MALAYSIAN DELIGHT
Verdict : 6.5/10 (It was fine, but not sufficiently Malaysian for me)
On 11 February 2008, D and I went to Malaysian Delight for dinner.
It has recently tripled the dining area and I see this enlargement has increased also the trade (this photo was taken during the day time on a different day). We have been there once in the past (the report here), but this is the first visit since the enlargement.
(The quality of the photos are inferior as I had only mobile phone camera then).
We arrived at around 7:30 and it was 80% full. We were first led to one of two large tables, as all the other smaller ones were occupied, but soon after people started to leave and we were given one of smaller tables. We were seated not far from the door, and as the heater was rather low, we felt cold.
The décor was minimalistic and there is nothing of note. The wooden chairs were surprisingly light. And, unfortunately the toilets were not very clean and a bit smelly.
We ordered some dishes and shared. The first to arrive was my Hainan Chichen Rice (£6.50).
I think Hainan (or Hainanese) chichen rice is eaten also in China, but I know that it is very popular in Malaysia.
The rice was slightly burnt; it is not necessarily a bad thing (it adds roasted smell to the rice), but I have never seen burnt chicken rice.
This is a closer shot of the chicken.
The chicken was fattier than those I used to eat in Malaysia, but I think it is due to the difference of quality of chicken between here and there. What surprised me was the quantity of soy sauce, as the chicken in this dish is usually served white; it was quite different from those I saw in Malaysia and in Singapore. I also have to say, however, that there is not strict rule about Hainanese chicken rule, and it can vary from place to place, from cook to cook.
For the price the serving was generous, but in taste wise, there was nothing exciting; not bad but predictable.
This is D's pork chops in red wine, or something else that I don't remember well (£6).
Another not so exciting, ok dish. It was a bit too sweet for me. The pieces of meat were too large to eat with chop sticks. I would have appreciated if I could have knife and folk.
But, the most important thing was D could eat it; he cannot cope with anything too exotic.
These are coca cola chicken wings I chose from the starter section (£3.80). Evidently they did not have minimum intention to serve it as a "starter", and it arrived with and after other main dishes.
They look so black and scary, but, actually, tasted lovely. Even though much of this pile was bones, there was quite a lot of meat to eat. I understood the point of cooking the chicken in coca cola; it gave those wings sweetness and slightly bitter caramel taste. This was a kind of dish that I would order again.
This is gailan (so called Chinese broccoli) sautéed with garlic (£6).
Although it costs as much as the pork dish (above), I don't regret having ordered it. It was served piping hot, tasty, and most of all it added a nice variety to our meal overall.
We did not order drinks (tea was free), and the total bill came to £22.60. We paid £25, and thought it was fair price.
I am not sure if I want to go back soon, as it did not satisfy my cravings for South East Asian cuisine. I might have to try some other dishes, but before, I feel that I would rather go to Village Café. But, you know, many people seem to prefer Malaysian Delight, so you might it too.
Malaysian Delight
8 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham, B5 4ST Map
Tel. 0121 622 3909
