Kedai Makan malaysian food

Having grown up in Singapore, the most authentic place in Seattle for malaysian/Singaporean food is Kedai Makan. Kedai Makan is Bahasa Melayu بهاس ملايو for “shop to eat”

At most “Hawker center” shops in Singapore, you can tell a quality of the vendor by the special type of chili sauce called sambal chili sauce. Sambal chili sauce is a cooked chili sauce made with fermented shrimp paste called Belacan and fresh chilis and spices. Each restaurant has their own take of the recipe . Kedai Makan claims that it makes their own sambal chili sauce and it tastes authentic.

The local spot near Capitol hill is filled with people doing takeout and I was one of them in the line. By the time we arrived, many item were sold out so I ordered the lamb murtabak. Lamb murtabak is a indian originated dish which translates to oil pancake wrapped in lamb. The indian pancake is different as it is butter based and is very flaky. It is then wrapped with minced lamb with spices and then pan fried with coconut oil. You may think, why is a malaysian food place serving indian lamb pancake. Ah, these guys at Kedai Makan knows what they are doing. Singapore and Malaysia is a very multiracial region. Malays, Indians, Indonesians, Chinese all live and eat together. Thus, there are often chinese adaptations of Malay food, etc. At food courts, you will always find a variety of Chinese, Malay and Indian food together.

The lamb murtabak is piping hot and the skin is buttery soft and flakes off easily, instantly reminds me of Singapore days. Sense of taste is an amazing instrument that can teleport you back in time.

Traditionally, the murtabak is pan fried in coconut oil with fresh curry leaves but fresh curry leaves are difficult to hunt down in the Pacific northwest.

It is also served with daal curry and pickled red onions. The acid from the pickles balances the richness of the murtabak nicely. These pickles are very easy to make too, a mix of water, onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and sugar and some white wine vinegar.

*Note the store has expanded and moved into a bigger location in Capitol Hill*

1802 Bellevue Ave, Seattle

Hours: Wed - Saturday: 5pm to 11pm: Sunday 5pm to 10pm CLOSED Monday and Tuesday