"You just need to come and try Malaysian food once," says Rahi Rahman, manager of the Matahari Bar & Grill. "Just once, and you'll be back for sure." Rahi has reason to be definite about the appeal of Malaysian food in general and the Matahari Bar & Grill's food in particular. Numerous diners have taken the time to give the curries and noodle dishes served up by owner and chef, Jey Sinnathurai, glowing reviews online.
But what exactly is Malaysian food? "It's a mix of all things good about Asian food," explains Rahi. "It's a blend of Malay, Indian and Chinese spices. People love our curries. They are the best curries you'll find in the city because there's a little bit of everything. Never boring, always exciting the taste buds."
Soto Ayam
Spiced soup with julienne chicken, tofu, bean sprouts and topped with fragrant shallots.
Assam Udang Soup
Prawns in spicy and sour tamarind soup.
Whole Shrimp Wonton Soup
Mataharis version of the classic soup
Green Mango Salad
Julienne green mangoes, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, red onion and mint in a spicy lime vinaigrette, topped with crushed peanuts and sesame.
Spring Rolls
Filled with julienne jicama and shrimp, deep-fried, served with Matahari sauce.
Vegetarian Spring Roll
Filled with julienne vegetables, deep fried, served with Matahari sauce.
Keropok
Our very own home-made shrimp crackers, served with peanut sauce.
Fried Shrimp Wontons
Light and crispy fried wontons, served with Matahari sauce.
Achar-Achar
Pickled cucumber and carrot with pineapple, cabbage, green beans in our exotic spicy marinade, topped with crushed peanuts and sesame.
Satay
Grilled, served with Mataharis Own Peanut Sauce, marinated in our secret mix of spices and herbs.
All below entrees are served with rice. Please ask your server about Matahari Fish of the Day
Satay Plate
Served with Matahari Peanut Sauce, Coconut Rice and Achar
Combination Satay Plate
Matahari Curry Chicken
Our nyonya inspired curry chicken recipe with potatoes
Lamb Curry
New Zealand tender lamb simmered in home made blend of spices and coconut milk.
Mango Chicken (V)
Fresh mangoes stir fry with chicken breast, red and green peppers, red onions and sun dried chili peppers.
Sambal Udang
Grilled tamarind scented prawns in sweet, sour and spicy tamarind shallots sambal.
Casbah Cashew Chicken (V)
Chicken breast stir-fry with mushrooms, sun dried chili peppers, red onions and cashews, of course.
Red Chili Chicken
Marinated chicken breast with a blend of spices stir-fry with red onions, tomatoes, snow peas in a sweet hot sauc.
Rendang Beef
Tender Short Ribs simmered in Matahari secret blend of spices and coconut milk.
Green Beans Sambal with Prawns
Sambal is a blend of sun dried baby shrimp, shallots, garlic, belachan and chili.
Casbah Cashew Prawn
Prawns stir fry with mushrooms, sun dried chili peppers, red onions and cashews.
Prawn Curry
Prawns poached in coconut curry broth with eggplant, tomatoes and okra.
Sayur Lodeh (V)
Vegetables curry with eggplant, tofu, green beans, cabbage and tomatoes in an exotic curry broth.
Char Kway Teow (V)
Rice Noodle fettuccine stir fry with prawns, chives, bean sprouts, egg and chili.
Curry Laksa
Egg and rice noodle in a tantalizing coconut curry broth with chicken and tofu balls
Hokkien Mee
Egg noodles stir fry with chicken and vegetables in special soya sauce.
Mee Goreng
Egg noodles stir fry with blend of spices, prawns, tofu, potato, bean sprouts, and egg topped with crushed peanuts.
Nasi Lemak
Popular street fare: coconut rice with grilled tamarind prawns, ikanbilis sambal (dried anchovies), achar-achar and egg. Vegan Optional (v)
Tilapia Fillet
Fresh Tilapia pan fried in coconut curry sauce with okra tomato and eggplant
Steamed Jasmine Rice
Coconut Rice
Side Vermicelli
Roti
Replace coconut rice
Replace side vermicelli
Pandan Crepe
fresh screwpine leaf crepe filled with freshly grated palm sugar and coconut with vanilla ice cream
Banana Matahari
pan fried bananas topped with a rum and Kahlua sauce with whipped cream
Sago-Sago
imported tapioca pearls served chilled with palm syrup and coconut milk
Alfonso Mango Sorbet
with Fresh Fruits
Ice Cream
Green Tea, Durian, Vanilla, Lindt Chocolate, Coconut Ice Cream.
