Selera Warisan — Restaurant in Sydney

Tucked away in the vibrant suburb of Marrickville, Sydney, this new Malaysian restaurant promises an authentic taste of home, and it delivers in more ways than one. Located at a convenient spot that’s easy to find, it’s the perfect place for anyone craving the flavors of Malaysia. With its unassuming exterior, you might not expect the level of culinary satisfaction that awaits you, but step inside, and you're greeted with the familiar aromas of spices and flavors that define Malaysian cuisine.

On my visit, I ordered one of my favorite dishes: nasi goreng daging merah. For those unfamiliar, this dish is a fried rice dish topped with succulent beef in a sweet and spicy red sauce. What surprised me about the restaurant's version was how much it reminded me of the nasi goreng daging merah served in Thai restaurants back in Malaysia. The flavor profile brought me straight back to those roadside stalls and casual eateries where the fusion of Thai and Malaysian flavors is so popular.

The beef was cooked perfectly, tender and well-marinated. The sauce was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, with just the right amount of heat to give the dish a kick without overpowering the other flavors. The rice itself was fragrant, and you could tell it had been expertly fried to achieve that slightly crisp texture that all good fried rice dishes should have. Every bite was satisfying, with the sauce soaking into the rice just enough to enhance the dish without making it soggy.

One of the standout features of the dish was how authentic it felt. Malaysian food in Sydney can sometimes lean too far towards Western preferences, but this restaurant sticks to the traditional flavors, which is refreshing. The taste of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and chili in the sauce instantly transported me back to Malaysia. I could easily imagine myself sitting at a humble kedai makan (small eatery) back home, enjoying this meal.

The rest of the menu also looked incredibly promising, with a wide range of classic Malaysian dishes from nasi lemak to laksa and char kway teow. The diversity of the menu reflects the multicultural food heritage of Malaysia, and I look forward to coming back to try more dishes. There is a strong emphasis on authenticity, which is evident in the spices and ingredients used.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming, though simple. It's a no-frills kind of place, but that's exactly what you want when it comes to Malaysian food. The focus here is clearly on the food itself, and that's exactly where it should be. Service was friendly and attentive, with the staff making sure everything was to my satisfaction throughout the meal. It’s also worth noting that the restaurant is reasonably priced, making it an excellent choice for a casual meal or a quick bite with friends.

Overall, this new Malaysian restaurant in Marrickville is a hidden gem that is sure to become a favorite among locals and anyone craving a true taste of Malaysia. Whether you're a fan of Malaysian food or someone looking to try it for the first time, you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend the nasi goreng daging merah if you're after a dish that's packed with flavor and evokes a sense of home. I’ll definitely be returning to explore more of the menu and enjoy another...

When the lease is up it’s time to flip out the neighbourhood. These days, that is usually bottom lined by apartment high rises and planned living spaces for outer city suburb dwelling. Marrickville particularly, was voted in the top 10 coolest suburbs in the world by Timeout, and with decent cause: young polymaths and families living clustered amongst parks, artisanal breweries and eateries and cafe culture out the wah-woo. There’s still tinges of the old however, with a fair few Souvla Taverns, Vietnamese Restaurants and Tuckshops that barely pass the food safety mark, around.

At this new Malaysian eatery that took over an old Aussie tuck shop, no frills or finesse is required. The hilarity of searching this spot on Google Maps and still seeing the food from the previous ownership shows how much it’s just about the food. Ifyou look at these snaps and you see a Van Gogh or Picasso, then we are the same. The sea of curry-based gravy and condiments culminates in full, fragrant and impactful flavours. Everything is cooked down so well that there’s no rogue bits of onion or garlic as it’s all blended in, a sign of great prep, and yet it still has spades of homestyle “ugly delicious” quality.

Malaysians love a Maryland (chicken leg) and this is top pick in various interactions across the menu. The Ayam Kandar is a must for max flavour, and although we didn’t get to try this time (we came it late but mind blown, they’re on till 11:30pm) the Roti Canai comes highly recommended too. I went with the classic Lemak as they had Lung… yes, an amazing offal cut that reminds me of a meatier squid. Richly steeped in coconut milk and spice mixture, there’s plenty of flavour as well as a super tender texture to a cut that can sometimes be chewy.

This is a hell of spot to pull up to as an alternative to your late night kebab or Maccas, if you’re in the area. And even if you’re not, it’s worth going out of the way for.

📍 Selera Warisan, 322 Victoria Rd,...

(3.5 stars) Omela Cafe brings home-style Malay cooking from Kelantan (a state in the northeast of Malaysia) to the busy corner of Victoria Street and Marrickville Road. While the exterior signage is bright pink, the interior is pretty basic. You can choose from the menu or from a steamy hot food bar showing off the dishes of the day. Omela roll them out across their socials if you’re looking for a specific taste of home. We opted to load up a mixed rice plate (nasi campur) with either one ($14) or two ($17) protein-based selections and a vegetable dish. We both found it hard to go past beef rendang: a good but saucy rendition with tender but not dissolving pieces of bone-in beef. For the not-quite-vegetarian option, masak lemak labu pucuk manis is a tasty pumpkin stew cooked in turmeric, anchovies and evaporated milk.

The Kelantan dish, ayam percik, or “chicken splashing” certainly lived up to its name, spraying my dining companion with turmeric and coconut gravy after a simple slip of the spoon. The gravy ate very well over rice, and would be particularly good with roti. Sotong mukbang ($15) was an add-on but it was hard to resist the tender, spicy baby squid. A bowl of sambal was no trouble either, though the flavoursome dishes here don’t really need amping. Neslo ($5) is a popular cold Milo drink. Here it was not quite as silky as the version at Authentic KL Flavors up the road, but still a good way to put your mouth back together...