Manja

Fantastic Place to have the best truly Malaysian Signature Dishes in Melbourne cooked simply like "home" not too overly powered but just the right balanced to give you the best Malaysian Flavours. Those around the vicinity do give this place a try and I am sure you would enjoy as much as we did.

Was at Queen Victoria Market and decided to try this restaurant which was right opposite the QVM main entrance.
Was seated pretty quickly and there were 3 specials on the menu board next to our table.
Ordered Laksa and Shar Hor Fun from the counter. My bad, didn’t read the description of the dish clearly, thought the Shar Hor Fun was Wat Dan Hor.
Food came and I liked the spiciness of the laksa, was just right for me but the portion could be more generous given the price + the weekend surcharge.
Definitely enjoyed the taste of both noodles.

Very good food, love the laksa. Creamy, right level of spice and the sambal is very authentic. Feels like we were back in Malaysia. The onde onde cake is also soft and moist.

The curry tastes just like my hometown Ipoh. So delicious. Chicken rice is very good too. Chicken is freshly roasted and moist. Pandan cake is a little too soggy for my liking. Overall a great restaurant that I will go back again.

Been here 5 times already and it has always been superb all round (Food, service and atmosphere). My favourite is the chilli pan mee and at this point, I exclusively travel out of my way for it Hubby also has been rotating through everything on the menu and loved everything so far!

Had their chilli pan mee and mala chilli pan mee which were flat noodles served with chilli, minced pork and black fungus. The spice level was just right and so was the texture of the noodles - overall it was a delicious combination. Tried their cakes also, the onde onde cake and a yuzu basque cheesecake - couldn’t really taste the pandan and palm sugar flavours in the onde cake but yuzu cheesecake was lovely. Coffee was unfortunately bitter and burnt. Service was friendly.

Great atmosphere, and to be honest, great food. However, second time here and second time disappointed with a couple of things. Whilst I know this is supposed to be cafe concept, the price for a normal plate of nasi or pan mee is alot higher than your conventional malaysian restaurant. That wasn't the problem, my problem is the amount of sambal they gave for the nasi lemak. It is probably 1 tablespoon at most and any Malaysian would have agreed this is wayyyyy too little. We asked for more sambal but they charged us 3aud extra for another tablespoonful (on a little saucer) of it. $3? Really? I don't think I am being too brutal but if you were to get this amount of sambal in Malaysia or even Melbourne, would you even go back to that stall? Another issue I have is the lack of vegetarian options. Needless to say, we weren't that happy and will probably not return. I usually don't write any reviews but this really left us reeling and I have to put it out there and hopefully the owner sees this and be a little bit more generous with their sambal for their future customers.

Nice presentation of food and vibe, will be better if chicken is more tender. Service is fast.

As all foodies know, it's always tricky going to try cuisine from your home country because it's raved by others to have the best "XYZ" in Melbourne. All too often, it fails to match the built-up expectations.
Glad to say, Man-ja is worthy of all that is said about it.

1) Everything ordered (4 mains, coffee and a dessert) got the tick of approval from wifey. I can't recall when that last happened)
2) Service was excellent, all wait staff very attentive, we didn't have to ask for the extra things we wanted.
3) The x-factor includes premium ingredients and everything "house-made".

With the passion and dedication of husband and wife team, who took the time to chat with customers and share their foodie stories. It's great to hear Man-ja is keeping alive some unique versions of Malaysian classics that are entrusted to them by other great cooks of yesteryear.

Thanks Derek and Mandy, we'll be back to try the beef rendang that sold out!

Nice food. Very nicely plated. Everything looks so pretty. The cook on the meat is very on point, it is tender, it is not dry. The curry is fragrant but not over spicy. The chili on the side is for people who want to take the heat up a notch. The side salad is also really fresh. Hope this little gem garners more attention.

