Does it seem like to you that there are suddenly now numerous places to eat Malaysian /Singaporean food? It seems only a few years ago that there were only 2 or 3 restaurants. Walking through Chinatown and World Square, it looks like many more have sprung up. Not a bad thing, you understand of course. Quite good in fact for a Malaysian/Singaporean food lover like myself. A little further afield, tucked away behind Thornleigh station off West Pennant Hills Road lies a small restaurant that has been offering Singaporean and Malaysian Hawker style goodies for a few years now. At almost an hour’s drive away, it’s not exactly nearby to us so we made it a Sunday adventure to drive out to Thornleigh and check out some other foodie eats and enjoy the drive to the outskirts of Sydney.
Chicken and Prawn Laksa ($13.80)
Arriving at 6pm when it opens, we’re greeted with a welcoming sight. It’s rapidly filling with Singaporean/Malaysian clientèle (always a good sign for authenticity). We order a Roti Canai with Lamb curry ($11.80); Chicken and Prawn Laksa ($13.80) and a bowl of Chicken Rice ($2.50) and for dessert Ice Kacang ($5.50). Alice, who takes our order is friendly and happy to recommend dishes. The Laksa arrives quickly, within 5 minutes, and we dive in. There’s a mix of Hokkien noodles (my favourite) and vermicelli noodles (my husband’s favourite) as well pieces of soft chicken, large prawns, tofu cubes and fish cake. A scarlet orange pool of oil floats across the top and diving in to retrieve the long noodles risks a scarlet splash on your clothes but it’s well worth it. The taste is rich, creamy and subtle, not as pungent as some Laksa and the beautifully soft and toothsome chicken (from the Hainan chicken rice) is a particular highlight.
Roti Canai with Lamb curry ($11.80)
The roti, three accordion like discs, are served along with the tender lamb curry. The roti is tissue paper thin and delicious, although not as buttery as I’ve made at home. What it does have is the roti “clap” which produces the air in the roti. When the roti is cooked, you hold it so that the roti is horizontal with both hands open vertically balancing each end. You then “clap” your hands together to “crush” it lightly and create the folds. The lamb pieces, although a little sparse, are beautifully soft and at first the curry sauce seems too plentiful but every bit is soaked up with the delicate roti.
Chicken Rice ($2.50)
The chicken rice ($2.50), a rice bowl dome of lightly fragrant rice is lovely and I vow to try the chicken rice next time.
Ice Kacang ($5.50)
It’s time for our dessert, one that I’ve enjoyed in the sweltering heat of Singapore many a time – Ice Kacang ($5.50). I have my fingers crossed that we’ll get a similar multi hued shaved iced concoction and I am not disappointed. Streaks of pink syrup, gula melaka syrup (like molasses), and sweetened condensed milk trail down the tower of shaved ice and on top lies some vivid green intensely sweet palm seeds and dragonfruit seeds. And Ice Kacang is always hiding a surprise – at the bottom there is grass jelly, sweetened red beans and squiggly cendol. It’s lovely, refreshing and sweet and whilst it’s not as hot as it is in Singapore, it’s a lovely way to end the meal.
Unfortunately, as it’s a Sunday night, they’ve completely sold out of their Kueh (little cakes). Kueh (or Kuih) is what makes Alice famous and they’re little sweets that are made with rice flour, grated coconut, tapioca, coconut cream originally created by the Nonya people. Indeed I’ve heard that she makes it as good or even better than the ones in Singapore and that they literally sell like hot cakes so that it is necessary to ring ahead to reserve them. I really wanted to try the Kuih Ang Koo, the bright red patterned cakes filled with mung beans. Looks like I’ll have to make a special trip out here again-for research purposes you understand…
Makan @ Alice’s
Shop 3, Bellevue Street, Thornleigh
262-264 Pennant Hills Road
Tel/Fax: +61 (02) 9484-8288
http://www.aliceskuih.com.au/
Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday 11:30am – 2:30pm
Dinner: Thursdat – Sunday 6:00pm – 9:00pm
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7 Comments | Add your own
ooh im a bit slow haha i didnt see the click here link! dude u should put the map on the extended bit not your front page. lol so youll be coming back to alice? shes a family friend of ours and you’re right the kuih ang koo is super awesome!
This little establishment wins points with me for starters because they have a website!
