The food at Okra is consistently delicious. The staff are super friendly and welcoming. We love going in and have been getting takeaway during lockdown. It's just as good as eating in. Can't wait to go back.
The Beef Rendang is delicious and flavourful and the meat is very tender and lean.
The Chicken Green Curry is also flavourful and rich and very good.
Absolutely do recommend.
The food at Okra is simply exquisite - every dish was perfect in its flavour and authenticity. For entree, we had the baked tangy oysters and chicken/beef skewers. Not sure how they managed to pack so much flavour into a skewer! Skewers also came with a homemade satay sauce with crunchy peanut pieces still visible. The baked oysters were marinated in a zesty salsa and unlike anything I’ve ever seen or tasted before! As the saying goes, you eat with your eyes first, and this dish did not disappoint - it came on a flaming (!! Love a good bit of fire-use) clay dish and was simply amazing.
For mains, we enjoyed the massaman beef (which my dinner companion kept calling mamasan lol), the okra in XO sauce and the famous one chef hatted lamb curry. Each dish was succulent and incredibly fulfilling. The massaman beef is a must have dish here - the curry has just the right amount of spice (for someone who cannot have even pepper, this is saying a lot!) and sweetness to it. The beef was like butter in our mouths. The okra was well cooked and flavoured nicely. The lamb came with a knife and fork but honestly could have separated the meat with a spoon, it was falling off the bone! It came with eggplant and more okra - nothing to fault here!!
The only downside came from the service and waitstaff unfortunately - slightly lost, confused and brash at times (they poured water too fast into our glasses and ended up all of the table). The man at front house got a bit testy at the young waiter and raised his voice countless times in an otherwise quiet burbling murmur of dinner conversation.
Melbourne Brunch Society
+5
This restaurant is a lovely place to dine on a weeknight. Having been around for almost 16 years, it is a Hawthorn’s best kept secret. It has an amazing ambience and fast, efficient and friendly service – you could say dining with comfort is essential at this establishment.
We ordered:
- Entree: tangy baked oysters with salsa, sate ayam (Chicken and Lamb skewers)
- Mains: Ayam Bakar (Indonesian style grilled chicken), and the restaurant's seasonal special the Lamb shanks cooked with Malaysian curry sauce with eggplant, okra and lemon grass.
- Dessert: Black rice pudding with egg custard and durian ice-cream
The entrées were great!
Not being a huge fan of oysters, we were surprised at how quickly these were devoured, never have we had oysters baked to such perfection, served on a flaming clay platter (how could we not order this dish), and with a taste so fresh and tangy.
The meals we were served were delicious and of note, was the seasonal special (see above) which was a VERY LARGE serving - the meat was extremely tender and the spices roasted to perfection. The combination of eggplant, okra and lemongrass left our tastebuds tingling.
Every dish was prepared with precision and each hosted a very large and unique array of flavours.
This establishment honours traditional Malaysian cuisine and is a must-visit for anyone with sense of adventure looking for a homely, tasty meal that will definitely leave you wanting more.
Beautiful food. Fabulous service. What more can I say?
Great food and customer service! The waiter was very enthusiastic! Enjoyed the gado gado, massaman beef curry (super tender beef) and pad Thai. Would recommend! :)
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😱Lizzie’s first impression: who would have thought a humble restaurant on the busy street of Camberwell Road can be so good - I was literally taken by surprise.
🍩Lizzie enjoyed: I loved all the dishes that I ordered. First up were the entrees that I got to try - the calamari was fried so well and tasted soft and fresh. The king prawn was absolutely delicious and was definitely on the juicy side for such a large prawn.
I tried the Char Kway Teow and it was definitely the highlight. You can definitely taste the "wok hei" which is a chinese phrase to describe a dish that is fried well and has that hot oil with garlic smell. I would highly recommend this dish.
Next up, we tried the penang curry and matched so well with rice and also a side of roti bread - the perfect combo. The curry was thick and creamy and exactly what I look for.
I also got to try the singaporean chilli prawns, a subtle but different take on the singaporean chilli crabs. Flavours were good but I can't rave on about how fresh their produce is. I can really taste the quality and freshness of the produce in all of its dishes.
🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: I actually ordered the Gang Penang but ended up getting the beef penang curry instead - not complaining because I absolutely loved it.
🥇Lizzie rates overall: definitely a place that can fulfil all of your asian cravings as they have dishes influenced by all asian countries - and most of all, each of the dishes are done very well.
Be aware that the Zomato gold does not apply to the normal lunch menu, only the more pricey menu to order dishes with rice.
Will come back for:
+ Scallops and vegetables
+ Lamb shank curry (with roti)
This place has a confluence of Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai dishes which was a little confusing at first. However, the food was fresh, well cooked and tasty. I particularly liked the scallops and vegetables (which had huge fresh scallops that were well cooked) and the delicious curry lamb shank. Soaked up with the roti, this was a meal by itself. We also had the Tom yum soup, which was nice and spicy and the kuay Teow which was nice and smokey (although this would have been better with some fried pig fat). All in all, a good dining experience. Service was quick and friendly and prices above average but worth it for what you get.
