Malaysia Nyonya (87 Picton Street) is a stalwart in Howick and has served Nyonya cuisine for more than six years. It is one of Auckland’s more formal Malaysian restaurants where you can relax and take your time over your meal.

There is a fantastic selection of dishes on the menu, which spans not only the Nyonya cuisine but also Malaysian favourites. There are also several special dishes which need to be ordered 24 hours in advance; the golden pillow (see below), Hainanese steamed chicken and herbal duck among them.

For the uninitiated, Nyonya food is the aromatic fusion of Chinese and Malay ingredients, spices and cooking techniques. From the 15^th century, Chinese migrants who were mainly young bachelors, settled and married Malay women, creating a whole new culture with its own pathos, food, customs and colourful sartorial style.

Nyonya culture is an important part of Malaysian life, and the well-known dishes such as kuih lapis, Kapitan chicken curry, assam laksa and otak-otak, are a part of the Malaysian food scene.

We visited Malaysia Nyonya for lunch. Unfortunately neither the rojak (Malaysian salad with shrimp paste sauce) nor the kerabu mango salad was available, but one of my favourites, kuih pie tee ($5.50 for 3) made for a great starter.

Kuih pie tee, or top hats, are crispy cases encasing savoury sautéed vegetables. They are a well-known Nyonya snack and a good introduction to the cuisine. Another traditional Malaysian delicacy is ngoh hiang ($7), its crispy deep-fried bean curd ‘skin’ giving way to 5-spice flavoured pork.  

I had pre-ordered the golden pillow ($28, with rendang instead of the usual chicken curry). This was the highlight; I loved breaking into the bread shell, and tearing pieces of warm bread to dip into the rich gravy.

The wat tan hor ($15) came in a huge serving, with generous pieces of squid, prawn and chicken nestled among the egg-y gravy and there was plenty to share. It could have done with more seasoning, but the kids really enjoyed it.

Crispy eggplant in spicy sauce ($18) had a good contrast between the crisp slices of eggplant and the savoury mince. I found the deep-fried dishes a touch too oily, so it may pay to make a special request if it bothers you.

There is complimentary fruit for dessert, which is a great way to end the meal.

Malaysia Nyonya is a worthwhile visit if you are in the eastern suburbs and you are sure to find many great dishes to delight your taste buds.

Carmella Lee - who grew up in Malaysian Borneo - is the heart and mind behind the Easy Food Hacks blog, which chronicles her fascination with gastronomy, and how to create good food and impress family and friends while putting in minimum effort.

We are lucky enough to live in Birkenhead with a huge range of ethnic restaurants walking distance away in Highbury. But there has not been a decent Malaysian restaurant until recently, when Rasa Sayang opened.

I admit to having takeaways before - the classic Mee goreng which is very authentic and great value at only $10. But now we could sit down and enjoy some other dishes from the large menu.

On first appearance it is a bit basic, but in my experience, the more basic the décor, the better the food. And Rasa Sayang is delicious proof!

It was a cool night, but that would not stop us enjoying some spicy food. We promptly ordered the satay and Malaysian Style deep fried tofu, while we debated the main courses.

While waiting for our entrees we got talking to a Malaysian couple next to us who are regulars (as in three or four times a week… which says something about the food).

They were each getting stuck in to a huge bowl of noodle soup. So we asked what the dishes were, and could not say no to a taste. The spicy prawn soup was laden with jumbo fresh prawns, and was much like a laksa, but without the coconut cream (a small concession to our waistlines I guess).

It had a good amount of spice (by the way the Rasa Sayang serves all dishes medium spice, unless you ask otherwise – so no wimpish versions for us Europeans).

The other dish was Lo Mein soup – egg noodles again, and with a lot of vinegar to give it a sharp but pleasant taste. At $13 and $11 each, they were more than enough for one big eater.

Our food arrived promptly. The tofu was very colourful and fresh looking, with sweet chilli sauce and crunchy peanuts and refreshing julienned cucumber complementing the tofu that was fried delicately, no grease. A perfect balance of texture and tastes.

Then the classic chicken satay - five generous sticks, and the essential peanut sauce. They used the thigh meat which is always better for curries, and was chargrilled well to impart the smoky taste of street food.

Our mains arrived in random order, which is part of the charm of Asian food, and our table was covered with four mains (yes there were only two of us but we were planning on leftovers…).

Our helpful hostess Diana had advised us on a suitable mix of dishes and flavour, so we could appreciate chef’s skills.

The beef rendang is a classic Malaysian dish – and did not disappoint. It arrived sizzling on a platter and we could smell the pungent spices before we saw it. Moist chunks of beef (one of the tasty cheaper cuts). Covered with the dark, rich almost dry, curry sauce, it delivered a strong umami flavour that we had been craving.

The Assam fish fillet was firm fleshed Ling, ideal to match the tamarind and other spices. Another generous serving and a tangy complement to the beef. Our Kway Teow noodles were fresh and smoky tasting, with chicken beef and prawns accented by the crunchy bean sprouts.

