Chef Lagenda, Hawthorn by Obelix

J suggested Chef Lagenda in Hawthorn for a nostalgic night of reminiscing with the girls.  Like all the other Chef Lagendas dotted across Melbourne (see our reviews for Chef Lagenda at Flemington and Deer Park), it was jammed packed and dealt with rapid fire through put.  We went to get filled up before a more relaxing catch up over cocktails down Glenferrie Road.  

We perched on little stools at a communal table and tried to keep our chatter from disturbing others.  The service was rapid and the menu straight forward.  Chef Lagenda was geared towards serving Malaysian hawker style noodles/rice dishes.  We shared our dishes between us.  

P's pick was the vegetarian curry laksa.  A huge serve.  It was fragrant like all good curry laksa should be.  It was the pick of the bunch.   

My selection was a bit of a let down.  It was a combination hor fun.  Thick rice noodles with a slop of gravy and meat/veg on top.  The gravy was too much for me.  It smothered the noodles and glooped all over the topping.  It was a bit off putting.  

J stuck with the tried and true Nasi Lemak with chicken curry.  It was okay.  I've had better nasi lemak elsewhere (e.g., Pappa Rich, Straits of Malacca).  The curry lacked the aromatics of a fragrant curry.  The accoutrements such as the anchovies and achar were a bit lacking.  

The kang kung was piquant and delicious.  Shrimpy and spicy.  That would be the runner up pick of the bunch.  

Verdict

We liked it.

Mid value.

Overall

Chef Lagenda serves familiar Malaysian hawker stall food.  It was a bit of a hit and miss with our selections.  Overall I would return for the curry laksa and kang kung but the rest was a bit meh.  

Although they obliged with taking a booking, we didn't really end up with a reserved table and was squeezed into available space.  So I would define this as a no booking restaurant.  

Find it at

Chef Lagenda

724 Glenferrie Road

Hawthorn Vic 3122

Phone: 9819 2888