Taste of Malaysia

80 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

As a lover of char kway teow, the smoky and savoury rice noodle dish from Malaysia, I’m always keen to try new places that serve it. Recently, I even enjoyed lunch at Lulu’s Char Kway Teow in Melbourne, a restaurant dedicated solely to the dish. I hadn’t tried the version at Taste of Malaysia, on Elizabeth Street in the city, so it was time to knock it off my list. It’s an unassuming space that feels relaxed and like you could be in Kuala Lumpur for a quick city lunch.

We ordered the char kway teow ($17.90), of course, and a serve of nasi lemak ($17.90), with beef rendang and chicken curry. The nasi lemak came out almost as quick as our server left with the order. And it looked so good. A plate with steamed rice, the two curries, egg, peanuts, fried anchovies, sliced cucumber and sambal. The meat was tender and the curry spot on. I could spy other diners with the whole chicken leg variation of nasi lemak, which seemed their most popular order, but I was in for a quick lunch and not up for picking meat from the bone today, so I stuck with the curries. The char kway teow (called fried kuey teow on their menu) was a steaming pile of rice noodles, sweet, spicy and smokey, with beanshoots, egg, king prawns and calamari. Our medium level of chilli was perfect and was a nice match on a hot day with a cold teh tahrik ($6), black tea with condensed milk over ice.

Bangkok City Thai Street Food

Shop 2/40 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

We’re always on the lookout for good quality lunch food in the city. Since opening in November 2022, Bangkok City has delivered just that – good value, well made, quick Thai.

Tapping into family favourite recipes, the menu is a mix of street food classics to order, then a buffet of meat and vegan dishes. For $12.25 you can choose your base (steamed rice, egg rice or noodles) then add three toppings. I chose crispy chicken cashew nut, pork with beans and massaman curry.

It was a generous serve and the flavours were clean and delicious, which we enjoyed eating. The space is kitted out beautifully with a wall of shutter doors and artistic fish sculpture swimming across the roof. For a quick Thai meal I’d be happy to make Bangkok City regular thing.