South East Asian Favorites
Cafe Rumah Surry Hills serves up an array of Southeast Asian cuisine dishes. The term “Rumah” translates to home, so it’s no surprise that this slice of my hometown has a loyal following within the Malaysian community in Sydney.
One thing that immediately makes this cafe stand out is that they change up their menu weekly. Customers will have to follow them on their Instagram, Facebook or visit their website weekly to find out what new delights they get to try this week.

I tried out the Bak Chor Mee (Minced Pork Noodles) when I visited. The noodles were topped off by layers of braised mushrooms, minced pork, sambal, Ikan Bilis (dried anchovies), and an onsen egg. The taste was heavenly on a cold and rainy day.
Cafe Rumah Kuih Selections
Another highlight of Cafe Rumah Surry Hills is their very instagrammable Kuih (bite-sized snacks) selection. They have a weekly kuih menu and a separate Saturday kuih box selection. The Saturday kuih box started as a Mother’s Day special but became so popular that it became permanent. This special sells out quickly. It is advisable to place an order as soon as the weekly selection gets announced on their social media.



I shamelessly admit that I have tried their weekly kuih boxes more than once. The kuih lapis is a star in their rotation; peeling off the layers of the kuih while eating them is indeed a childhood memory most of their customers have.
If you’re lucky you may even get there on a week where there’s loh mai gai (glutinous rice with chicken)
Most kuih’s are made with pandan as a central ingredient, so you can expect them to smell as good as they taste. Another favorite is the pandan layer cake, which comprises layers of pandan and coconut and pandan sponge. The smell while opening the weekly kuih selection box reminds me of the night markets (“Pasar Malam”) back home.
Still, want more? You can also get the standard Kopitiam butter and kaya toast with half-boiled eggs and coffee here.
Are you in Sydney and missing the food back in Malaysia? Visit Cafe Rumah to get that food fix today.
Restaurant: Cafe Rumah Surry Hills
Location: 71/73 Campbell Street, Surry Hills
Menu, Delivery Reservations: caferumah.com.au
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 8.30am – 2.30pm; Saturday
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