1063 W. Broadway, Vancouver

Tel: 604-730-9963

Web: http://www.kayamalay.com

Twitter: @kayamalay

Advice: Go with friends and share a selection of dishes.

Ginger Citrus Soda

I had dinner with some friends recently in this warmly inspired colorful dining room, joining me was Emmy Moulechkova, Jonathan Yee and Joe Tong and this was our delicious Malaysian feast. Most of us enjoyed a refreshing Ginger Citrus Soda ($4) that was hand pressed lemon, lime and orange shaken with fresh juices & soda with basil.

Langkawi Coconut Prawns

Lamb Satay Skewers

Mini Soft Shell Crab

We started off sharing a selection of appetizers including the Langkawi Coconut Prawns ($10) deep fried prawns in a light tempura, flavored with shredded coconut; along with an order of the Lamb Satay Skewers ($1.50 per skewer, min 6 skewers per order) grilled marinated skewers with a spicy peanut dip; along with the tasty Mini Soft Shell Crab ($9) crispy soft shell crab sautéed in fresh onion, garlic & shallot with mild chili and fresh Indian black peppercorn.

Roti Canai

Whole Wheat Roti

To accompany our meal we had an order of the regular more traditional Roti Canai ($6) as well as the Whole Wheat Roti ($7) which I quite enjoyed. This was the popular hand-rolled layered flat bread with curry sauce, (2 pieces in each order).

Pumpkin Mixed Mushroom Curry

Seafood Bouillabaisse in Assam Curry Sauce

Halibut & Asparagus

Char Kuey Teow

One of my favourite dishes of the night was next, the Pumpkin Mixed Mushroom Curry ($11) with assorted mushrooms with pumpkin simmered in curry tamarind spice and coconut cream. The next dish that we all shared was the  Seafood Bouillabaisse in Assam Curry Sauce ($22) Prawns, fish, mussel, & cuttlefish in spicy turmeric coconut sauce made with tamarind, galangal, lemongrass, & ginger, this dish could have used a bit more spice, turning about the level a notch. The Halibut & Asparagus ($20) was outstanding and this was the 2^nd time that I have had it, the halibut was stir fried with asparagus, ginger, & garlic. The last of the entrees was the delicious Char Kuey Teow ($10) fried flat rice noodle with sweet soy sauce, tiger prawn, fish cake, squid, bean sprout, & egg.

Banana Leaf Coconut Rice

Nasi Kunyit

Organic Five Grain Rice

None of us could decide on which bowl of rice to have to accompany our dishes, so we ordered these 3 rice dishes, my favourite was the Banana Leaf Coconut Rice ($2) Banana leaf wrapped rice cooked with coconut milk; followed by the Nasi Kunyit ($2) rice prepared with turmeric coconut milk; and lastly the Organic Five Grain Rice ($2.50).

Pisang Goreng

Kuih Dadar

For dessert we shared the Pisang Goreng ($6) Deep fried banana served warm with ice cream and my favourite of the two, the Kuih Dadar ($6) Hand-rolled crepes flavored with pandan juice, filled with grated coconut steeped in Malaysian palm sugar.

Review by: Richard Wolak