Norsiah’s Kitchen

Solid find near campus. It’s not going to win any awards on innovation or ambiance, but for a cheap and fast lunch fix, you can’t go wrong. $ 7 for rice, two meats, and a veggie. They serve some good Malay staples. It’s cafeteria style, so point at what you want as you walk through.
Cash only, self service water is in the fridge. Ask for whatever sauce/​gravy on your rice if you want as well.

All them naysayers know naught a thing of Malaysian fare! You gotta be selective with which reviews you pay attention to people! (As I wrote the review I realised what the negative reviewers were trying to say… Read on for a better picture.)
I went despite reading various reviews saying the food was mediocre and that the place had seen better days.
Craving for a hearty Malay feed I went ahead and gave Norsiah’s Kitchen a go and I was not disappointed but I wasn’t overtly wowed either.
I’ll be honest and say that I walked in not expecting much and my expectations dropped even more when I saw haphazard way in which the food trays were organised. The sauces were spilled from one tray to the next, probably due to the way they plate up the food. The low expectations explain the lack of effort in my photography. Sorry guys!
A couple of key words came up when I read the reviews on Urbanspoon. They were ‘fried chicken’ and ‘sambal sauce’. I made sure I tried the fried chicken and asked them to add the sambal sauce on the side.
The fried chicken was nice and crispy but I felt that it lacked the spice punch of traditional Malay fried chicken. It should be more fragrant and probably a little saltier. The sambal sauce was okay. Just okay because there wasn’t enough spice (Again!) and too watered down for my liking. The two complimented each other well, the sauce making up for the blandness of the chicken.
I also had Tofu with Tao Gey (bean sprouts) which was too salty and Beef Rendang (A thick curry) which was also a tad too salty but the meat was fall-​off-​the-​bone tender, so it was definitely a saving grace to the meal. The curry was not quite thick enough to what I would call a ‘rendang’. It was a little watery.
All of that for $ 7, I think its a pretty good deal. I’ll say this, I finished the whole plate of food because I was pretty hungry and because I believe we should never waste food.
I ordered a cuppa the famous Teh Tarik (lit: pulled tea Google it its quite a sight to watch it made traditionally) for $ 2.50(?) and a 10 min wait. I was quite disappointed as it was watered down and it took so long to be made. The tea is made in batches due to its popularity. I actually think I can make a better Teh. Sorry to the Uncle who made my tea!
So! Here comes the long awaited conclusion. It was okay. I will probably not go back unless I was desperate. I really wanted to write a raving review for this place but upon thinking back on my experience I realised that it was what I have to call it a mediocre one. I give it ⁵⁄₁₀.

This place can’t be beaten for price. It has a wide menu choice which contains some well worth trying Nasi Goreng dishes. Also contains a deal for three items for $ 6. Food is tasty and you can choose your level of spice. You’d be forgiven for missing this place as it doesn’t stand out, being set a little bit away from the road next to number three tram stop. Keep your eyes peeled though and give this place a try. You won’t be disappointed.

There are places that lie to you. Their outside appears to have no consequence at all. They’re nondescript. You pass them everyday and never consider going in a trying it out.
The South East Asian restaurant Norsiah’s Kitchen has this feel about it. You’d be forgiven for never giving this place a go. Near a tram station on Swanston street seems a little like a nothing place to be.
The food that comes out of here is however, simple. Simple, tasy and satisfying. The rice servings are huge, with menu items like eggplant in chilli, chicken curry and more. The spices are great without being artificially over the top (you know the chilli sauce you find that makes your face explode, but it’s chemicals? It’s not here, thankfully)
Never busy enough to serve you within five minutes of walking in, Norsiah’s hidden winnings are well worth discovering for yourself.