On this night we walked into Mamalee’s second location unaware that they had a new one opened up in the outdoor plaza between Stadium Skytrain Station and Tinseltown Mall.
We were originally bound for a restaurant that served liquor, but seeing this and having the opportune time to try it, I jumped at the chance. And luckily my guest agreed, and was willing to forgo drinking.
I have previously tried the food on their original West Broadway location so thought I knew what to expect. What I didn’t know prior to this visit was that Mamalee is a family affair and that their original location is run by the mother & daughter of said family, and that this one by the father & son.
Upon hearing this, I cheekily asked our server which location is better, and he clever replied that I should decide for myself. And having had this one recently I can confirm that their new location is my preferred of the two: for setting and the food. One it is new and well maintained, where the other worn and well loved. And both adds to the vibe in its own way.
We would order staples to get the best feel for their food. For appetizers I could not pass up on their Roti, which was some of the flakiest I have ever had. It reminded me of a butter croissant in taste and outward texture, but with a more chewy end. A generous dip in curry is needed as the flat bread doesn’t sop up the sauce all too well. However, we still found ourselves left with more bread than curry and resulted to dipping what remained in our laksa below.
For their Laksa you have the option of egg noodles or vermicelli, and if you can’t decide I suggest getting a mix of both for a more traditional approach and the bonus of two enjoyable textures melded into one. The broth was wonderfully rich and creamy with the sweetness of coconut milk. Deliciously nostalgic with plenty of beansprouts, tofu puff, and shrimp. Where they lost me was with the imitation crab meat sticks thrown right in. They tasted good, but it throw me off of its authenticity.
We also ordered a large serving of their Hainanese Chicken Rice, which is what Mamalee is better known for. Normally the serving comes with only one bowl of soup, but they were generous enough to give us two, one for my guest and one for myself. And I am glad they did. This was a delicious Pork bone broth with carrot and tomato. Warm and comforting inside to out, and as rich in flavour as they’re laksa. So far I liked everything and even the soup was a win.
As for the Hainanese Chicken the tender chicken seemed to melt and it was amazing. I was grateful that they were generous with the included sauce, because it genuinely exemplify the dish. As it stands they are my go to for Hainanese Chicken, as I can’t seem to find anything closer to what I have had in Malaysia.
Overall outstanding. I am proud to declare that we ate it all in one seating, between two women who enjoyed themselves. I will come back to this location specifically the next time I am craving Malaysian cuisine. And when I do I would like to order everything above again, plus their Nasi Lemak, curry beef brisket, and desserts to try. And if I am right, I will like them too.
Mamalee – Chinatown
186 Keefer Place, Vancouver, BC V6B 6L4
604-900-9800
mamalee.ca