Definitely would recommend checking this place out if you can! The staff were really friendly and our table was very well taken care of. The menu itself offers a good range of dishes with different meats as well as good vegetarian options.
We had the eggplant with homemade sambal as an entree, followed by the Pad King Gai and the Mango Beef as mains, and then a Banana fritter to round off the evening. Each dish was uniquely tasty, but the mango beef was a standout favourite - will definitely be getting that next time!! :P
The foods was delicious and very authentic and generous serve, the service very nice and friendly, Dije one of the staff look after us very good and the owner of the restaurant also very friendly, he had a chat with us, and the chef also did really good job with the food, the place quite big inside just need more lil bit TLC for the cushions still look antique. The room and table setting can cater for big group booking or special occasions. Highly recommended !!! No posted foods pics,,the foods already dancing in our tummy,,,!
Okra is considered as a pioneer and mature semi fine dining restaurant located in one of the most popular suburbs in Melbourne, Hawthorn since 2001. They offer Thai, Malaysian, and Indonesian dishes into an irresistible Southeast Asian dishes. All dishes are prepared expertly and meticulously by head chef Michael Tiu.
Yay: Tangy oyster, Braised ox tongue, Duck san choi bao, Massaman beef curry, Tumis balacan okra, Sticky black rice
Nay: N/A
Always drive pass this place and never noticed it here until I saw it on the Zomato gold platform. We were feeling like having some Malaysian/Thai food and let's just say we were not disappointed.
There were 5 of us and we ordered a few entrees and mains to share. The curry puffs were a great start to the meal, the mains come afterwards and the grilled chicken was the highlight of the meal. So tender and juicy, we were very satisfied with this meal.
Good mix of South East Asian flavours that support the zomato good platform, will definitely be back😜
4.2/5👍
What an amazing feast we had at Okra! Not only was the food incredible flavoursome and authentic but the staff were so generous and filled the restaurant with happy vibes! Stand out dishes were definitely the lamb curry, okra, and the satay skewers!!! Seriously gotta try the okra and okra! I will be back to try so many other dishes I was eyeing on the menu. What a hidden gem 👌
Okra is such a local favourite! This popular Malaysian restaurant has graced this area for years! It’s a local favourite and the food is just super tasty! If you’re looking for a great curry, this is going to hit the spot!
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Recently visited Okra restaurant and I was very impressed with the meal. They have been around since 2001, and is popular with the locals. They focus mainly on Southeast Asian fusion menu and they have a special Sunday Hawker Feast available. Love how they have a good variety of dishes from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and you leave this place knowing that your Southeast Asian cravings are met.
Entrees:
We started off with the tangy oysters, the flavours were very refreshing and the presentation of the dish was spot on. The dish makes a very good start to the meal.
Moved on to have the fresh hand rolled poh pia, the flavours of the poh pia is good and it's close to what you get in Malaysia.Poh Pia is a wrapped up spring roll with a variety of julienned vegetables inside. The textures were good and it went really well with the sauce.
The next entree was the curry puffs, they were crispy and the filling was good. I liked the presentation of the dish, makes a good entree.
We had the grilled beef and chicken satay skewers, accompanied with peanut sauce. The texture of the meat was tender and it was marinated nicely. It had the slightly charred flavours which makes it even better.
Mains:
Okra Tumis Balachan - The okra was cooked perfectly and it had just the right flavours. Will definitely need to try this dish.
Singapore Chilli Prawns - The chilli prawns resemble the flavours of the chilli crab and it comes with french beans which gives it the extra crunch.
Pla Sam Rod - The snapper was cooked well and the sauce was amazing, it has a sweet and sour taste combined with fresh flavours.
*Highlight Dish* Curry Lamb Shank - The lamb shank was amazing and the curry went really well together, we had a side of roti with the dish and it was perfect. The flavours were spot on and it went really well with either rice or roti.
Desserts:
We had a dessert platter which consists of a variety of ice creams,black sticky rice with custard, and a sago pudding. The flavours went really well together and the black sticky rice with custard was definitely something different. Love a good sweet ending to the night.
Overall, we really enjoyed our meal here at Okra and i can’t wait to be back to try the other dishes available. Be sure to check out their amazing Sunday Hawker Feast specials.
One of the best Malaysian-Indonesia restaurants that I’ve been to yet! It’s small and cosy with friendly service and food that are full of flavours. Some of the highlight dishes we got on the night was:
- tangy oysters
- curry puff
- grilled beef skewers
- grilled chicken skewers
- gado gado
- chilli prawns
- lamb shank curry
- okra and french beans with chilli shrimp paste
- dessert platter that featured sticky black rice and sago pudding
Would highly recommended this place to anyone who wants to have good Malaysian-Indonesian meal!
Nothing beats home food!! Absolutely enjoyed my time at OKRA from the entertaining service to the delicious food. Thank you so much for having us.
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Despite being local resident of Camberwell and Hawthorn area for over a decade, I must admit I have overlooked this local gem that has been serving popular dishes from South East Asian countries of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand since 2001.
An amazing feast we had over last weekend has undoubtedly blown away my taste buds and instantly converted me into a huge fan of their food!
