Line and Dine: Mamak

Work wrapped up early last Thursday night. Using the extra time I had, I decided to queue up at a local dining hotspot in Haymarket/Chinatown. Mamak is a popular restaurant which specializes in Malaysian roti.

The queue outside the restaurant is always a bit of a curious spectacle considering the wide number of dinner options that are in the immediate vicinity. As a visitor to Sydney, I was inclined to uncover the reason behind it. It took about 20 minutes to get seated as a solo diner.

Teh tarik ($4)
The brief queueing outdoors had left my throat parched so I started with a beverage. With no regular loose-leaf tea options, I opted for the teh tarik, a sweetened hot milk tea. "Pulled teas" such as the teh tarik are common amongst Asian cultures and so, I found that it shared many similarities with a Hong Kong-style milk tea. The flavour of the tea is well-preserved, despite the addition of milk and sugar.

Roti canai ($5.5)
The roti canai is the original Malaysian roti served plain with a side of two curry flavours and a spicy sambal sauce. It was golden, thin and transparent, crisp yet tough, neutral with a hint of sweetness. I was unable to discern the ingredients within the curries but the darker one seemed to carry a tomato flavour while the lighter-coloured curry may have been made from lentils. My preference was for the latter.

Murtabak ($12, lamb/chicken option)
The second roti offering shares some semblance to a large omelette. In fact, it may very well be an onion-lamb omelette wrapped in roti. The dish is served in the exact same manner as the roti canai, with two curry dips on the side. I should note that the lamb did have a gamey smell, which may be detrimental to the experiences of some folks. Otherwise, the murtabak was relatively enjoyable and rather satiating.

Food (4/5)
Roti is definitely Mamak's strong suit. I can't claim to have tried their other dishes though. Maybe next time?

Service (3/5)
Mamak is a real busy place. Thankfully, it's also well-staffed and waiters/waitresses are quite attentive while zooming up and down the aisles. The line-up at the front door is a bit of a downer.

Decor (3/5)
The interior is well-lit and functional. The storefront showcases the preparation of roti as the kitchen is exposed through the front window.