Valencia Cafe Kitchen, Doncaster East by Big Fil

I know we see fusion styles of food around town all the time but a nasi lemak burger? Who’d of thunk it? Nasi lemak is one of my all-time favourite breakfast/lunch/dinner options and I was intrigued when Ms Counting her Calories suggested a nasi lemak burger lunch with the family at Valencia Cafe Kitchen.

First the practicalities. Valencia Cafe Kitchen offers up a mix of typical Melbourne café style options, a small but interesting range of burgers and some Malaysian classics that rotate through the week. I particularly noted the Hainan Chicken Rice Balls, which I understand is a mainly Malaccan thing. While we were too full to try any they also offer a selection of Malaysian style kueh (cakes), something that is hard to find around town.

Valencia Cafe Kitchen, Doncaster East, nasi lemak burger

Nasi lemak burger

The café is fairly small and basic and if you are planning to visit for a Sunday lunch like we were booking ahead is probably a good idea. While not rude service was a little brusque, although it should be said we weren’t the most organised when deciding what to order.

Three of the four of us decided on the nasi lemak burger (see first pic). A piece of fried chicken with a lightly fired egg, cucumber, peanuts and while not on the menu a few little dried fish (ikan bilis) sauce in a brioche bun. The fried chicken was generous and tender, the sambal of the slightly sweeter and less heat variety. I have been a bit over the whole brioche bun burger thing for a while but it does suit fried chicken. Large and in charge, full of flavour and within the normal price range of café burgers around town, it was an interesting and tasty experience that I’d be happy to sample again.

Ms L was the only one opting for the eggs benedict. This looked fine but she did note that the bacon wasn’t as warm as it should be.