First we were welcomed with half a dozen baked Tangy Oyster Shots that were presented in such theatrical presentation with flaming center clay dish.
The oysters were bathed in ginger broth, which was a great starter dish to excite our palates!
We also had the popiah and curry puffs, which were also enjoyable entrée.
Then we had “Sate Sapi dan Ayam”, which translates into Grilled Beef and Chicken skewers with Satay sauce. The peanut sauce is more on the chunky side, which added extra layer of texture to the dish. Delish skewers.
The Tumis Balachan Okra was my personal highlight of the dish we had on the night. The okras were perfectly stir fried with such a tasty house-made ‘balachan’ paste. It was a perfect balance of flavor, texture and aroma. This dish really holds up to the restaurant’s name and its legacy.
Another highlight of the night has to be The Special Lamb Shank Curry with Eggplant, Okra and Lemongrass. This dish reputably holds a One Chef Hat Award, and after we tasted it, it was no surprise why. The lamb was so tender; the curry sauce had infused so well into the meat. A very tasty dish, big kudos to Chef Michael Tiu.
Highly recommended dish!
The Singapore Chilli Prawn was also delicious here with great balance of spiciness, sweetness and a touch of tangy kick.
Pla Sam Rod - Deep Fried Snapper with Tamarind, Chili, Onion and Garlic sauce.
Fresh fish and delicious sauce, we all loved it.
If anything, I would have loved it more with extra crispiness on the fish.
To top up our amazing dinner, we had the Dessert Platter.
The sticky black rice with custard, palm sugar syrup and coconut ice cream was so delicious! I love everything on this platter, especially the durian ice cream and the coconut ice cream. What a great way to end beautiful meal.
The service was fast and friendly. Ambience was casual yet slightly intimate.
Fabulous experience at Okra, we will definitely return!
I have been going to Okra for 16 years and the quality and consistency of the food is excellent along with the charming host, Freddie. It is also now available on Uber eats. I recommend the Mee Goreng and Kari Ayam with a Tiger Beer. Freddie also runs a Hawker Sunday lunch with some great Singapore favourites.
Love this place. Good ambience, great service, great food. Compliments to the chef. Very impressed with house made popiah skin and roti canai. Other outstanding dishes for me are the Har Mee, Char Kway Teow and the satay sticks. Will come back to try the nasi lemak. Well done
Excellent food, excellent service. We had several food allergies at our take and the staff were very accommodating. The feasts are especially good. Definitely with it. (Excellent vegetarian options too. In fact, the vegetarian dishes were the often the tastiest.)
If I could sum up my Okra experience in 8 words, it would be: friendly service, tasteful decor, large serves, reasonable prices.
You can't go wrong with their Malaysian classics like nasi lemak but my all time favourite is the ayam bakar padang. If only chicken could taste like this all the time. Well seasoned, grilled to perfection with a hint of spice and crispy skin. Their desserts are also quite special, in particular the pulut hitam - beautiful black glutinous rice with sweet coconut milk. What an elixir for those down days!
For good solid Asian tucker, Okra is the place to visit.
I’d forgotten how much I love Okra, it is really very good. There are plenty of options to chose from, the serves are very generous and the crew are courteous and accomplished. To top it off, everything we ate was scrumptious.
I would highly recommend this place. Their lamb shank curry and roti was amazing. Service was on point and atmosphere not too loud so you can hear each other talking.
Post dance feed!
Meal: Dinner
Ordered: Set B banquet (for 2 ppl)
After finishing off our dance session we were searching for some yummy Asian cuisine when we found our way to Okra. We selected the banquet meal which was $55 per person and were treated some unique and yummy food. The tangy oyster shooters were amazing! So much flavour and it was easily our favourite of the night. All the other meals were yummy too with good portion sizes and service was prompt! Def worth checking out if you are on the area.
Jessica Sargeant (Unbeleafablefood)
+5
Love Okra! It was great to see some vegan options on the menu, and my tofu and veg stir fry was absolutely delish.
The owners are lovely, decor is cool, would definitely go back!
My husband and I have visited Okra a few times now , and each time is never disappointing. The oysters and lamb shank with Malaysian flavours are outstanding . We shall return again ..
First off，the service here was super friendly and attentive. The good was pretty good, although the lamb curry (not pictured) was a bit too much on the spicy side. Otherwise, good flavours.
I am tricky restaurant guest as I am coeliac and cannot eat onion or garlic. I wanted to order Okra on Uber Eats so I phoned ahead before order to see if they could cater to my dietary requirements and the staff member was so extremely nice and assured me it would be no problem. The food arrived and it was so delicious. Will be going to the restaurant soon!
So exciting to be able to have genuine Malaysian cuisine at Okra! It’s very rare that you’re able to find local specialities including Poh Pia and Lobak is the fact that Okra have been serving up my favourites for over 18 years now is truly extraordinary. Tastes as delicious as I remember it in Malaysia and the service and staff are so welcoming and friendly.
Delicious dinner! Corn fritters, the best beef massaman curry (lots of good beef), tofu vegetables with an awesome peanut sauce, amazing roti bread finished off with the best black rice pudding! We will be back. Loved it!
