Yin Malaysian restaurant — Restaurant in Sydney

(3.5 stars) Colour me excited about a Malaysian restaurant popping up in Hurlstone Park. Owner Lily Lo is from Sabah in Malaysian Borneo, and with the help of chef Jackie, she’s putting out a handwritten menu of Malaysian-Chinese favourites at Yin Malaysian Restaurant. Being from a fishing village, seafood is well-represented on the menu, with some items like pipis and mud crab necessitating a call to order in advance before 1pm on the day you wish to dine. A big Malaysian family from Malacca was taking advantage of this on the evening I visited.

Squid ($25.80), served deep-fried and doused in initially sweet Singapore chilli sauce is something you can order in situ. Ditto soft shell crab ($23.80) that’s enjoyable in saucy salted egg eaten over reasonably priced bowls of Hainan chicken rice ($3.50). Despite the seafood focus, it’s the dark and well-integrated curry beef ($16.80) that will draw us back. It arrives with a roti for that price, with an extra one able to be added on for four bucks. While the roti are more crisp than I prefer, they’re still great drowned in the gravy of this standout curry.

Adorning the two-tone aqua and white walls of this simple space are images of the dishes in case you need more inspiration. You’ll find all the usual Malay favourites from laksa to char kway teow to chicken satay served with crisp onion and cucumber and a pot of well-reduced satay sauce ($13.80/4). Prices are very reasonable, especially when you factor in being...

Minus stars if I could.

I’m extremely disappointed with my recent experience at Yin Malaysian Restaurant, Canterbury. My mum called ahead to order a lobster noodle dish, yet at no point were we told the price. When we arrived, we were blindsided with a bill of $740 for a 3kg lobster—and told it was too late to cancel because the lobster had already been killed.

When I questioned the owner, her only defence was that my mum “didn’t ask” the price. That’s not just poor service — it’s taking advantage of people.

If I’d known the cost, I never would have gone ahead with the order. Price transparency should be standard, especially for something this expensive. I won’t be back — and I strongly suggest others confirm pricing before placing...

The food here was glorious. It was very delicious and cooked well. The hai nan chicken was up there being one of my favourites. The bah Kut teh was so good I loved all the soft bone pork in the soup.

The crab was the star. We ordered the crab a few days before and asked for female crab with all the Roe, which is seasonal along with the pipis. The crab was so good and pipi with the sambal sauce was interesting I haven't had it in that style before. Not pictured is the salted egg calamari which was also excellent.

Make sure to order the seafood over the phone before coming to not be let down. The aunty here was so nice and hospitable. Very welcoming. Parking on side streets...