Candice's Cusina: Kedah House Restaurant Simply Delicious

Friday, September 28, 2012

Kedah House Restaurant Simply Delicious

Buffet

I long for the flavours from my childhood growing up in Singapore. So it's a rare treat to find a Vancouver restaurant making good Malaysian food at a bargain. For a value of $9.99, Kedah House Restaurant & Cafe's AYCA (all-you-can-eat) buffet offers a small spread of Malaysian dishes that are fresh and flavourful.

Kedah, Malaysia

Owner and chef, Cheslah Othman, named the restaurant, Kedah, after the Northwest Malaysian region of where she is originally from. Operating the modestly decorated restaurant since 2006, she proudly claims to be one of the pioneers offering authentic Malay cuisine in Vancouver.

Gado Gado plated on the right

I started with the build-your-own Gado Gado salad. I towered lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, sliced fried tofu, shredded turnip and bean sprouts and then topped it all off with a sumptuous savory peanut sauce. The contrast of crisp veggies and savory sauce was wonderfully refreshing.

Tom Yum Soup

When I returned to reload my plate, Cheslah's husband, Mohammed, told me that the beef rendang is a buffet staple after customers protested when they replaced it with other Malay dishes. After tasting the tender beef rendang that was stewed to perfection in a rich coconut curry, I can understand their addiction!

Beef Rendang

The fluffy steamed basmati rice and sambal telur, hard-boiled eggs cooked in chilli paste, team well with the beef rendang. It was culinary nostalgia when the familiar combination of complex flavours reminded me of warm afternoons feasting on hot Malaysian food in an outdoor Singapore hawker centre.

The BEST banana cake!

Light banana cake with kopi, Malay coffee known for its stronger, darker and richer flavours, cap off my meal with a sweet ending. At Kedah House you can expect friendly service, bold flavours and good value - a humble approach to simply delicious food.