No. of Visit: 2
UberEat: 1
"Go get that Ayam Bakar!"
"Wait, what--?"
"Just go get that! You'll love it!!".
That pretty much sum up the situation: We love the Ayam Bakar (Indonesian Grill Chicken), and keep coming back for more. The chicken is so tender, very juicy, and you can see the charred and taste the herb.
We order another round via Uber - finished half, kept for 48hrs then re-heat for lunch. IT IS STILL SOFT.
Other than the chicken, my tasting committee has different thoughts regards to what else to recommend: Har Look and Stir-fried Okra Balachan are great. Laksa is not bad (You probably need someone to share with you) but Pad Thai tastes a bit under-seasoned.
What a lovely restaurant in Hawthorn!
The staff are friendly and welcoming and the dishes are substantial and flavoursome.
My favourite dish was the Tangy Oysters baked with a tangy salsa (I think these are quite possibly the best Oysters I’ve ever tried).
The grilled satay chicken/beef with peanut sauce were delicious as was the lamb shank curry with eggplant, okra and lemongrass.
I throughly enjoyed the dessert platter which was kinda a healthy dessert choice for me but a must share item if you ‘can’t decide’.
Okra blends Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian dishes into a South East Asian fusion menu and it works
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I was invited here to try out some of the menu.
We had:
- grilled chicken and beef satays which were cooked the proper charcoal grill style
- okra with sambal balachan (shrimp paste). I’m not a fan of okra so didn’t try it but it smelt really fragrant
- whole snapper with a tamarind sauce. The sauce had a strong tamarind flavour which I liked. The fish however was very dry to me, like it was over cooked.
- a Thai style seafood red curry. It was served in foil and lit on fire. The sauce was really tasty, make sure you order roti to mop up all the sauce!
- lamb shank curry. This was like rendang with many layers of flavours from all the different spices and the lamb was tender. This was my favourite dish. Do yourself a favour and skip the rice and order roti instead to eat with the sauce.
- dessert platter. I love dessert platters as they let you try a little bit of everything! This one had black sticky rice with egg custard, sago pudding, fruits, homemade durian ice cream, green tea, coconut and vanilla ice cream.
They also have hawker Sundays which I want to go try!
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Okra has been around since 2001 and there's a reason why. The management and service is exceptional as they really care about your dining experience. Not only that but the food speaks for itself, it's hearty, flavoursome and just what you need on a chilly night. Okra blends a range of asian cuisines into one menu and they've done a great job at doing so.
For our Entrees:
Tangy Oysters baked with a tangy salsa - this dish is one of their 'must orders' as it comes out in a flaming plate especially made to hold the oysters. It doesn't have a heavy Oyster taste because it is cooked extremely well with the salsa.
Grilled Satay chicken/beef with peanut sauce - I love Satays and peanut sauce, this dish was perfectly smoked. I could've eaten the whole plate twice over.
My favourite Mains:
Lamb shrank curry with egg plant, okra and lemongrass - the Lamb shank with the homemade Roti is a 'must order' on my list. It's one of those hearty dishes that you can't not get because it has the right amount of spice, meat as well as vegetables that you can eat with the delicious crispy Roti. The Lamb is also cooked perfectly so the meat pulls off the bone nicely.
Crispy whole snapper with tamarind, chilli, onion and garlic - I loved the crispy whole snapper and the seasoning/dressing that it comes with. You will have to order rice as there is a LOT of flavour but definitely worth getting as there is a lot of meat on the snapper.
For dessert:
We had a dessert platter where we tasted Okra's signature black sticky rice with egg custard, sago pudding, seasonal fruits, homemade durian ice cream, green tea, coconut and vanilla ice cream. My favourite out of all of these was the black sticky rice and there's a reason why it's Okra's signature dish, it's the right amount of sweet after a filling meal. The Sago pudding was also a great consistency and sweetness.
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Fabulous local eatery with extremely efficient and attentive service. Went here with friends for dinner and chose one of the banquets as it provided an opportunity to sample a broad selection of their menu. We used to be regulars here many years ago but left the area for quite some years. Having returned, we were pleasantly surprised that Okra is still as good as ever. Everything was well presented, flavoursome and enjoyable but what stood out to me was the service. My wife and I eat out regularly at a range of restaurants from fine dining to Cafe’s and the service was up there with the best. Ice buckets were promptly brought out and the correct glassware placed on the table to accomodate the BYO sparkling and white wine that we brought with us. Descriptions for each course were provided and plates/cutlery promptly removed at the completion of each course. The staff were friendly and courteous and the senior gentleman (Laurence?) was very hospitable and affable interacting with our guests. A fabulous experience, generous and enjoyable by all of us who attended. Great to see that this Hawthorn institution is going as strong as ever!
A really nice Thai establishment that has service that makes you feel so welcome , it really was a pleasure to dine there. I still cannot forget about the black bean duck dish that I had, one of the most out of the box dishes I've had to date
I loved the service and the food. Most of all I loved Lawrence's hospitality towards his customers especially the people at the big table. I wish zomato would hurry up and add my missing post!