Ais Kachang/Snow Mountain
(Seasonal - Summer Only) Hidden with treasures and drizzled with rose syrup, palm sugar and milk
Single Malt Scotch (1 oz)
Chateau Des Charmes Late Harvest 2007 Riesling
Thirty Bench
2000 Riesling Ice wine 100ml
Reif Estates
2002 Vidal Ice wine, 200ml International Gold Winner
Inniskillin Ice Wine
2000 Port, Grahams L.V.B
20 Years Tawny Port
Taylor Fladgate
Glenlivet 12 year old
Macallan 12 year old
Lagavulin 16 year old
Oban 14 year old
Remy Martin VSOP
Courvoisier VSOP
Hennessy VSOP
Remy Martin XO
Matahari Nightcap
Amaretto and Apricot Brandy with coffee
Café Malay
Kahlua and Frangelico
Spanish Coffee
Brandy and Kahlua
Blueberry Tea
Grand Marnier and Amaretto with a pot of tea
Topped with ice cream add
Lemongrass Vodka Martini
Simon Gilbert, Chardonnay 2001, Mudgee, Hunter Valley, Australia
Vina Casa Tamaya, Chardonnay Reserve 2002, Limari Valley, Chile
Butterfield Station, Chardonnay 2001, California
Jardin, Chardonnay 2002, Stellenbosch, Jordan, South Africa
Hollick, Chardonnay Reserve 2000, Coonawarra, Australia
Jean Durup, Ch. de Maligny, Chablis Jean Durup, Ch. de Maligny, Chablis
Belvedere Winery, Chardonnay 2003, Sonoma, California
(Wine Spectator-89 points) Louis Jadot, Pouilly Fuisse 2000, Burgundy, France
Mer Soleil, Chardonnay 2001, Monterey County, California
(Wine Spectator-91 points) Reds Merlot
La Palma, Merlot 2003, Chile
Canals & Nubiola, Merlot 2000, Vin de Pays dOc, France
Domestic Beers
Canadian, Labatt Blue, Coors Light
Premium Beers
Alexander Keiths Pale Ale, Rickards Red, Honey Brown, Creemore Lager, Steam Whistle, Waterloo Dark Ale
Imported Beers
Belgian Wheat Beer-Hoegarden, Corona, Heineken, Kingfisher Lager, Tiger (Singapore), Singha (Thai), Stella Artois, Tsing Tao, Cheetah (India)
Hacker-Pschorr German
Wheat Beer
Old Speckled Hen Pale Ale
England-330ml
Guinness Stout
Juices
Mango, Guava, Cranberry, Orange, Pineapple, Apple
Sodas
Coke, Diet Coke, Ginger ale, 7 Up, Club Soda, Tonic
Pellagrino/Acqua Panna (500ml)
Pellagrino 1litre
San Pellagrino Sparkling Orange
Acqua Panna 1l
Iced Tea
Coffee/Decaffeinated Coffee
Espresso
Cappuccino
Café au Lait
Café Latte
Orange Pekoe Tea
Americano
Machito
Numi Organic Teas
Earl Grey Jasmine Green Tea Green Tea Simply Mint Chamomile Lemon Tea Ruby Chai
Herbal Teas
Chamomile, Peppermint, Ginseng, Ginger
Soto Ayam
Spiced soup with julienne chicken, tofu, bean sprouts and topped with fragrant shallots.
Assam Udang Soup
Prawns in spicy and sour tamarind soup
Whole Shrimp Wonton Soup
Mataharis version of the classic soup
Green Mango Salad
Julienne green mangoes, lettuce, cucumber, carrot, red onion and mint in a spicy lime vinaigrette, topped with crushed peanuts and sesame.
Eggplant Malay
Brushed with belachan (dried shrimp paste) and grilled
Spring Rolls
Filled with julienne jicama and shrimp, deep-fried, served with Matahari sauce.
Vegetarian Spring Roll
Filled with julienne vegetables, deep fried, served with Matahari sauce
Keropok
Our very own home-made shrimp crackers, served with peanut sauce.
Fried Shrimp Wontons
Light and crispy fried wontons, served with Matahari sauce.
Matahari Platter for two
A sampling of satays, spring rolls, deep fried wontons, keropok and achar achar
Achar-Achar
Pickled cucumber and carrot with pineapple, cabbage, green beans in our exotic spicy marinade, topped with crushed peanuts and sesame.
Calamari Matahari
Tamarind glazed calamari skewers, grilled and served with peanut sauce
Satay
Grilled, served with Mataharis Own Peanut Sauce, marinated in our secret mix of spices and herbs.
