By Rose Symotiuk
A mall on Huaqiang Lu in Shenzhen’s electronics district was the last place we expected to hear of a great restaurant. Nevertheless, Sambal, a new Southeast Asian eatery, has recently made a huge splash in the local food scene.
The chef and management have years of experience in F&B, exhibited in their intense attention to detail. The establishment’s name comes from a sauce made of chilies and found in Malaysia and Singapore. In these countries, restaurants and street food vendors obsess over their proprietary blends. We sampled Sambal’s own sambal by ordering the roti paratha pancake (RMB18), which serves the sauce alongside for dipping. Subtly spicy, the namesake has a fishy umami flavor.
Another must-try is the soup. The tom yum (RMB38/cup, RMB88/bowl) carries serious spice but is balanced by the other flavors of lemongrass and broth. Tom kha kai (RMB28/cup, RMB78/bowl) is atypical for coconut soups, offering a non-sweet, creamy balance to an almost Western-tasting meat broth.
For an entree, order the Indonesian fried pork curry (RMB38), which is all fresh ingredients and homemade curry – no pastes or sauces here. The stir-fried cashew nut chicken (RMB38) is a bit safe, but it allows the ingredients – pineapple, cashew and chicken – to shine.
The chef hails from the border of Thailand and Malaysia, and has worked all over Asia, making him keen on fusion dishes. Try his amazing pork prata (RMB48/half, RMB88/whole), a pork knuckle that is marinated and pressure cooked for six hours, then deep fried to make the skin super crispy. Dip it in the light sweet and sour sauce on the side or savor the succulent meat on its own.
Sambal offers an array of desserts, such as the mango sticky rice (RMB28) and the banana pineapple fritters (RMB28). However, a secret, outrageously good dessert hides on the drink menu: the coconut shake (RMB18). With none of the sickly sweetness of artificial coconut and a dash of real ice cream, it made us reminisce of a rich American milkshake. The generous serving can be nursed throughout the meal and finished for dessert.
For amazingly authentic Malaysian and Southeast Asian food lovingly made with fresh ingredients, Sambal is worth the visit to Huaqiang Lu.
Price: Approx. RMB90 per person
Who's going: Huaqiangbei residents and workers, those craving Southeast Asian cuisine
Good for: Work lunch, casual lunch, coconut delights
// Listing.
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