Followthefoodmelbourne
+3.5
Dined here recently and shared a few dishes. The interior had a nice homely feel, with an upper level providing more privacy and bustling lower level. It’s nice and close to the Rivoli cinemas and therefore a good option for a pre movie dinner. The food was nice, with the calamari being my favourite dish, followed by the beef rendang. The scallops were a little bit plain and a few of the other dishes call for a tad more flavour but overall it was fairly good.
Okra provides a good introduction to Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai cuisines, at Australian prices. Cosy and clean environment, with a team of polite young waitresses who are a bit inexperienced, save for one waitress that everyone referred to when queried about anything.
The rich and creamy sauce of the Ayam Merah Nyonya was perfect with rice. Undeniably tasty, but not entirely authentic. I did wished that the spices were cooked to the “pecah minyak” (literal translation is oil breaks) stage for maximum flavour and intensity.
Okra stir-fried with sambal belachan was delicious; it’s hard not to be when the sambal belachan imparts a deeply pungent, spicy and zesty flavour. Also delicious was the char koay teow which possessed the crucial “wok hei”.
Desserts were even better. Sago gula melaka and durian ice cream - divine! However, two scoops of ice cream came out looking more like 1 and a half. More please?
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Unique Dishes with Exceptional Flavour.
We came here with an Indonesian friend who is a frequent diner, and we could see why she loves this place.
The menu has many of the familiar standards, but also has many things you may not have tried. - That is where you will be delighted.
We started off with "Duck san choi bao", "eggplant with homemade sambal" and "1/2 doz tangy oysters baked in a tangy salsa). All were great, but the oysters were truly sublime. the dish involved a terracotta plate with mini tangines, each with a single oyster poached in a ginger and lemongrass puree. - A must try !!!!
Our 3 mains were "Ayam merah nonya" (Chicken red curry with kaffir lime leaves) which was so full of flavour, "Duo scallops and prawns with palm sugar and chilli" - Awesome, and the "Eleven out of Ten" perfection went to the "gulai kambing" (Slow cooked lamb curry) - Another must try of ever so tender pieces of lamb in a rich and thick curry. All this was taken with coconut rice and roti.
A warning though - Even if you a very tolerant of chilli (and we are), if you ask for some chilli, be very careful with the little pot of balachan samba paste. It is dynamite! Try a little first (matchstick head size on a mouthful) before slapping it on.
We finished with my all time favourite of "sago gula malacca" - sago with a little salt in a cold soup of coconut milk and dark brown palm sugar.
Adding to the whole experience was the lovely decor and fantastic service.
Have been dining hear occasionally for about 8 years. The service is friendly and efficient. The food is always a good standard and the mussaman curry is great. The drinks are reasonably priced and it allows byo wine.
I am one of the regular customer to this restaurant and ALL the foods here are absolutely delicious. I would drive from Western Suburbs to Hawthorn East just to eat in here. The dishes in Okra are authentic Malaysian/Thai/Indonesian taste. My family and friends are also enjoy they top hospitality services. Highly recommend Gulai Kambing (Lamb Curry), Balachan Okra, Pad Thai, Mee Goreng, Curry Puff and Dessert Platter. There are a large space upstairs, which are cater for large group/function. Highly recommended!!
I had dinner here on a Saturday night with my family. We ordered a variety of meals, the salt and pepper calamari was a highlight, the calamri was tender, seasoned well and a good portion. The chicken stir fry had a lot of sauce and great selection of veggies, however it tasted bland. The beef curry was good, a good portion for one person. We cannot fault the service, it seems like the locals love it as well.
A nice little local gem – dined here for a family dinner. The menu had a great selection/variety of South East Asian foods, with a unique theme of “taste of Asia”. We particularly enjoyed the Indonesian grilled chicken and lamb curry. Service from the staffs and management were fantastic – very friendly. I will be back again to try other items.
Great little restaurant in Camberwell, we dined here on a Friday night and the service was great and quick. The menu had a good selection, the food was authentic and tasted great. We really enjoyed the Red curry chicken, the Beef Rendang and Nasi goreng were OK and and a must have for dessert is the Banana Fritter which was fantastic. I will be back again.
Friendly & prompt service. Yummilicious food for Sunday Hawker Fest.We ordered the Fish Head Vermicelli -soup was so aromatic,I reckon any person who's sick will immediately feel good after drinking the flavoursome healthy soup.The fish portions were generous. I had the Prawn Noodle & was surprised to see it served with a big prawn -unlike so many joints selling this dish. Again, the dish was delicious though soup was slightly sweet. Soup likewise for the popular Yong Tao Fu Laksa we ordered.Overall,we will definitely return again.
And its been 6 hrs since we ate and none of us complained of feeling thirsty.Another yay!
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Okra is a restaurant that serves up great South East Asian food – specifically Malaysian, Indonesian, and Thai. I’m a big fan of quality Asian food so was very excited to try it out one Sunday night with my family. Going with my family not only has the benefits of family time, but also means I was able to try lots of dishes!
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A la carte is NOT the way to enjoy Asian (South East Asian) food .....
I haven't been here for a long time, since the previous owner/s sold and opened another one in Greythorn (North Balwyn), so was hoping for a mind blowing experience.