Oh (cringe), I dread those scarlett splashes myself, especially oily one’s.. that end up being amber/orange splashes once settled onto your nice top. I hope you managed to avoid them completely? Me having an ample bosom.. I get everything on my chest. eg. Today for lunch my girl and I went to Subway after my Weight Watchers meeting (she has today and tomorrow off). I decided on a cheesy/tuna/toasted 6″ creation today.. yes, melted mozarella and then tasty cheese on top afterwards. Anyway.. I had a black, chunky beaded/faceted necklace today..and I looked down and saw some tuna had made a home for itself inbetween two beads.
I love roti too.. especially the soft, warm chewiness of it. I think it’s great that you’ve made it yourself! I had no idea it had that much complexity to it though.. with clapping motions and all!
I’d love you to clear up some confusion for me.. I wasn’t too sure what you meant by vowing to try the chicken next time. I thought you had tried it, hence it appearing in the post? I feel like I’ve missed something.. soz!
I’d like to try some of those sweets you described too. When something is so popular (by the sounds of it those cakes are very popular!).. I’m the type of person that has to get hold of some! I’m like that with Gordon Ramsay’s latest book ‘Playing With Fire’ right now. He’s on TV each week so the book is very popular on eBay of course..and used copies are going for between $40 and $50.. it’s too much! I’m determined to get a copy for less than $15.. which is what I paid for “Humble Pie”.. incl postage.
I’ve been meaning to tell you (your dessert here reminded me)..that at my local Asian grocers I saw big jars of ‘Halo Halo’ mix.. for the drinks. I wouldn’t have known what Halo Halo was before I came to your site! The jar had layers of fruity looking things in it – over 1kg from memory..and around $7?
I noticed this post you didn’t necessarily feature the names of the food directly under the photographs with the prices.. which I like.. and as you inspired me to do recently. I hope that didn’t sound like a whiney-complaint.. it’s just me noticing these details.. and since I missed it this time.. (even though you *did* give us the info).. I just thought I’d mention that I’m a fan of the way you had it before. Reading the current posted comment (re: the map.. hehe.. you might be feeling pounced upon right now)? Hehe.. hope not
I found with my YouTube video’s.. I have one video in particular that stands out among all of them and has had thousands of views and over 70 comments (when I normally get between 2 and 7 comments and between 50 and 150 views). On that video I have received praise..but also criticism.. and I’ve actually welcomed the criticism (to a degree) because it has made me feel a bit famous.. as ridiculous and as far from the truth as that is. I know that celeb’s are always analysed and critiqued.. I do it myself, I talk to the TV and give my opinion! So to get people asking me “Why didn’t you do this or that.. or include this or that?”… has made me aware of the popularity of that video and the attention it’s received. So it’s a good thing..and I hope you don’t feel put out by me mentioning the captions?
Is Laksa originally from Malaysia..? I’m ignorant in that area as a lot of Asian food blends into one for me..and I know that a lazy approach/viewpoint.. though I have more knowledge with Japanese food because it’s a favourite.
Hi chocolate suze- Duuuude it’s not part of the post! So I can’t move it and of course I tried moving it
Hi Maria-Yes having a website is a good start for sure. Helps those of us who like to do some preliminary research
I did avoid them completely thankfully. Oh how annoying, tuna in the necklace! 
I’ve tried frozne roti, the kind in a large roll and also the ones flattened out and they’re both good but there’s just something about making bread that can’t be beat.
I had a bit of the chicken from the chicken rice and the rice itself but the chicken was sitting in the laksa so I couldn’t taste it plain and also I love the ginger/sesame oil sauce that they give with it so I want to try all three together, the chicken, rice and sauce.
It does seem like the world is Ramsay crazy, the tickets to his shows at the Good Food Show went like crazy and they’ve extended the hall for more seats and upped the price!
Ooh thanks for the heads up about the halo halo! I’m going to look for those jars and make it as a surprise for my husband. He’ll love it
Ahhh ok no I don’t mind, especially since you put it so nicely. To be honest, I didn’t know whether people like it or not so it’s great to hear feedback that it’s noticed and liked.
I found this from Wikipedia as I had no idea about where Laksa was from: “Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore.” So yes Malaysia and Singapore!
I love this place! And my mom goes there all the time because she lives nearby.
Hi Y-Lucky her! It’s a bit of a schlep for me but I wish it was closer so I could try some of those cakes
it’s funny…these are the types of dishes I could eat here on a daily basis but I don’t and yet you manage to make me really hungry for them just with those descriptions…
Hi Alexandra-Haha I would love to be in your position!
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