Chicken Kapitan
Marinated chicken breast cooked with fresh lemongrass, galanga, lime leaf, lemon juice and coconut milk.
Red Chili Chicken
Marinated chicken breast with a blend of spices stir-fry with red onions, tomatoes, snow peas in a sweet hot sauce.
Matahari Curry Chicken
Our nyonya inspired curry chicken recipe with potatoes.
Mango Chicken (V)
Fresh mangoes stir fry with chicken breast, red and green peppers, red onions and sun dried chili peppers. Vegan Optional (V)
Lamb Curry
New Zealand tender lamb simmered in home made blend of spices and coconut milk.
Casbah Cashew Chicken (V)
Chicken breast stir-fry with mushrooms, sun dried chili peppers, red onions and cashews, of course. Vegan Optional (V)
Rendang Beef
Tender Short Ribs simmered in Matahari secret blend of spices and coconut milk.
Nyonya Lamb
New Zealand tender lamb simmered in flavored soya sauce, lemongrass, and sun dried chili peppers with eggplant and tofu balls
Green Beans Sambal with Prawns
Sambal is a blend of sundried baby shrimp, shallots, garlic, belachan and chili
Casbah Cashew Prawn
Prawns stir fry with mushrooms, sundried chili peppers, red onions and cashews.
Sambal Udang
Grilled tamarind scented prawns in sweet, sour and spicy tamarind shallots sambal.
Sarawak Pepper Prawns
Prawns stir-fry in black pepper with a mélange of vegetables
Assam Matahari
Scallops, prawns, calamari, tomatoes and mushrooms, poached in a spicy tamarind broth.
Rainbow Trout Fillet
Marinated and grilled in coconut curry sauce with okra tomato and eggplant.
Matahari Seafood Curry Grill
Grilled scallops, prawns, calamari, tomatoes in a tantalizing coconut curry broth with eggplant and okra.
Curry Laksa
egg and rice noodle in a tantalizing coconut curry broth with chicken and tofu balls.
Mee Goreng
Egg noodles stir fry with blend of spices, prawns, tofu, potato, bean sprouts, and egg topped with crushed peanuts
Char Kway Teow (V)
Rice Noodle fettuccine stir fry with prawns, chives, bean sprouts, egg and chili. Ask your server about Our Fish of the Day. Vegan Optional (V)
Hokkien Mee
Egg noodles stir fry with chicken and vegetables in special soya sauce.
Matahari Vermicelli (V)
Rice Noodle stir-fry with chicken and vegetables in special soya sauce. Vegan Optional (V)
Nasi Goreng
Spiced Malaysian fried rice with chicken, diced vegetables and egg
Nasi Lemak
Popular street fare: coconut rice with grilled tamarind prawns, ikanbilis sambal (dried anchovies), achar-achar and egg.
Tofu Goreng (V)
Fried bean curd, vegetables and peanuts in spicy belachan sambal sauce. Vegan Optional (V)
Sayur Lodeh (V)
Vegetables curry with eggplant, tofu, green beans, cabbage and tomatoes in an exotic curry broth. Vegan Optional (V)
Matahari Vegetables (V)
Market fresh vegetables stir-fry in oyster sauce Vegan Optional (V)
Vegan Optional (V)
Steamed Jasmine Rice
Coconut Rice
Side Vermicelli
Roti
Season Greens
Pandan Crepe
fresh screwpine leaf crepe filled with freshly grated palm sugar and coconut with vanilla ice cream
Banana Matahari
pan fried bananas topped with a rum and Kahlua sauce with whipped cream
Sago-Sago
imported tapioca pearls served chilled with palm syrup and coconut milk
Alfonso Mango Sorbet
with Fresh Fruits
Alfonso Mango Sorbet
Ice Cream
Green Tea, Durian, Vanilla, Lindt Chocolate, Coconut Ice Cream.
Ais Kachang/Snow Mountain
(Seasonal - Summer Only) Hidden with treasures and drizzled with rose syrup, palm sugar and milk
Chateau Des Charmes Late Harvest 2007 Riesling
Thirty Bench
2000 Riesling Ice wine 100ml
Reif Estates
2002 Vidal Ice wine, 200ml International Gold Winner
Pillitteri Estate, 2003
Sparkling Ice wine 375ml (will open a bottle for minimum of 3 orders-2ozs)
Inniskillin Ice Wine
Matahari Nightcap
Amaretto and Apricot Brandy with coffee
Café Malay
Kahlua and Frangelico
Spanish Coffee
Brandy and Kahlua
Blueberry Tea
Grand Marnier and Amaretto with a pot of tea
2000 Port, Grahams L.V.B
20 Years Tawny Port
Taylor Fladgate
Glenlivet 12 year old
Macallan 12 year old
Lagavulin 16 year old
Oban 14 year old
Remy Martin VSOP
Courvoisier VSOP
Hennessy VSOP
Remy Martin XO
Lemongrass Vodka Martini
Matahari classic martini
Mangotini
Vodka with mango juice and julienne green mango
Hpno-Tini
Hpnotiq liqueur with vodka and splash of lemon
Sour Apple Martini
Vodka, Sour Puss and Apple Juice.