There were some 50 of us, upstairs, loud, not enough sound absorbsion, hard to converse, but that is okay ..... what's concerning most was ordering a la carte, in an Asian style restaurant, why? :-) So three of us got together and ordered some dishes to share, best decision, although limited in how many dishes that we can order.
Bottomless Cassava crackers was a simple and great start to dinner while waiting for our mains, goes well with the Blackets Shiraz (BYO). Seems more and more restaurants are serving these beauties.
We've managed to order a few .....
On taste alone 6/10 $12.00 for four Chicken Satay with Peanut sauce .... we did order this first, but it came last????
The rest ... in general, all are about 7/10 ....
$16.90 Singapore Fried Noodles and $16.90 Pad Thai .... well cooked, could be more authentic, but definitely value for money, especially for dinner.
$23.90 Malaysian Kari Ayam (Kari Ayam/Chicken Curry are found in many provinces of Indonesia, states of Malaysia and in a small country Singapore, so it can be any of those style. We can all argue about the origin of this dish, just like the ugly scene in the Sea Games 2017, but the main things are taste and authenticity. This particular one is small serving, taste quite good/authentic and meats are still moist and tender.
Must mention, my request for fresh cut chilies was delivered in the up-most "royal" treatment a fresh cut chili can received, see photo :-) that was necessary for the Singapore Fried Noodles, as it added extra dimension to the taste.
The floor team are young girls, a bit lacking in experience but they are doing their best.
Quite an enjoyable dinner, loving the BYO (reasonable corkage) but I was hoping to be blown away .... maybe next time. JT-26/08/2017.
Busy little place, good ambience, good service. BYOW. The food is very average. The quail were luke warm, and the wrapped prawns with wasabi mayo were dry. The beef rending while tender, was lacking in spice & flavour.
On a cold autumn night, my friend Laura and I caught up over some great Asian cuisine. If there’s one thing in the world we can’t agree on, its the type of food we’re going to order. Thankfully, Okra in Hawthorn offers a diverse menu that highlights the beloved tastes of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. The restaurant is mere minutes away from the Rivoli Cinemas, making it a fabulous spot to dine before or after a film. Our favourite part was the starters here, and a few little tweaks would have made the mains stand out that bit more. There’s plenty of choices to enjoy at Okra and they come jam-packed with flavour, served with the warm hospitality you’d expect.
The food is amazing, the staff is good, very clean, good atmosphere. 50 meters from Rivoli cinema, which is convenient. Love the mango dishes.
Charlie Daniels (Curious Charlie)
+4
Local gems are here are there, though like a diamond they may be hard to find among all the rhinestones of food porn which look spectacular but taste just like sugar, carbs laden full of artificial colours. From a local gem to hatted restaurant (chef’s hat in the 2016 Gault Millau guide), Okra "blends Thai, Malaysian, and Indonesian dishes into an irresistible Southeast Asian fusion menu" and has been featured in The Age Good Food Guide every year since opening 16 years ago in 2001, and it's not hard to see why.
Okra is a Malaysian/ Thai/ Indonesian restaurant that owner Lawrence started more than 10 years ago in the heart of Hawthorn. Last Thursday, Lawrence and co were kind enough to host an event for us bloggers/instagram-ers to get together and sample their menu. It was a small gathering but gave us a good insight on what the restaurant has to offer for diners.
Okra
Okra offers a wide variety of Asian inspired dishes. The tangy oysters which are served flaming were definitely the highlight of our meal. Main meals appear to be a little pricey. While the crispy salmon was a generous portion however the accompanying curry and veggies were slightly disappointing portion wise. The stir fried veggies with tofu had a nice variety of vegetables. Eggplant with sambal whilst flavoursome, could have been cooked a bit more and less fried. It does appear that okra opts to fry a lot of their dishes (I.e. Our wontons came very crispy). Their home made ice creams are delicious and include green tea and coconut. Overall okra caters to all with a huge variety of dishes and a long wine list however they seem to be lacking that extra "wow factor" (minus the oysters) that leaves us wanting more
Had dinner here with a friend midweek – I enjoyed the massaman beef curry with coconut rice – very tasty and the meat was so soft and melted in your mouth. My friend had the pad thai which she enjoyed. I tried the sago pudding for dessert also which was also nice. Service was friendly. This place is in the entertainment book so nice discount off the total bill.
Directly across the road from Revoli.
Authentic Malaysian / Singaporean style food.
Multi floor seating available inside.
We found the service a bit abrupt.
Ashanie Mekhala Perera
+4
Believe it or not, Okra has been delighting Eastern suburban food lovers for over 16 years. With this much time on the dining scene, it’s no surprise that Okra have mastered the art of delivering flavourful and delicious Malaysian foods that delight the senses. Since arriving on the dining scene in 2001, Okra has also featured annually in The Age Good Food Guide.
Eat And Be Merry Crew
+3.5
The Sunday hawker menu at Okra delivers all the traditional favourites, including nasi lemak, char koay teow and Hainan chicken rice, with the poh pia being hugely popular with regular diners. Our highlights were the har mee and the roti chanai. Dishes tended to be milder than what you would eat on the streets of KL, so ideal for those who are sensitive to chilli heat or newbies to Malaysian food, and if you want more pep, just add some of the extra chilli provided.
