10 April 2010

KK MALAYSIAN CUISINE RESTAURANT

463A Manukau Rd, Epsom, Auckland ph 09 630 355 Takeaways available too.

It's not often I am alone in Auckland on a Saturday, and it's not often I get to share lunch with my friend William. But today I was truly spoiled as we met up for a glorious feast at KK's in Epsom. As usual there was a queue on the pavement but the turnover is in the cafe is fast, no-one lingers and we were given one of the mere eight or so tables within ten minutes .

KK's is one of those hole-in-the-wall places where there's not much room, the kitchen with its army of busy workers is on full view to the diners. I have only been to Malaysia twice, but I am willing to bet the food lovingly made in KK's kitchen is among the most authentic that can be found in town. We had three dishes (I would have loved to have more dishes: the spicy chicken rendang, the flaky rotis and the tasty nasi lemak too, but this was lunch and we were only two).

The tiny chicken satay was a real taste teaser with its nutty, spicy sauce. Then a richly braised pork dish on noodles with bok choy and hard boiled eggs arrived, followed by Wat Tan Hor. (Pictured above, photo by William Chen) This has to be the most divine lunch dish I have eaten this year. Wat Tan Hor proved to be a full plate of thick rice noodles that had been tossed in a red hot wok so they were smoky, combined with sliced chicken, fish balls and seafood and then bathed in an 'egg gravy'. It was pure comfort food of the tastiest sort, that I'll be returning for. Often!