Chinese-Malay Cuisine at Malaysia House, Rockhampton, Queensland.

Malaysia House serves authentic Chinese – Malay cuisine with bold flavours and generous portions. Known for its char kway teow and its take on Hainan chicken rice, it offers an old-school, regional city dining experience with friendly service.

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On a quick visit to Rockhampton, “Rocky,” as it’s colloquially known, I catch up with a longtime friend I’ve known since I was 17. We lived together during our younger years, oh the stories we could tell… Sam has been in Rocky for the past few years, and it’s great to reconnect over a meal at a Chinese-Malay restaurant near the riverfront.

We start with roti canai, a flaky, buttery Malaysian flatbread of Indian origin served with curry. It’s stretched, folded, pan fried, and perfect for dipping. Sam has never tried it before, so I tell him about my time in Penang, Malaysia, where I’d have it for breakfast for just 70 cents. Here at Malaysia House, it arrives piping hot, almost too hot to touch at first, but once we can dig in, it’s divine: crispy yet pillowy, with a mild curry that carries a gentle kick.

The curry puffs are golden and flaky, filled with spiced potato and vegetables, then deep-fried until crisp. We enjoy them as a warm, savoury appetiser.

Sam chooses the char kway teow with prawns and fish balls. It’s less visually appealing than the version I had at the Malaya in Sydney, slightly wetter and lacking that strong ‘breath of the wok’, the smoky, seared flavour from quick, high heat cooking. Sam isn’t keen on the sliced fish balls, but I love them.

I go for the Hainan chicken rice, which has a Malaysian twist—served with a side of curry and presented on a platter reminiscent of Malaysian or even Nepali style. The chicken looks a little messy but is moist, with its gelatinous skin intact. The soy based sauce is quite salty, but overall it’s a solid Malaysian take on Hainan chicken rice.

It’s a sizeable, satisfying meal at Malaysia House, filled with laughter as Sam and I reminisce about the mischief and memories we shared in our younger years together.