Tamarind Hill

I have to say that I’ve never really fully enjoyed Malaysian food up until the past year or so. I think it was probably because I was ordering the wrong things when going to different Malaysian restaurants, therefore making my experience not so memorable. However, thanks to all the wonderful food blogs I’ve been following and people I’ve met, my tastes have expanded and I’m happy to say that I’m really enjoying different things!

I would have to say Tamarind Hill is one of my favourite places for Malaysian food. I know it seems to be everyone’s as well, but there’s just something about the food that’s just perfect.

I have yet to visit their original restaurant in New West, but I have gone twice to the North Van location. Being a little typical, I ordered the same thing both times – for consistency sake and also because I enjoyed it the first time around.

The second time I went though, I ordered the Murtabak with Gado Gado which is their delicious roti served as a wrap with your choice of protein, served with Gado Gado salad and peanut sauce ($8.35). This wrap is so filling and hearty, you could literally eat it for dinner and be satisfied. I had one half and I felt fairly full after it. The roti is delicious and the beef was moist and flavourful. The Gado Gado is a salad made with bean sprouts, tofu, green beans, potatoes and cucumber. It had a fabulous crunch to it and was very refreshing after the murtabak.

Up next, the Malaysian Chicken Curry ($15), served with coconut milk, tumeric, fennel, cloves and cinnamon, this dish was nice and filling. There were big chunks of potato , so when I thought I was biting into chicken, it was actually potato and vice versa, but it was very filling! The curry sauce is thick and fragrant, my favourite kind of curry.

Our last dish is the Eggplant in Spicy Chili Garlic ($13.95). This is by far my favourite dish here at Tamarind Hill. It’s eggplant that’s stir fried with chillies, garlic, cilantro and dried shrimp. It’s quite salty but deliciously so, and very fragrant. It reminds me of a dish my dad used to make at home with bagoong, so if you love the dried shrimps, order this dish – you will not be disappointed!

The curry comes with one bowl of rice, but we decided to order two – we ordered coconut and Hainanese Chicken rice as it’s only 25 cents more! It’s a must when enjoying great Malaysian cuisine!

Both times I came to the restaurant, we never had to wait for a table, so either no one knows that this is here (yet!) or we have been extremely lucky. In either case, I would definitely come back for more. I must come back soon to try their laksa!

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