Malay Bistro
Last Thursday after we met my son’s teacher, my missus wanted to dine before returning home. Both kids were with us, so it seemed like a good idea. There was supposed to be a new Malaysian restaurant nearby. While driving my missus noticed a sign for a Malaysian restaurant, but it is not the one we sought. I drove on and we failed to find the one SIL#4 told us about. Well if you cannot locate the one you seek, then visit the one you found. Right.
We turned back to the restaurant we noticed earlier. There was a grand opening sign, but I must admit I would have missed this establishment entirely without the missus. Why? Their sign uses Chinese writing, though the windows display the name in English. Much too far and small to be seen from the road. We entered an empty dining room as it is not yet five o’clock.
The lady that waited on us was Chinese, but I don’t think she is Malaysian. I asked her a couple of questions about Malaysia and she was totally blur. We decided to order the seafood dinner for four with a side order of chicken satay. The food arrived quite quickly. Want to see?
Chicken Satay. This dish was quite yummy and the sauce was a nice complement.
Bah Kut Teh. The soup tasted quite nice, though a bit sweet. This is my first time to experience this soup so I have no expectation or understanding of what the flavor should taste like.
Hainan Chicken. This reminded me of Fantasy Flier. He sent me spices so I could make this dish at home. I liked the chicken especially since it was throughly cooked. Sometimes when I have had this dish at other restaurants (and at home, eh hmm) there is red (blood) that can be seen. So I worry about salmonela. Not here.
Kang-Kung Vegetables. These were nice. I like the seasoning they added, though I wish it could have been a tad spicier.
Beef Rendang. This is my third time to eat this dish. My womenfolk thought it was a tad spicey, but I wish it could have been a little more so. Will order this again.
Belican Tilapia Fish. The fish was cooked in a lot of oil. Wish they would have drained it a bit more. But I loved the crispy texture of the skin. Inside the meat had a flaky and juicy texture that was scrumptious.
Pearled Wheat Soup. For desert they served us this sweet broth. A nice way to finish a lovely meal. I would give it a 7 on a scale of 10.
I am pleased to have found this restaurant. The location is close to both of my kids’ school. Looking forward to going back so I can try their assam laksa and nasi lamak. Folks in Houston can find this restaurant on Bellaire in that mall that intersects at Mary Bates street. The address is 8282 Bellaire Blvd Ste 138 on the north side of the street.
August 21st, 2007 at 10:55 am
Wah…. looks yummy wor… but the pixs were kind of blurish though…
Chup-chup!
August 21st, 2007 at 11:03 am
great food! chup!!
August 21st, 2007 at 11:07 am
first the restaurant, then the real thing ya?
you must visit KL. like i’m from there eh? lol
SA: Actually thought of you while I was there mei mei. The occupancy sign listed 169! haha
August 21st, 2007 at 11:23 am
I T E L L Y O U !
You M U S T come to KL for the R E A L D E A L!!!
*becomes Permanent Resident @ the airport*
SA: *salutes* *hugs* *hugs summore*
August 21st, 2007 at 11:38 am
come to Penang for authentic Asam Laksa…. make u drool
SA: Oi! My shirt is wet!
August 21st, 2007 at 12:54 pm
You MUST come to Malaysia for the real McCoy.
SA: McCoy is in Malaysia?
Yes! I MUST.
August 21st, 2007 at 4:56 pm
haha….u seems to ‘understand” Malaysia more than she does….for real food, u must come over here one day !
SA: They were wearing Malaysian style blouse. I asked her if she wore Nyonya style and she did not know what I was talking about.
August 21st, 2007 at 5:06 pm
hahahahahaha! the satay does look authentic thou. taste wise, who knows! lol! yes, come to malaysia!
August 21st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
haha I officially pronounce you a pseudo Malaysian!!! haha all ze best malaysian food you just tried..dunno how it taste like but you sure are making my mouth water!!!! mmmmm
SA: That’s cool. Now I am a pseudo Malaysian and also half Chinese. You know my better half. haha
August 21st, 2007 at 6:06 pm
I prefer quasi-Malaysian.
But yeah, if you’re ever in Malaysia, we’ll get some homecooked meal for you and your family done and done right.
SA: Quasi sounds good too. keke I really look forward to learning what the food is supposed to taste like.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:05 pm
oohh..got your little fix of Southeast Asia today!
August 21st, 2007 at 7:42 pm
hmmm…the bak kut teh looks a little differnet tho..too soupy if u ask me
i think its not too commendable to be working in a malaysian restaurant and yet they dono a thing about malaysia
SA: I think it is hard to find Malaysian people to work there. Went back last night for nasi lamak and they wait staff all speak Cantonese. Spoke to the man I assume is the owner and he said he if from Kay El and asked if I had been there.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:43 pm
oh btw…
we get to see photos now!!..YAY!
can stop imagining..hehehe
August 21st, 2007 at 8:31 pm
The names are authentic anyway
bak kut teh should taste herby not sweet (as in sugar sweet). I noticed you didn’t take any pics of any Malaysian decor in the restaurant which must mean they don’t have any! :O
SA: They have some. I still shy shy to take pictures. kekeke
August 21st, 2007 at 8:54 pm
waaaa!!! malay bistro, coolio!!!
hahahhaha they also served bak kut teh .. hmmm i wonder whether its halal or not???? malay maaaaa
SA: Does not have to be halal here and there is no mention on the menu.