And finally the Sambal long beans – bright green and crunchy, with slight blistering from the hot wok, drenched in salty sambal sauce, and topped with more juicy prawns.

We had chosen well, as all dishes used different ingredients and cooking methods, yet they all complemented well to give us a fine feast (and lunches for the next two days).

We will be back to Rasa Sayang – a very authentic Malaysian restaurant, cooked by someone who knows his stuff.

David has been in NZ for nine years and most recently came from the famous KK on the city side…and he did bring some diners with him, so he must be doing something right.

By Greig Buckley

www.kai.co.nz

Anna King Shahab is an Auckland-based freelance writer who loves to cook, eat, discover new ingredients and places that also love good food, eat some more, and then sit down and write about all of those things. Anna writes regularly for Taste, Metro and KiaOra magazines, and has a food blog at www.eatsbyanna.com

I’d heard Sri Makhota was a neighbourhood favourite, and knew they’d opened a second branch in Newton (207 Symonds St, Auckland) last year, so I anticipate some mighty fine fare.

We arrive just after opening time – dining with youngsters is best done early, for the benefit of both child and fellow diners. The décor here is basic but tidy, and with the seating and menu geared towards groups, it’s the perfect place to take a bunch of friends or family. Photos of the dishes on the menu come in handy, especially when you’re having trouble choosing between so many delicious sounding dishes.

From the short entrée menu, we choose spring rolls and chicken stay. They arrive swiftly and are tasty, but nothing special. With a love of sour and spicy flavours, there’s plenty to tempt us from the list of mains, and we hone in on a few interesting sounding dishes – the Sour Chicken and the Prawns with Sator Nuts. But our waiter is adamant we should have neither – the Sour Chicken isn’t popular (not that that has ever dissuaded me), and the prawn dish he says is “smelly”.

With the help of Google, I later learn that ‘sator nuts’ are the beans from the ‘stinky bean’ pod – my curiosity is aroused and I’ll order them next time. But on this occasion we decide to let the waiter guide us, and opt for the Assam Fish Fillets and the Nonya Chicken, with steamed rice and roti to mop it all. The table is packed with food in a flash, while around us the tables start to fill and the place grows a bustling vibe.

The fish is the highlight – succulent pieces of ling with a crisp coating, in an addictive Assam sauce – sour, sweet, and slightly spicy. There’s a lot of onion involved, and, along with the sauce, it’s almost like a relish to accompany the fish. This – not the pink gloop you find in takeaway joints - is the real sweet and sour.

The Nonya Chicken is more richly spiced, with the presence of curry leaves evident. The chicken has a coating that’s just a bit too thick for my liking, but the rich sauce is lovely mopped up with light, flaky roti. Portions are very generous; you’ll walk out with enough for the next day’s lunch.

We’ll be back to Sri Makhota to explore the menu further – both the popular and the more adventurous dishes.

Having heard about New Zealand’s version of the Malaysia Kitchen Programme, which celebrates Malaysian cuisine globally, I decided to break away from my usual Thai or Japanese lunchtime jaunts and acquaint myself with all things South East Asia.

A quick squizz at the Malaysia Kitchen website gave me a map of New Zealand which then helpfully directed me to a Malay restaurant near me. I chose Sri Penang on Auckland’s K Road, not only because it was a stunning city of sails day and I wanted to watch the vibrancy of Auckland peeps go about their day, but I had heard a murmur about this little restaurant with the big heart and gorgeous, fresh food.

On arrival just before 1pm, the restaurant was busy and fun. One table of five was a family having a catch-up, next over was 10 creative types on a working lunch, at the back a man in his shorts, running singlet and trainers alongside a couple of mates and closer to me, a businessman on his own and then finally the table of three bulky, tattooed blokes. That’s K Road for you – a melting pot.

As it was school holidays, I had Mister 6 with me (who’s always keen to try something new food-wise. aaah, the life of a foodie’s kid). Sri Penang’s service was excellent and we were seated straight away, despite the bustling tables and the fact we were running very late for our noon booking.

A stylish ceramic teapot was placed in front of us with aromatic Chinese Tea. I was calmed instantly.

Mister 6 got a long glass of water and we had a look at the menu. Lucky us… $10 lunch day. Oh okay, so that’s why the place is chocka. We didn’t mind though, the vibe was perfect and we went on to choose our meals carefully.

Roti Curry, with an extra Roti for Mister 6 (I could’ve eaten 3 more Roti, there were pastry perfect):

Mee Goreng (just ’cause it’s Malaysian and you have to go traditional!)

And Mister 6 chose the Hokkien noodles which I thought was a nice Japanese nod to South East Asia plus it was laden with fresh squid, chicken and the most divine sauce.

The friendly waitress had suggested that it was a lot of food for Mum and son, but we were happy knowing there’d be leftovers for later. She was also extremely helpful in regard to hotness factor, talking us through her preference for spice compared to what ours might be (ie. newbies).

The meals were fast, delicious and huge! And yes, she was spot on with the selection of hotness. We had chosen mild for Matthew and I went with Medium. All three dishes were spectacular. The family of five next door unbelievable all had the Laksa and their meals also looked amazing.

