Jalan Alor Malaysian Kitchen, Ferntree Gully
Reviewed on 17/1/2025
Nestled away from the bustling and competitive Malaysian restaurant scene, Jalan Alor Malaysian Kitchen in Ferntree Gully offers a delightful escape with its affordable prices and authentic flavours. This hidden gem manages to keep costs low without compromising on quality, making it a standout choice for Malaysian cuisine enthusiasts.
My visit took place on a weekday afternoon, and the café was buzzing with the lively chatter of Malaysian and Singaporean patrons, easily identifiable by their accents. The setting is reminiscent of a traditional kopi tiam, with its clean and welcoming environment, small tables, plastic stools, and paper cups for water, creating a cozy and unpretentious dining experience.
Despite the trend of some restaurants cutting down on serving fried noodles due to high labour costs, Jalan Alor proudly offers a wide array of Malaysian favourites. From the aromatic Chow Kuey Teow (CKT) and Hokkien Mee to the flavourful Mee Goreng, nasi lemak, curry, and laksa dishes, the menu is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Malaysia.
The CKT, with its strong Wok Hei and generous sprinkling of dried pork bits, was a delight that could satisfy even the most discerning CKT critic. The Singapore Hokkien Mee, distinct from its KL counterpart which is fried with dark soy sauce, was equally impressive. Although I usually prefer KL Hokkien Mee, I found the Singapore version to be just as delicious. I suggest that a little extra gravy could improve the texture and enhance the flavour further.
One of the most appealing aspects of Jalan Alor is its pricing. The dishes are more affordable compared to many competitors, making it well worth the trip to savour the authentic flavors without breaking the bank.
In conclusion, Jalan Alor Malaysian Kitchen is a must-visit for anyone craving genuine Malaysian cuisine in a relaxed and friendly setting. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, this café promises a memorable dining experience that will leave you coming back for more.
Sin Fong Chan
2025
This place has come a long way since they originally reopened few years ago.
The food quality has improved both flavour and variety.
Jalan alor also has a number of lunch special deal which making it even better deal for customers.
My fave are : pork noodle, hor fun and also their kl hokkien mee.
Try to arrive early as dinner or lunch time are usually busy
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Visited the place after reading a number of recommendations about this place.
We ordered char kway teaow, crispy noodle with egg gravy, and fried rice with sweet and sour pork.
Verdict:
Char kway teaow: decent I can taste the heat and flavour but I would say it lacks a bit of wok hei. Better than the generic Chinese restaurant ckt I would re order again if I'm around.
Crispy noodle with egg gravy : not a fan of the noodle type but the egg gravy sauce is nice. I would say put more crisp pork fat and it will bring more dynamic to it and probly a bit more wok hei
.
All in all its ok, better than average but definitely room for improvement.
Was about to order the chicken rice but sadly run out 🥲.
I would recommend to add more dishes such as Sambal based stir fry (seafood etc), kang kong, more curry based dishes.
Lots of potential will definitely keep a look out and come back for that chicken rice.
Place is quite clean and spacious, but during peak time, perhaps it's better to call ahead for some seat booking.
Update
3/12/2023
Visited the place again and the menu seems to be differs with more classic Malaysian dishes.
Ordered the nasi Goreng, chicken rice, kolomee, char kway teaow and pork noodle soup.
Out of all the food ordered the one I love the most is the pork noodle soup. Fragrant and sweet broth and decent quantity of sliced pork. Will try their dried version next time.
Nasi goreng : not spicy at all but I don't think I can taste the belachan or sambal there and rice a bit too soft.
Chicken rice: not bad
Kolomee : ok
Char kway teaow : wokhei present, taste on point
Pork noodle soup - this is my fave and also their dry version also not bad
Ronny Wijaya
We ordered a Hainanese chicken rice and a fish laksa noodle soup for lunch, it was delicious and super cheap! I can’t believe that I only paid $10 for the chicken and rice.
The chicken was juicy, tender, and well-seasoned, I enjoyed every bite of it! The only thing was the quality of the rice, but for a $10 meal, I cannot make any complain.
The laksa was rich and pungent, the rice noodles were nice and chewy.
The service was quick and easy, definitely worth the price!
Nanling Liu
With the proliferation of the $10 meals, the gauge is the speed of service with ok taste. Can’t ask for more. So Jalan Alor is no different from what you get. If you’re passing by and crave for Malaysian food, it’s a good quick stop.
However, manage your expectations.
Keat Chiew
Continuing our family quest for cheap eats around Melbourne, we found ourselves at Jalan Alor Malaysia Kitchen, conveniently located near a dealership we visited in Ferntree Gully.
We enjoyed the food so much that we actually visited this restaurant twice, two days in a row!
During our first visit, we tried:
• Sarawak Kolo Mee
• Sweet Sauce Chee Cheong Fun
• Sarawak Laksa
• Char Kway Teow
On our second visit, we had:
• Sweet Sauce Chee Cheong Fun (again!)
• Hainan Chicken Rice
• Penang White Curry Noodle
• Sarawak Kolo Mee (again!)
Our favorites were the Sarawak Kolo Mee, Hainan Chicken Rice, Sarawak Laksa, and Sweet Sauce Chee Cheong Fun. The flavors were top-notch, and at just $10 per dish (except for the Char Kway Teow), the portions were generous enough to satisfy an adult.
We'll definitely be coming back for more. This restaurant doesn't offer table service, so you need to place and pay for your order at the counter. There's also a self-serve station with cutlery, extra bowls and dishes, and hot sauces.
Elicia Wong