they offered. With no questions asked, the order was taken and I prepped myself for one of the hottest things that I have ever had. We'll get to that a bit later.
My dining buddy went for one guaranteed hit: beef rendang. Truth be told, this was not one of the better version I have had. It was mixed a bit too much with desiccated coconut that I tasted it in about half of the meal when nicking a bite. I will concede, the beef was flavoursome, very tender
On top of that, both of us got an entree each. After being impressed with it previously, my dining buddy was keen on some deep fried tofu. So he got an order of it, and it was merely okay. Portion size was generous, and definitely was in favour for number to dollars ratio. The tofu was soft and well cooked, but a bit on the bland side. Something needed to be done with the tofu beforehand, such as a marinade perhaps.
The entree that I chose was Penang Lobak, essentially minced pork in a deep fried roll, with a special sauce on the side. This was better by a bit of a margin. The amount of pork inside the rolls was generous and thick, plus the pastry had gone really hard and buttery. It was almost difficult to pick up with the chopsticks. Inside it, the meat was marinaded well with a special sauce.
So, with the spice challenge. Members of the family - on both sides - might have been in England and the Gold Coast, but with technology these days the news of my insanity was well known quickly. Taking on that dare, there were the taunts about....... let's get to the food shall we?
This is not as bad as it would be made out to be. It required a bit of strategy, putting the noodles, meat and everything into another bowl and drinking the broth like miso soup. It was the right mix of spicy, fiery and creamy with the coconut milk base. Getting that out of the way, it was then the mixture inside - there was a huge lot of noodles, plenty of chicken breast, eggplant and sprouts. Real chili was mixed throughout, and it makes such as difference. I might have needed time out at one point, but I was not allowing this beast to defeat me.
Knowing this, and I would have gotten it anyways, that meant having to get the right drink for an accompaniment. That was one other than a Hong Kong style coffee milk tea - iced. This meal was one that needed a refill of it. Not that I am complaining, since I have really come to enjoy the Hong Kong take on iced coffee - it is simple in design, and gets that lovely sweetness from just the condensed milk. Again, generous portion and it was creamy and cold. A wonderful drink, in other words.
So, with the spice challenge I am ready to keep on leveling up to hotter spices. That is something that will be consistent. It almost winded me, but I have had worse and will face spicier in the following months. I am looking forward to it. Any suggestions will be welcomed - bring it on!
But with Malaya Corner as its own place? It is not too bad, good for what it is. For a substantially sized meal, it is worthy for an affordable and quick meal. However, with all that competition right on its doorstep this falls behind a long way in comparison, not quite getting that authentic edge needed to thrive in Market Square - at least in my eyes.
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