The Spice Islands Cafe - Mountain View - 3.5 starsMalaysian and Singaporea

Visited on: Sep. 22, 2006

Comments: Recommended

Ordered items:
Mustard spinach stirred fried with shrimp sauce

Pork curry

Pineapple rice



Hainan chicken

Katong laksa

Roti prata

General description:
I’ve been looking for a good Malaysian and Singaporean place for ages, and I seem to have found a rather good one in Spice Islands. It has many Malaysian dishes, with some Singaporean favorites like roti prata and Hainan chicken rice. The mustard spinach stirred fried with shrimp sauce (馬來風光?) is really good, the restaurant is not timid about lathering on the pungent seasoning, so the dish is memorable instead of bland. That bowl of Kantong laksa is huge. There were six of us, and we each could get one full small bowl out of it. Pineapple fried rice is definitely not a staple in either Malaysian or Singaporean cuisine, but hey, I like it. The only weak point is the pork curry, and even that is good, just not what I expected. It was like a mild version of its Thai or Burmese cousin. Hainan chicken rice is generous with the chicken, which is tender, moist, and sweet. On a par with the Hainan chicken rice of Prima Taste. A good spot for lunch. Next time I’ll have to try their ice kachang. I haven’t gone back to Singapore for a while, so I’m definitely missing that. Ah, the land of perpetual summer…

Basic information:
210 Hope St. (corner of Villa St. and Hope St.)
(650) 961-0628
Hours:
Lunch: Sun-Fri 11am-3pm
Dinner: Sun-Thu 5pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10:30pm
Laksa around $8, most dishes around $10 - $12.