Lazzat on Lygon is up the city-end. They do halal certified Indonesian-Malaysian-Indian food that is clearly pitched at students from the nearby universities. The good: It’s extremely cheap. Actually, I’ll go out on a limb and say it’s Carlton’s cheapest eatery. For under $ 8 you can get a plate of rice, vegie and meat curries, or a rich noodle dish. I had the Nasi Campur, a traditional Malay dish, and a soft drink and it all came to less than $ 11. The basic interior feels authentically Asian(complete with plastic table covers) and the service was fast and friendly. It’s got a nice buzz inside and you can also get take away if you’re in a real rush. The bad: The food is incredibly rich. I think I gained about three kilos just from breathing in the oil particles that float around this café. My friend couldn’t finish his Rendang as it was overly sweet and had a thick layer of oil sitting on top. Health is clearly not a consideration here. If you look at it from a dollar-to-calorie perspective, the value here is unsurpassed even by the cheapest fast-food chain. This will certainly appeal to some people, but personally I’d prefer to spend a little more and get a little less.