I had an absolutely fantastic experience dining at this Malaysian restaurant located between Melbourne University and Victoria Market. The spacious seating and beautiful decor provided the perfect atmosphere for enjoying the delicious food. I ordered their specials-only dish- Hakka noodles which was mixed with pork mince pieces, and it did not disappoint. The noodles had the right amount of springiness and their crispy fried chicken also had a unique vinegar taste that made it stand out. This dish also reminded me of Sarawak style kolok mee. I also ordered a simple sunny side up egg on toast with a side of bacon, and it was a simple breakfast dish cooked to perfection. The edges of the egg were crispy and the bacon was nicely fried and charred. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone who is looking for authentic and tasty Malaysian cuisine. If you're around the area, it's definitely worth a visit.

The food is amazing. The Laksa is really light and fresh - nyonya style - and they also have delicious Pan Mee. The coffee is also one of the best you'll get in the area. Very personal and friendly service.

Came across this cafe when trying to find one open in early January. Really friendly staff and tasty coffee with a ever so subtle sweet aftertaste. No bitterness to the coffee as I’m not a fan of a really bitter flavour as some people are, so highly recommend this place

This cafe is situated within the same building as what seems to be a student accommodation. The menu is primarily Malaysian dishes with a couple of standard western style breakfast dishes. The nasi istimewa was decent, the fried chicken was crispy but missing some herbs/spices that would elevate the dish more. The pan mee had this great broth that hits the spot especially if you have it for breakfast. Service was slow to come out although it wasn't busy which is okay for us but if you are in a rush keep that in mind.
Food - 7
Service - 6
Vibe - 7
Price - $$

We tried this cafe and didn’t know it is a Malaysian. It is also family owned and run. All the dishes looks great from the menu.

I tried the Nasi Istimewa with curry chicken and the burger. Both were really nice. The dishes tasted homemade, gave me homey feeling. Everything was well-balanced in flavours. I just wish that they give extra curry / sambal in the Nasi dish.

Overall, the food was good but imo it is quite pricey for the portion (comparing it to other Malaysian cafes). I will come back next time to try other dishes.

Food is amazing! We’ve tried so many dishes there over repeated visits and it’s on point every time. We wish it’s also open for dinner! Derrick (the owner) is a warm and friendly host and his wife is the talented chef behind the authentic Malaysian recipes with her own twists. Support this family run restaurant - we thoroughly enjoyed our experiences there.

Best Hakka Noodles in Melbourne. We are so impressed with the quality of food and the hospitality of Mandy and Derek. Will come back very soon and bring friends and family.

The cool interior and cafe vibe is from an old cafe that was taken over and now serve malaysian food. The food is actually great. Slightly pricey but taste feels like an elevated version of homey food. Coffee is good too but it is $4.95 for a small cup of latte. Gone are the days where coffee is $3 I’m afraid. That said, I’d still order one and sit for awhile. The vibe is

The nasi lemak sambal is legit! From aussie brunch to Malaysian delight, this place offers a great combo of everything! Would be back to try more stuff. Good service too as they make sure me and bub is comfy and have all the space we need

A café that offers a select number of Malaysian dishes at prices that are above the norm.

Nasi Istimewa is just Nasi Lemak with a fancier name (Istimewa means special). I ordered the beef rendang version ($22) - the platter also has rice, crackers, bean sprouts, cucumbers, egg and sambal (chili & spice paste). For me, what makes a really good Nasi Lemak is the sambal. It has to be said that the sambal is really good - well spiced, with enough chilli heat to excite the palate but does not overwhelm. The rendang is good - thick nutty sauce with meltingly tender meat. I missed having anchovies with my nasi lemak (which costs $2 extra).

The Hakka noodle ($19) is plainer looking. Mince pork with noodles and a lonesome stuffed beancurd on the side. Hakka is a ethnic group in China that has its own distinct dialect, culture and cuisine. If you have eaten -"chow mien", then you have eaten Hakka noodles, except that the version here is served in a broth. The noodles is really good - smooth and "slurp-able", goes really well with the pickled green chilli.

Beancurd stuffed with pork/fish is a common Hakka dish. My mum used to get pork meat and "pound" it with the back of a Chinese cleaver until it is "sticky". She also includes the Hakka's secret ingredient - salted fish. The taste when steamed or pan fried is smooth, bouncy, sweet and salty. The version here - the meat taste rough and too salty for me.

I went on a Saturday - so everything costs 10% extra.