Malaysian on our minds

DcFüd apparently was craving Malaysian on Saturday. While Zaf was heading to Penang with Maw, I decided to give Malaysia Kopitiam, at 1827 M. Street NW, a try.

Using the Washingtonian’s cheap dining guide as our, well, guide, my three companions and I started our meal with chicken satay and an order of roti canai, a flat bread served with a spicy, curry-flavored, stew-like sauce of potatoes and chicken. The satay was arguably the best I’ve had, competing with Pongsri Thai Restaurant in Manhattan; it was juicy and hearty with a perfectly-spiced peanut sauce on the side. The bread was a surprise hit, as the sauce was a great blend of heat and sweet, and complimented the crispy bread. At $4 an appetizer, each was a steal.

As for main courses, I went with one of the "noodles with gravy" options. I chose the Malaysian pork dish, and one of my companions tried the beef. Despite the similar descriptions of our choices, each was unique – mine had a rich, savory sauce with a slight kick, while my friend's was sweeter, but spicier. Both were excellent – the addition of large slices of shitake mushrooms added substance to my dish. Another friend tried vermicelli with shrimp, which seemed blander in comparison to our noodle choices. While my other friend’s deep fried Nyonya Chicken offered a satisfying portion, it was a bit cloyingly sweet for my taste. Then again, my friend enjoyed it quite a bit, and if he hadn’t, it would have been his own fault for making his choice exclusively because he enjoys saying "Nyonya."

To go with our meals, we ordered Malaysian iced tea and coffee, which were both delicious. My palate isn’t really capable of distinguishing between Burmese Iced Tea and the Malaysian version I sampled Saturday, but a friend and I independently assessed each version as "Thai Iced Tea Mixed With Quick." The Malaysian coffee was reminiscient of chocolate, as well as nutmeg – a great choice for those who like the taste of their coffee masked by other flavors, as I do.

If Malaysian food sounds like an intimidating culinary adventure for you, don’t worry. The place provides you with detailed descriptions and photographic menus to let you know what each disk looks like before you make your selection. Spicy and "not-spicy" options also are clearly indicated.

Malaysia Kopitiam offers a variety of choices for every preference, and the prices are a steal. But my recommendation? Use those mouthwatering photographs, not the occasionally-amusing names of the dishes, as the basis for choosing your entrée.