I loved the “no booze on the menu” vibe but the creative types and the tattooed boys were drinking (the latter bringing in their own mini esky of 6 beers). When I enquired as to a cold ale, I was directed across the road to the liquor store. BYO was just $1. I stuck with the tea, but next time, I’ll bring a chilled white wine to enjoy that deletable, spicy food.

Mister 6 insisted on a dessert so we opted for the icecream over the Coconut Sago Pudding, and it was just $3 for a gorgeous Sundae.

All up our meal for two was just $34… Smiley face. $8 for the Roti Curry, $3 for an extra Roti and $10 each for the main meals. On departure, we were given our doggy bag, a marvellous Malaysian smile and a small roll of Mentos lollies. Nice touch. Wonderful spot. 21 years on K Road and Sri Pinang should have the well-deserved title of best restaurant on the strip

By Trudi Nelson

www.fresh.co.nz

Laura Vincent aka Hungryandfrozen is a food blogger who loves creating recipes, following Nigella's every move, thinking up song-related puns for her blog post titles, and introducing butter where possible in her life. She has lived in Wellington with her partner for six years and loves the place. She is hoping to write a celebrated cookbook, the sooner the better.

Having entirely forgotten my camera when my partner Tim and I went to dinner at Istana Malaysia (1-5 Allen St, Wellington), I was - fake sigh - bound to return at a later date. With this in mind I can tell you that there's not much nicer than having a calm, solitary lunch of Gado Gado and roti on a day where the wind howls and the rain hits your face at a horizontal angle.

Take one: Tim and I arrive on a Friday evening, and are quickly seated. We mull over the menu while sipping our drinks (vodka and soda water for me, beer for him). While their garlic prawns and Mamak Lamb Soup sound wonderful, it is my love of all things satay which influences our choice of starter, their beef skewers with peanut sauce. It's gorgeous - six skewers of chewy, juicy beef, with a sweet, thick and nutty sauce to coat them with. I do not exaggerate when I say that I could happily drink the stuff.

Tim's main of Lamb Murtabak - light dough filled with lamb and potato with a spicy dipping sauce - is unbelievably good and I would've been preoccupied with stealing it off him if it wasn't for the distraction of my own Udang Sambal. Fat, succulent prawns coated in a rich, hot, yet fresh-tasting sauce, to be pulled from their crisp tails and eaten whole. Needless to say, I end up a little messy after this. To mop everything up with, we have two soft, deliciously buttery roti. I'm not sure if butter was actually used in the making of them, but there was certainly that fluttery, nutty flavour present. We are too full after this to try out the pudding menu, and emerge into the cold night feeling pleasantly warmed by the spices.

Take two: I return for lunch, chased inside by pelting rain. I'm very grateful when a heater is turned on overhead to make me more comfortable. Gado gado is a bit of a classic, and Istana Malaysia do it well, with a focus on quality ingredients. Fresh, milky tofu, a commendable array of vegetables including potatoes; snap peas; beans; carrots and broccoli, and more of that magical peanut sauce. It's truly a brilliant combination. Lucky for me I have room for pudding this time, and it is with pleasure that I consume their sago - slippery pearls swimming in thick coconut milk swirled with smoky caramel palm sugar.

The fresh, spicy flavours of Malaysia really do make for excellent winter food, although I'd want that cooling sago all through the summer too. Now that I've been there twice, I truly can't recommend Istana Malaysia highly enough.

Keen foodie Sanya Ram is the wife of the President of the Auckland Malaysian Society, Ashvin Sood

Arriving at Navas (14 Ponsonby Road, Auckland), you walk in to a warm and welcoming setting with gorgeous aromas coming from the open kitchen. The hosts are friendly and the chef is happy to come out and chat to patrons making it a great atmosphere.

When we visited, the wonderful smells from the kitchen immediately made us very hungry and the menu offered a great selection. It included the usual Malaysian favourites such as Satay, Rendang, Nasi Goreng, Laksa, and curries, as well as a few unusual items that caught our interest, such as the Tioman Seafood Medley, Mamak’s lamb soup and Murtabak.

We started with the vegetarian samosas (below right), which were absolutely wonderful. The small triangles were a great treat with a crispy crust and a scrumptious filling.

After much deliberation we decided on the Tioman Seafood Medley, Fish curry and the Nasi Goreng for our mains. The Tioman Seafood Medley (below left) was exceptional. The fish, squid, and prawns, were cooked beautifully with a perfectly balanced sauce with hints of lemongrass, coriander in a sweet chilli sauce.

The fish curry was ordered spicy and definitely delivered on heat. The fish was wonderful with okra and eggplant in a curry gravy full of flavour with tamarind and spice. Our son also enjoyed the mild Nasi Goreng which he proclaimed was “very good” and quickly demolished. All meals were thoroughly enjoyed and we were surprised at how quickly they were devoured!

Although we all had eyed the sago pudding on the dessert menu, after all the yummy food we were simply too full to have anything else. We enjoyed the warm welcome and hospitality offered and left with plans to return again soon - I'm looking forward to trying the items on the rest of the menu.