Temasek

Temasek is my wife's go-to place for Hainanese chicken. I tag along for the Nasi Goreng and company.  

The restaurant is situated in an alleyway on a quieter side of Parramatta. You really need to be in the know to discover it. In saying that, it's always busy. I fully recommend booking in advance or face standing around hoping that you get a seat.

The service here is good to below average... and that's me being nice. They really want you to eat and leave as fast as possible yet make minimum effort in getting your order and being polite. For some reason, on multiple occasions I find that my drink orders have always been forgotten... whether it be tea or that free glass of tap water.

The Hainanese rice is almost the right combo here, paired perfectly with their sauces. The sizing is decent with a price I'm happy to pay.

The Nasi Goreng here is a bit on the sweet side but I like it. I always ask for mine with some extra heat/spice/kick and the serving of prawns with it is quite generous... and all topped off with an egg.

I've tried a few other things on their menu but haven't really came across anything I'd go back for except these two dishes. The meal came out to be around $30 with two cups of tea.

Temasek's biggest let down is their service. The majority of staff look like they don't want to be there and can't wait for the day to end. Chances are you will be herded in and out like cattle... but I'm just here for the food. Sad to say it but I never expect good service from Asian restaurants anymore. Good service is just an added bonus.