We have driven past the unassuming Berempah on Willoughby Road for a couple of years and have been curious about the quality of the Malaysian fusion cuisine on offer here. We finally satisfied our curiosity recently and dropped in for a weekend dinner.
The restaurant is relatively small, but cosy and the service is efficient – all the ingredients for a decent neighbourhood eatery. At first, we were disappointed to find that their Hainan Chicken Rice is no longer on the menu, but Berempah more than made up for it with other tasty Malaysian options like their buttery, flaky Roti Canai with fish curry and vegetable dhal to start off the meal.
Roti Canai, $6
We also enjoyed their fragrant Prawns Curry with juicy big tiger prawns, eggplant and okra, cooked in a fish stock with coconut milk, which went well with the subtly scented coconut rice. We found their signature Beef Rendang to be something a bit different from the conventional versions, with a thicker and more strongly spiced coconut sauce.
Prawns Curry, $23.9
Beef Rendang, $20.9
The piping hot bite-sized crispy chicken pieces for the namesake Ayam Berempah were an addictive hit – we loved the mix of spices used to elevate this guilty pleasure. Their Sambal Kangkung featuring water spinach stir fried in Berempah’s sambal sauce was also a delicious blend of garlic and chilli that kept our tastebuds happy.
Ayam Berempah, $17.9
Sambal Kangkung, $13.9
The authentic flavours and quality cooking on show at Berempah impressed us as Malaysian cuisine aficionados. We can see why there was a full house here on a Sunday night for dinner and we’ll be back to try more of their extensive menu.
Berempah
533 Willoughby Road, Willoughby NSW 2068
Phone: (02) 9967 2464
