MALAYSIAN restaurants may abound
on the Gold Coast but the man responsible for their widespread acceptance is
Thomas Hoi who came to the region in 1980 from his home in Malaysia, opening
the Coast’s first Chinese-Malaysian restaurant the large Banga Raya in
Broadbeach.
Along with his wife Meelin and, aided as
they grew by sons Michael and Sam and daughter Theresa, Thomas established his
new venture, Ipoh Satay House but with less pressure, pressure reduced even
further as his student children lent a hand.
Michael established his own restaurant in
Tahiti where he now lives while recently married Sam has proved himself a more
than worthy understudy to his father and has taken on much of the
responsibility in the kitchen.
Michael’s surf photographs remain a
prominent feature of this warm and welcoming family restaurant.
Essentially a Malaysian – Chinese
restaurant, Thomas also includes a number of Thai dishes.
One can find the green curries or tom yums
of Thailand or the hawker-style noodles such as prawn curry laksa or Singapore
noodles. There is so much variety in Malaysian cuisine from Mongolian lamb to
the distinctive hot Szechuan dishes.
The
ever popular roti chanai with its delicious curry sauce is a worthy starter.
Deep fried Hainese chicken in soya sauce is
a most enjoyable main. It consists of moist tender chicken with a crispy skin
on a bed of sliced cucumber for added texture. The dish is finished with a
tasty soy sauce and chilli and ginger salsas.
Belacan green bean prawns from the
blackboard specials is excellent – crisp green beans and succulent prawns in a
clean fresh sauce while coconut jelly is always a light way to end an enjoyable
meal.
VERDICT:
A delightful suburban family restaurant
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Location: Shop 5, Waterway Wonderland Shopping
Centre
Corner Sunshine Boulevard and Karbunya St
Mermaid Waters QLD
Phone: 07 5572 5911
Open:
Tues – Sun from 5pm
