Temasek

4.5 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  4     

I come here every now and then with a group of people who like Malay and Indo food.

This place really is hit and miss. Some days, the food, the staff, and the experience are just great. Others times, the same dishes and service are just downright ordinary. Having said that, the nasi goreng, chilli squid, and grilled chicken are some of the highlights here.

Wait staff are generally okay, but can sometime give you a bit of attitude. It depends largely on who you get on the day.

The one big downside that has been consistent every time I have been is that there is lots of pressure to get you out if it is busy, even before you have finished your meal.

As long as you don't mind a gamble, this place can really reward. Most of the time, though, I have walked away a bit disappointed.

Nov 27, 2011 

4.3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  6     

Been there for lunch at busy Fri lunch time with colleagues. Food was good but some of them come really slow...Some pre-made dish like "Hainan chicken" and "Rendang beef with rice" comes in 5 minutes but for "Nasi Goreng" we wait for more than 15 minutes and the end we have to take that away but they didn't give us the cutlery.

However, they have the worst service that I have ever seen in any of the restaurant, especially the senior staff, the one who handle the money and never smile). When we ask to pay separately, she starts show us attitude and actually sweared to us. (Yes I didn't say it wrong, Swear.) I understand that they are busy and they don't want to split the bill, but they shouldn't give us attitude.

At the end I decide not give them any tips so I count the money, but the cashier grabbed the money and said to me "Just give me the money, I don't take your extra 10 cents 20 cents." I said: "excuse me you were just mean to us, you sweared to us before" She said:" I didn't swear to you, I swear to god I didn't swear to you" with a really bad attitude.

Since I have those experience there, for sure I won't be coming back. There are lot of similar restaurant around which can provide same quality food, similar price but much better service.

Nov 11, 2011 

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  10      Value  8     

Have been here a few times and have always found the staff to be efficient and friendly. Have enjoyed staff xmas parties at Temasek with the Singapore Chilli Crab totally delish! Arrived last Friday evening with no booking but was squeezed in for a quick bite to eat. Chowed down on Nasi Lemak (the beef rendang is TDF!), some Kang Kong, Char Kway Teow and Nasi Goreng in under an hour! The 3 of us rolled out with our container of left overs and satisfied smiles... We'll be back again soon!

Oct 18, 2011 

4.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  6     

Yes, it is busy. Yes, it is an icon. but from my last experience there, I cannot say that it has the best Hainan Chicken rice, or the best Laksa in Sydney anymore. Couple that with a somewhat sour/severe attitude from the waitress and an unsmiling proprietor, I think I can safely say that I am happy to move on.

Oct 03, 2011 

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  5      Service  6      Value  7     

You are almost guaranteed with quick and efficient service when choose to dine at Temasek.

Food always land on the table fast with consistent flavours, reasonable portion size. They are always very busy and although they have a limited menu but still plenty to choose from.

There is a limited of good Malaysian / Singaporean restaurants around, I wonder why they are always busy and fully booked!

Will keep coming back to this restaurant without a doubt.

Sep 05, 2011 

4.5 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  4     

Came here on a Saturday night without a dinner reservation. We were given a seat outside which I didn't mind. We ordered half the hainanese chicken, kangkung belacan and 2 bowls of chicken rice. The chicken and rice came more or less within 3 minutes of us ordering while the kangkung belacan took at least another 5 minutes after that. I dislike the Chinese restaurants that don't plan cooking times so that your food comes out more or less together. We ended up eating about half of the chicken before the kangkung came out.

Chicken - Fairly smooth and moist but not the best we've had. Chilli and ginger - Nicely balanced and does not overpower the chicken. Rice - Excellent with a good taste of chicken stock. Kangkung - Overcooked and definitely too salty.

Not worth the trip to Parramatta just for the chicken rice. Perhaps, we'll come back to try the cooked dishes or, perhaps, we'll go somewhere else @ Mosman although prices there are higher.

Aug 30, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Don’t you love that feeling when the oil from your food lingers on your lips and tongue and keeps you thinking of the food you just ate and wanting more? The first of our dishes we tried is the Singapore Chilli King Prawn, a very strongly flavoured and delicious dish, my friend who couldn’t hack chilli got flamed by the sauce so only order this if you can eat chilli!

We also ordered whole hainan chicken and a pot of chicken rice and it beats food court hainan chicken a billion times through in taste and authenticity. Don't bother with their Fried Hokkien Mee, it is too salty. Definitely try their chicken satay skewers, the peanut sauce is to die for.

Read more on my blog

Aug 25, 2011 

5 Average

Food  7      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  4     

Tucked away in a nook, this place was not easy to find as I practically walked passed it! I heard rave reviews from friends about Temasek's hainan chicken and to be honest, it wasn't that great.

Service was a tad rude, prior arrival we were promptly told that we should have booked in advance (even though there were tables available), ambience was very poor, the place is dimly lit, tables were all squashed together, the eating utensils were dirty and old. The young lad taking our order was a bit more helpful and welcoming then everything else we had experienced so that was a plus, we had half a hainan chicken, some beans and rice, which for $52 was extremely ridiculous considering their poor service.

Aug 12, 2011 

5.3 Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  5      Value  5     

We came for a Saturday lunch and it was packed. We ordered a Hainan chicken rice and a Har Mee. The Hainan chicken rice was good, the chicken was very smooth.

However, the Har Mee was a disappointment. It was barely spicy, and unsatisfying. I had to ask for extra chilli (and I don't eat super chilli) for the soup base to taste like a Har Mee soup. The prawns were only lukewarm, which meant they were sitting there cold and they didn't even reheat them properly.

Maybe we should have gone as a big group and ordered their more expensive dishes. But I say somewhere else in Campsie serves better Hainan chicken rice and Har Mee than Temasek!

Jul 16, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  7      Value  8     

This food is spicy traditional South East Asian and it is great. Lots of flavour, big portions, and you can bring your own wine (everything I look for in the go out somewhere, but not fancy).

I love hot food, so I am well served, although there are plenty of dishes that are spicy as well. Their version of Beef Rendang is exactly how my mind's eye sees it and the prawns and chicken are fresh and plentiful.

Don't come here for a romantic 3rd date, come here for a first date as the background noise and busy feeling will keep the awkwardness to a minimum. Also don't come here if you want to be looked after, its a first come, first serve, loudest shout gets the food and that's how it should be, after all you wanted authentic right?

I give star ratings against all categories of restaurants, not compared to 'in class', so this is right up there as some of the best asian food in Sydney, value or not. I'm going tonight, and I hope I have to shout at someone to get the dish I ordered. Love it.

Jul 15, 2011