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What a lovely experience i had with my hubby last weekend at Okra restaurant in hawthorn east for a Sunday hawker feast; dinner invite courtesy of Okra & Social chef -yes to dine with all the hawker style specialties from the south eastern countries!. A lil far from where we live but such a lovely neighbourhood and theres plenty of parking!
Okea restaurant is considered fusion thai/malay/chinese however from the various dishes we tried (and the hawker style theme) i found that it leans toward the authentic side rather then fusion. Yes the dishes do have a fresher look but the flavours remains the same traditional dishes that we all love.
The restaurant itself is quite small but still plenty of tables for small groups to larger functions that can be held upstairs. Very simple fitout & design with great art and decorative cultural pieces that link to the theme of the restaurant itself.
First off i must mention some of my favourite dishes from the chef himself - Michael Tieu: we started of with the homemade crackers with homemade sambal which was extra chilly but had so much flavours!. Followed by the plate full of satay chicken & beef that were so tender and tasty - but with that satay sauce they included it just added that extra level of intensity which i must say i would definitely enjoy it with a bowl of white rice! And did I mention the hand-rolled poh pia? Ok they were soooo fresh and full of goody veggies & eggs that tasted so well together (the hand rolled crepe apparently is a special that Okra only makes on Sundays and only 20 servings are available, so we were so lucky to have had a taste - you must book in advance!). I also enjoyed the har mee which was a prawn soup base with hokkien noodles (ok I'm bias i love anything hokkien noodle haha)!! It had so much spices and seafoods that was perfectly matched with the sweetest broth in which i could simply eat all day!!!!! And then we tried the restaurants version of an authentic nasi lemak, that came with two delicious curries, a perfectly cooked sambal egg and the tasty ikan bilis that were cooked so well to complement with other.
Then came my absolutely fav part of the night - DESSERTS!!! (Look at my photos). We were given a platter of asian goodness, yes the forever so great coconut sago which had a great creamy texture with a slight hint of saltiness, the black sticky sesame rice pudding which melted in my mouth and definitely needed that oozy layer of coconut cream; the freshly cut exotic fruits like melon and lychees - which were so sweet; and the most creamiest durian icecream (with durian bits) i have only ever tasted, and very comparable to best durian ice cream 🍦 i had in Singapore 🇸🇬2 years ago!! Ahhh the memories...
Prices ranges from $13.90-16.90 and i must say they are well priced for the generous servings that were presented to us. You van definitely have a good meal here without breaking the bank.
Then of course there were other dishes that i'd tried and that are still tasty but may need some extra attention to get them to another level - or perhaps some extra surprising flavours or elements to get it to that "fusion" title? The roti chanai i found a little too dry, perhaps smaller portion and i wanted it to be softer, "butter-rier" and sweeter?, the tofu laksa was beautifully presented with great intense colours and ingredients however i would prefer a laska to be much spicier with a lot more of the curry flavour and aroma. The crispy chicken with hainanese rice was again beautifully presented however the chicken was not as tender and moist as what i would like it to be (this is why i usually prefer the steam version). And lastly the rice noodle soy with proteins et al. was my least fav as it was a bit too salty, where-as i would prefer it to be more like a pad thai, hint of saltiness, sourness and sweetness? This dish has so much potential!!
So overall a very pleasant experience. The staff were all so attentive, friendly and welcoming. We were fortunate to be greeted by the humble owner himself - Lawrence who was fluent in many languages I believe! And the floor manager is such a hoot! So don't be shy and come along and share the fun with Okra 😄
Ramieleatsshootsandleaves
+3.5
One of the few choices of Asian around the area - and also one of the best values, without compromising good, friendly service, atmosphere, and yumminess.
We enjoyed our desserts, and our generous portion of stirfries (doggy bags please!). We noticed the place is more Asian-fusion than Thai - but all good!
This restaurant has a lot of choice & a nice atmosphere. The seafood noodles, jasmine rice, roti bread & steamed vegetables were very delicious. However the cripsy skin salmon dish was slightly overcooked but luckily still soft. The twice cooked duck was also overcooked and a bit dry.
Overall I think this restaurant is nice but some dishes need improvement.
Who stole the Spring sunshine? Okra, returns the heat, with fiery Malaysian. Literally – with flaming oysters and figuratively, with fragrant spices. Malaysian cuisine is heavily influenced by a number of Asian flavours – predominantly Chinese, Thai and Indonesian. You know what they say – ‘Malaysia, truly Asia’. Malaysian food in Melbourne is dominated by a handful of franchises. Okra is independently owned, with head chef Michael Tiu heading the kitchen. The recipes may span a continent away, but ingredients are sourced locally. On a dreary miserable day, the warm embrace of Malaysian is required for the winter blues – or rather
Great authentic Malay food. My favorites are the beef rendang and nasi lemak. Really good value on a Sunday with lunch specials :) Lawrence is a funny and friendly guy, clearly he is passionate about the business and we keep coming back for a good feed!
