Temasek – Parramatta, Sydney.
‘Malaysian/Singaporean’ cuisine stands out amongst its other counterparts as the only option that can truly satisfy – for me – a thwarting need for a home-style meal that is infused with exotic spices, which challenge your tastebuds unwaveringly. Temasek is self-spoken as one of the most popular choices if my desire were to be experienced by another individual, or more simply, a restaurant that effortlessly attracts diners who are after some malay/Singaporean food.
The most accurate description of Temasek is that it’s a simple eatery with minimalistic designs – an odd ornament scattered here and there, which accentuates the focus of the restaurant – the food. Diners arrive early in the night and an eager crowd of walk-in customers can slowly gather drawn by the curious smell of pungent belacan and strong spices, waiting in the arcade-lane for a table. The waiters are swift in manner and efficiently courteous: they don’t really need to impress any ‘high’ degree of attention to your needs, they know that you’re expectations of whatever you are ordering is already positive, and being influenced by what you’ve heard or what you had last time. (So get on with it).
Here Comes The Food
Coconut Drink: Ahhhhh they must have ran out of ice or something because I had about a 2cm length of ice floating on top of the water, whereas last time I had a decent plonk of ice. No biggie, the ripe coconut flesh infused its subtle sweet flavour into the drink and made you addictively drain it without realising that half the drink was already gone before any dishes had arrived.
Hainan Chicken (whole, but you can order half for a smaller groups, or yourself!): What I personally find to be the benchmark in Sydney. The chicken is tender and generous, with a layer of skin that lazily falls off, for those that are health conscious. Mixed with the garlic, or the dark soy or the chilli; or all three, it’s a hit with everybody. Though obviously it’s hard to mess up Hainan chicken, Temasek’s preparation process of boiling the chicken in a stock leads to a resulting dish that I would readily recommend to anybody dining at this restaurant. Oh, and don’t be afraid to ask for more sauces…I always seem to use half of the provided ginger just for one piece of chicken….
Chicken Rice: flavoursome, a pleasant oily-consistency, a definite must to accompany your eating experience at Temasek. It might have a hint of coconut milk as it normally goes into the preparation of the rice, but I’m stuffing myself as though I am manic deprived of one of life’s pleasures, to really notice it.
Sambal Calamari: It might sound like a blistering inferno in the mouth, but not all sambal is to that extreme. We asked for a milder amount as we really didn’t feel like braving the pain of enjoying this dish at its optimum spice levels. It had a tomato-texture and certainly was much milder than we thought it would be. But, nonetheless, the calamari was springy in consistency and easily cupped the sauce so that you got a decent burst kick of flavours in your mouth.
Pork with lemon grass: by itself it didn’t really stand out amongst the other big hitters on the table. But when you mix it with the rice, the interplay of flavours is well-marred such that doesn’t lack as much stature as before. The pork is a little chewy coupled with the tang and zing from the lemon.
Kangkung Belacan: A staple dish that has a welcomingly distinct emanating smell from the belacan: a dried shrimp paste from the serving of morning glory (lol). It has a depth of flavour from the addition of belacan as well as simple, yet effective, use of garlic and chilli.
The Roxy Arcade
71 George St
Parramatta NSW 2150
Phone (02) 9633 9926
D
May 19th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
oh, i’ve heard so many good things about temasek. i really need to try it out soon! the hainan chicken looks delicious
May 19th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
ooh some of my favourite dishes at temasek!
May 19th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I’m ashamed to admit I still haven’t been here even though my mum is Sinagporean. Have you tried the Hainan rice at Ginger and Spice? That’s fantastic. And yes more of that ginger sauce please!
May 19th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Love frequenting this place from time to time! Hainan chicken with chicken rice seems to be a classic combo with the group I go with. Either that or the Laksa, which I believe they use the Hainan chicken for the chicken variety.
May 20th, 2009 at 12:13 am
Ah, so so good. Yet so so far from me. Could do with some water spinach right about now
May 20th, 2009 at 12:48 am
i love morning glory
next time you go Dezz, bring back some take-out for the rest of us hehe.
btw full-text feed works in my feed reader .:R
May 20th, 2009 at 9:39 am
ARGH I want it all! I’ve never tried Temasek before but I always hear good things about it, I must trek out there sometime! And I totally agree with Lorraine, the chicken rice at Ginger and Spice is absolutely amazing!
May 20th, 2009 at 11:53 am
ahhh chicken rice doesn’t look hard to do, but it can be really tricky to make it so that the chicken is uber tender… and ohyeahbaby love the ginger. lovelovelove!
May 20th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
this place is so on my hit list!
heyhey it is possible to mess up hainan chicken D= .. I say this coz I had a crap one yesterday, the chicken was overboiled and there was no soya sauce !
mmm but the one you have here looks glisteningly gorgeous
and i spy PLENTY of garlic and ginger and soy
May 20th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Betty: I implore you to try it out! The hainan chicken is lip-smackingly good.
Chris: can’t go wrong with those dishes as they are pretty much hit or a rare instance of complete and utter fail haha.
Lorraine: Yep yep I’ve tried the Hainan chicken and rice and Gingerand Spice. Actually, I went last week .. I find that the kangkung belacan is just (by a teeny-teeny) margin better at Temasek than what I ate at Ginger and Spice. But when comparing the chicken they are virtually indistinguishable in flavour.
Simon: Chicken Rice + Hainan Chicken = 1 hit k.o. in terms of satisfaction.
Forager: if it’s too far…diy !
timmeh: gogo group outing to temasek
Steph: give it a try – it’s worth the trek for some authentic malay/singapore food
shez: I find myself at points throughout the meal just spooning the ginger straight into my rice (instead of the chicken) and eating it that way haha
Grace: the presentation of the chicken definitely makes the dish look good, not to mention the taste itself
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May 20th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
ohhh Hinan chicken! It’s got to be one of the greatest asian dishes on the earth – simply delish!!
May 20th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
will have to revisit one day. have you tried Alice’s in Thornleigh to compare the Malaysian dishes?
s
May 21st, 2009 at 12:01 am
Kangkung belachan and rice. That’s all I need in life!
May 21st, 2009 at 12:03 am
@Lorraine: I find that Temasek still has upper hand in the chicken rice over G&S. I also remembering hearing that they are related somehow but forgotten the details of even if thats true haha
and yes much lol
“timmeh Says: i love morning glory”
I am so mature XD
and d00d I’ve had many a crappy Hainan chickens… so sad
May 21st, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Eating like you were deprived of life’s pleasures? I’m glad you found a satisfying meal at last!
May 21st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
The chicken looks deliciously tender and moist… mmmmm
May 22nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Wah…kangkung…. it’s very2 damn cheap in Indonesia… you can get a bunch for like hmmm…25 cents ? Heheh… Yes, I love kangkung too… you can cook it in the simple way (like belacan), or the hot plate style (with the beef and seafood)…yummy !
May 26th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Ah – Chicken Rice and Hainan Chicken brings back memories to my trip to Malaysia in 07. So gotta try Temasek!!