August 21st, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Bak kut teh in malay restaurant? that doesn’t sound right! hehehe
but yes! come to malaysia! u’ll give 10/10 (can’t believe that I’m praising msia..but..it’s just for the food okie!! =P)
hehehe
August 21st, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Hmmm not as nice as the one U get here lor… The satay is ok but the rest is so so oni!!
August 21st, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Boleh tahan
But the satay gravy doesn’t seem enough though.. come to Penang and I will take you to have some really mouth-watering satay!
SA: The sauce had no punch. Scald my mouth please!!!!
August 21st, 2007 at 9:24 pm
sounds like food we eat here but you gotta come to Malaysia to taste the real stuff.
I suppose you still have not tasted the BKT pack I sent earlier?
SA: No. We have not tried that. But now I better try so I can get a better idea what it tastes like.
August 21st, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Malay Bistro and they serve BKT? OMG, that is so wrong!
SA: I don’t know about your majesty, but when I think bistro I think drinks. Did not notice any kind of special beverage menu.
August 21st, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Malaysian restaurant serves no pork! hehehe!
yea, the BKT looks too diluted for sure. It should be herbal-tasted that gives the ‘kick’!
satay sauce is too little, and oily it seemed.
pictures are blurr oh… you were too hungry and hands shaky?? :p
SA: Very hungry. *shake shake*
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 am
Well, the waitresses here from Kenny Rogers Roasters have never been to Texas either. Neither can they identify the tex accent.
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:40 am
Glad to hear you are more knowledgeable about M’sia than the waitress. A M’sian restaurant in Minneapolis the cook is from China and cooks all the M’sian dishes. Go figure.
SA: I went back last night to order nasi lamak and roti canai from the same waitress. She made me pick out the numbers from the book. Come on lady. Learn your menu. Work in Malay restaurant you should at least understand how the food sounds. I know I say it right, cause I learned at the other restaurant.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:49 am
Hehehe… all those food and their names sound sooooo familiar rolling off your tongue. It’s like you are as Malaysian as those of us living here! Hehehe.
When you come to Malaysia we will take you to the best of the best places to eat all those food, okay?
SA: I cannot wait.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:59 am
seriously the satay is not black enough. I mean.. normally the more burnt it is, the better it taste… but then again, it’s bad for health.
But oh yeah, the rendang and the kang kung looks yummie. Slurp~
SA: They were yummy. Really satay is supposed to look grilled?
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
the food looks good.
hey if you can’t make it to KL for the food, if you’re ever in southwestern ohio, i’m willing to make you homemade nasi lemak and sambal. and my mum’s recipe for rendang too.
SA: Oh that is so cool! Thanks! Then there would be no more debating the authenticity of the food here in Houston. Hope I can do that sometime. Are you close to Columbus, as I may return to Origins. (Planning already lol)
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:43 pm
i’m a little south of Dayton so about 1.5 hours from Columbus? maybe we can do the details over email, if you do make it down my way.
although i’m sure my fellow malaysians might question whether or not my cooking would be authentic, it’s as authentic as i can make it given my access to ingredients…
SA: Oh I visited that area many moons ago. Winter of 1977 I went to Xenia to visit an army buddy’s sister before going off to Germany. Hope we can hook up. Are you a gamer like your brother?
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:20 pm
I’m so happy to know you’re eating similar things i am!!
we’re not so many worlds apart after all. HUGS! happy thing!
SA: I really prefer Asian food. I just hate doing all of those dishes when my missus cooks. hehe
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:54 am
Wow.. Definitely not a ‘Malay’ bistro. Malays don’t eat pork! But the rendang looks yummy~~~~~
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:44 am
Xenia is a little east of us (maybe a 30-45 min drive) but that’s in my neighborhood (as in a neighborhood as anybody can be in the big wide expanse of the midwest!) it would be nice if we could hook up.
i used to be a gamer (courtesy of my brother, of course) but it’s been a long time since i’ve been an active gamer. the gamers in college were a little intimidating so i stopped gaming after high school.
SA: They get stinkier in college and beyond too. We considered taking deodorant as one of our freebies at Origins. haha
Hope your family is high and dry. Y’all got some rain goin’ on up there.
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:32 pm
we could do with some rain down here. drought. high today of 101, but of course with the crazy humidity it feels much hotter. damn the broken a/c! the rain is north of us. bah humbug.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
ohmygawd chicken satay, my favourite!!
SA: You come down this way and we can go here for sure.
My whole family loves satay.
August 29th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
The satay looks good, and the white steam chic too.
The bak kut teh looks a bit starchy though, was it?
Aaaah.. nice to see some familiar looking food fr your site..
SA: The bak kut teh seemed sweet. I hope your company sends you over here soon, so you can judge this stuff for me. I have no idea how it compares with the makan stand.
September 2nd, 2007 at 11:27 am
Yummmmy..!!! that’s alot of food..?? priced reasonably..?? the missus likie it..??