The food here was delicious... my partner and I ended up ordering a bunch of entrees, and they were certainly filling! The roti chanai was my favourite I've had in quite some time, the chicken dumplings were small but packed full of favour and the beef and chicken skewers were also a highlight. The service was a little rushed, but overall it was a great little restaurant with flavoursome food :)
Excellent spot for a tasty meal pre or post movie at the Rivoli. Our noodles were delicious and prompt. Service was mixed - one gentleman (perhaps the owner or manager?) was extremely friendly and enthusiastic, whereas another lady showed little interest or pleasantry. The space was very comfortable for us, though a mother at the neighbouring table relentlessly complained to her parents about how unfriendly the space was for her pram, so perhaps the narrow layout is not the best spot if you have a young family.
Very pleasant friendly atmosphere, the manager has always been kind to my elderly parents who have always loved going there. We have always been greeted pleasantly on the way in and out.. Clean tasting food and great desserts. My husband and I sometimes just walk across from the Rivoli for a late night dessert. I have been to their Hawker lunch which is very popular and which my Malaysian friends say is authentic . Of a Friday/Saturday evening it has a lovely evening ambience. I just love eating here.
I was so excited to try this place and all I can say is I loved it!
I had a chicken stir-fry with lemongrass & chill and it has the most wonderful flavour. The chicken was so moist and the vegetables they chose to put in it was perfect. I would have loved more vegetables in there as there was a lot of chicken. But in saying that the dish was delicious, the staff were more then amazing and very friendly.
We weren't even waiting 15mins before our food came out, I'd definitely go back again to try more!
My partner had the lamb curry which he thought was delicious and tender.
He surprised me when he chose this has he doesn't tend to eat lamb, but he devoured it all and soaked up the sauce with his delicately flavoured coconut rice.
He even gave eating with chop sticks ago!
It was a fun night in this inviting little restaurant full of flavoursome Asian cuisine!
The Tangy Oysters were presented with much flare. Literally. While the flame in the middle may be just for show, the oysters certainly tasted the part. They were extraordinarily soft and tender due to having been half-cooked. Flavour balance was spot on and this was hands down the best oyster I’ve had all my life.
Overall a rather extraordinary meal with interesting and unique mixture of flavours and textures. The combination of ingredients and flavours that might seem odd actually worked surprisingly well most of the time and resulted in an amazing combination of taste that can’t be had elsewhere.
Was the meal perfect? No. But damn was it pretty amazing when they got it right!
On dining at Okra in Hawthorn East, it quickly becomes apparent how they came to be awarded an elusive Chef Hat. Set across two levels (a general dining area down the bottom and a function space at the top), Okra's menu blends Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine. It's the little touches that turn a good restaurant into a great one, and for Okra this included serving its Khanom Jeep steamed chicken dumplings with yogurt, soy and aioli in a saucer of hot water to keep them warm, and the baked tangy oysters on a fiery Moroccan-esque plate to add an element of theatre to the night.
For 15 years, Okra has been serving up a stunning menu of South East Asian flavours that brilliantly fuse Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine. All the dishes are skillfully prepared by head Chef Michael Tieu sourcing local produce to ensure freshness and quality. To celebrate the One Chef Hat award by Gault Millau, I as well as several bloggers were invited to attend a Food Bloggers Event organised by Your SocialChef.
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Over the years I've been here with different friends half a dozen times. The food and service have been consistently good so I'm really glad to see it survived the Covid lockdowns of 2020.
We arrived before opening time but the lady let us in to have a seat and gave us the menu anyway. My friends wanted Gado Gado with roti instead of rice. Roti costs more which is fine, but this could have been handled a little more gracefully instead of making a big fuss out of it. We also wanted a stir fried dish of okra which is on the dinner menu and they happily accommodated.
I was craving for Laksa and my dish was filled to the brim with seafood. Full-bodied flavours, comforting and familiar, this hearty dish never fails to satisfy. My friends enjoyed their Gado Gado, which were enhanced by the Okra with Balachan.
The male owner is forever chirpy and sociable with the customers, making the experience enjoyable. With a pleasant ambience, this place is good for a casual meal and revisiting the hawker dishes Malaysia is famous for.
The food has always been consistent here. The Mee Goreng and Roti is authentic and excellent. What really makes this place is Freddie. A great host and very welcoming.
Good Malaysian restaurant. Been visiting this place for several years.
The Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang is very good, the gravy is rich, beef is tender and portion size is very big.
Also of note is the sambal which is very spicy but you have to ask for it separately.
The Roti Canai with Beef Rendang is also a favourite lunch repast.
We also had the Char Kuay Teow which is very good and has lots of ingredients but this is closer to the Cantonese style version.
Okra is an institution in Camberwell. This Malaysian Restaurant is trendy, upmarket and authentic. The Sunday hawker lunch is exceptional. It is real soul food. Stand out dishes are the Poh Pia, Yee Tow Mai Fun (fish head noodles) and Yong Tau Fu Laksa. But you can’t go wrong with any of the dishes. Decor is modern, service is efficient and staff are always friendly.
Super delish food, very authentic Malaysian and Thai food. It’s my first time but I’m definitely coming back here again. Totally lives up to it’s name for 1 chef hatted.
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