Southeast Asian Persuasian

Malaysia is a country rich in a mixture of culture and traditions. In the 15th Century, monsoons brought the ships of the Arabs, Indians and Chinese who traded spices, silk and precious stones, many remained, married local women, and the slow conversion to Islam began. In the 16th Century, the British, the Dutch and the Portuguese arrived (they brought chilies with them) and all of whom remained for some time to rule the country. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies in the area and brought in more Indians and Chinese to work in the plantations and mines. Many of these Asians stayed too. All these influences had a major impact on the culture, language, social customs as well as the current day Malay cuisine.

Being greatly influenced by bordering countries, like Indonesia, India, China and the Middle East – the culinary styling is exotic, mostly spicy and flavorful – utilizing an array of spices and herbs. The worldwide popular cuisine of China's Canton and that of southern India are important sources of Malaysia's gastronomic heritage, as is the superb cuisine of Thailand.

Rice was always a staple, and being a major part of Indian and Chinese food too, remained vital to the diet. At each meal, a generous serving accompanies a variety of dishes, including fish, seafood, vegetables, and poultry. Muslim Malays excluded pork and Indian Hindus excluded beef but the delicate Chinese flavorings, Indian spices and herbs from South East Asia remained prevalent. Coconut milk is ever-present in Malaysia, and contributes to the delicious smoothness of curries and other dishes. There is a range of other flavors, such as, sweet, sharp, and sour, all created through the use of items like ginger, tamarind, cloves, lime, shrimp paste, pepper, turmeric and lemon grass. Fresh tropical fruits and succulent seafood are featured ingredients, and the chilies and curries of India and Thailand form the foundation of spicy preparations

Forever exploring the many different neighborhoods and soaking in the local elements of my New York City, stumbling upon Malaysia Grill for the first time was a great discovery. It is tucked away on 104th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. It’s a clean and cozy space, not many tables, and simple décor. The wait staff is incredibly friendly. I am not certain how authentic the Malaysian dishes are here, but the waiter pointed out a few true Malaysian dishes, so we ordered the majority of his suggestions. In general, the menu is extensive and includes many Thai and Chinese dishes. Everything we ordered was fresh, cooked very well and totally delicious.

Gado-Gado is a traditional dish in Indonesia, and the ingredients vary. Here it’s a combination of boiled eggs, cucumbers, crushed peanut, tomato & jicama, on bed of lettuce drizzled and a peanut sauce.

Roti Canai is a crispy Malaysian style pancake served with curry chicken dipping sauce. This was light and melted in your mouth; the dipping sauce was so amazing. (I tell you, the curry chicken sauce with a bowl of rice is a comforting meal in itself)

The Chicken Rendang was slowly cooked with a paste of chili, ground onions, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, nutmeg, lemongrass & potato simmered in rich coconut curry gravy, the result was a fabulous dish with subtle and complex flavors.

The Curry Seafood was bubbling when it arrived and filled with fried bean curd, string bean, snow peas, eggplant, okra, tomato, waterchestnuts, broccoli, peppers, shrimp, scallop, squid & fish in this luxuriously thick, rich and creamy curry coconut gravy – just the right amount of seasoning and spices, eaten over coconut rice – it was definitely the right choice. The coconut rice was fluffy and was mildly flavored - just the way I like it!

So many neighborhoods are overrun with establishments that overcharge for quality that just doesn't measure up, so, if you want to try some Southeast Asian food in general, you'll get great value, quality - plus service with a giant smile…

MALAYSIA GRILL
224 WEST 104th STREET
212-579-1333