Chahaya Malaysia welcomes you to their establishment. Explore a menu featuring our renowned spring rolls, satay with homemade peanut sauce, noodles, curries, and much more. We also feature an extensive vegetarian menu, and our food is halal. Our dishes range from completely mild to very hot, all marked on our menu for your convenience. We have takeout and 56 seats for dining in Chahaya Malaysia.more...See more text
Eating at Chahaya Malaysia has always been a pleasant experience for us. We have enjoyed it most when we bring a group. That way we can order more of their delicious selections to share among us. The atmosphere is perfect for my style- I am comfortable there and have been made to feel right at home by the waitress. She has never led us astray. She guides us with the menu, the hot factor and has even informed us when she thought we were ordering too much food for the number of people. "I'll be glad to bring out more if you need it" she said "but start with this and see how it goes". She was right - we had plenty. We also appreciate the vegetarian component of the menu. Most often visited restaurant for our family.
So I had read all the reviews below (especially...
So I had read all the reviews below (especially those about "The Lady"), and since we were a party of mixed races and ages (26 - 63 actually) , and 2 of us have lived in Singapore for 4 years, we became curious and decided to stop over here on our trip through Ottawa ..... full of prejudice.....
First impression: A big friendly welcome smile from the owners in a half-full place on a Saturday evening during "Winterlude". The decoration is unimpressive but clean, my chair wobbled badly, and the blue/white Compact Fluorescent light bulbs throughout gave the room a cold, dim, "fast-food like" athmosphere.
Looking at the menu....what ... no mutton soup with roti prata?!
OK, no Singapore-Indian influence....pity.
The food is very tasty, no doubt there, but it lacked authenticity in some very minor detail. I blame Ottawa more than the kitchen for that, this is after all not Toronto/Markham, and the availability of ingrediences may be somewhat limited in Gloucester.
But the Kwei Teow was clearly done wrong: You don't cook the noodles "al dante" for this dish, but totally soft, so we "doggy-bagged" those.....
And what about "The Lady"...?
Yes, she may be a bit of a Head Teacher type, but she was always friendly and patient and surely means well in her detailed elaborations, just don't interupt her when she does ;-)
She knows her stuff and wants you to understand Malay food.
I am sure that those "interpersonal frictions" described below are caused by both sides, not unilaterally.
We don't live in Ottawa, but if we would, we'd come again.
Just don't bring anybody allergic to peanuts, there's plenty in almost every dish.
This restaurant is absolutely delicious. I have...
This restaurant is absolutely delicious. I have been going since it was in the Glebe. I found that a few of the other reviewers gave the restaurant's food a great review but the service lacked ratings, and forgive me, but I do not understand why.
The restaurant owners are so friendly, as well as their staff. So helpful, and kind, and very, very educated about the food. I, myself, know a lot about Malaysian cuisine, so have never really needed the help of any of the staff, but when I hear them speaking to the customers, I am amazed at how much they know. To SABADELL: FYI; you will not find help as good as this in Malaysia to describe the dishes, if you're personality is anything like it is on this site, go to Malaysia...PLEASE. I would have a stroke if I had to dine beside you, you, yourself would ruin the experience of Chahaya Malaysia!
As a person who has lived to be my age, and have seen so many walks of life, I can't believe the things people write on this webpage. You should all be ashamed of yourselves, bashing people over the internet. I highly doubt you voiced your dissatisfaction at the time. And chances are judging by the types of comments you write online, you likely had whatever it was comming to you. (In regards to: Used to be a Excellent Client , Sabadell and Anonym)
Majority rules in this case, and it is so true. The food here is delicious, flavourful, spicy, mild, whatever you please! I will definately keep going for many, many years to come.
We've always passed by this restaurant always meaning to go to eat...we ended up finally deciding to try it out for my husband's birthday. The service was amazing, the food is so flavorful and exceptional. We're definately going back to the restaurant and for my next event have them cater if they do that!
Excellent food, well prepared and presented. Clean surroundings and pleasing decor. Mouth watering appetizers! Owner and wife is very knowledgeable and have excellent recommendations, however wife can be an 'acquired taste'.