Playboy Martini
Gin, Brandy, Triple Sec with fresh lime, orange and pineapple juice
Chocolate Martini
Vodka, Crème de Cacao and cherry garnish
Cosmopolitan
Gin, Cointreau, fresh lime and cranberry juice
Lychee Martini
Vodka, Lychee liqueur with lychee fruit
Classic Martini
Gin, vermouth, olive (shaken, not stirred)
Matahari Trance
Hpnotiq, coconut rum with splash of pineapple juice and soda
Matahari Cocktail
Guava juice, vodka over ice with splash of grenadine
Matahari Breeze
Alize with cranberry juice and a splash of soda
Matahari Caesar
The classic caesar with lemongrass induced vodka and fresh lime leaf.
Margaritas
Classic, mango and guava
Mixed Cocktail Drinks
Pina Colada, Manhattan, Screwdriver, Singapore Sling, Bloody Caesar, Tom Collins, White Wine Spritzer, Long Island Iced Tea
Premium Liquor Mixed
Domestic Beers
Canadian, Labatt Blue, Coors Light
Premium Beers
Alexander Keiths Pale Ale, Rickards Red, Honey Brown, Creemore Lager, Steam Whistle, Waterloo Dark Ale
Imported Beers
Belgian Wheat Beer-Hoegarden, Corona, Heineken, Kingfisher Lager, Tiger (Singapore), Singha (Thai), Stella Artois, Tsing Tao, Cheetah (India)
Hacker-Pschorr German
Wheat Beer
Old Speckled Hen Pale Ale
England-330ml
Guinness Stout
Juices
Mango, Guava, Cranberry, Orange, Pineapple, Apple
Sodas
Coke, Diet Coke, Ginger ale, 7 Up, Club Soda, Tonic
Pellagrino/ Acqua Panna
Pellagrino
San Pellagrino Sparkling Orange
Acqua Panna
Iced Tea
Coffee/Decaffeinated Coffee
Espresso
Cappuccino
Café au Lait
Café Latte
Orange Pekoe Tea
Americano
Machito
Numi Organic Teas
Earl Grey Jasmine Green Tea Green Tea Simply Mint Chamomile Lemon Tea Ruby Chai
Herbal Teas
Chamomile, Peppermint, Ginseng, Ginger
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Great atmosphere for dates!
Food was bland, the servers didn't even know what watercress or Kang kong was, or even the belachan sauce. There was more vegetables in the mee goreng than noodles. They were nice though. But its not authentic Malaysian food, it was more white-washed than anything.
This restaurant serves mediocre food with VERY sloooww service! They need to hire more waiters or find new ones who are more attentive to customers. Had to wait almost 10 minutes before being seated when clearly the restaurant was not even packed. Appetizers (shrimp satay & clam satay) took awhile to arrive, I would say about 20 minutes which tasted okay, not bad. The main dish I ordered was the Malaysian Chicken Curry with their crispy roti and coconut rice. I thought the curry was a bit on the salty side but maybe some people like that, I was able to side sweep the saltiness by eating the curry together with my rice and drinking alot of water! ( a little spicy). I Ended the night with desserts which were the highlight of my night. Though it almost took another 20 minutes to arrive, I really enjoyed the Penang Crepe and Durian Ice Cream. Yum! But when asked for the bill it took forever to receive! I just think this kind of service is unacceptable no matter how good the food is. this really ruined my night. I would say that, only come to this restaurant if you have a lot of time on your hands.
Although the food was good, the service was very very very unpleasant. We waited 20 minutes to be served, 45 minutes for our food to arrive at the table, a whole 1 hour for our desert for it to NOT turn up on our table. Yea, you read right... they did not serve us the desert we ordered. We got fed up and decided to leave without the desert (taken off the bill) Then it took a whole 20 minutes to pass us the bill... really, this is unacceptable regardless of the food quality. All around our table people got really agitated and some of them left in a huff after one hour of waiting for their food and nothing came. Although, I have to say, I saw some crazy people stand waiting at the door for the whole time that we were there for a table.. so that's about 2 hours + .... me and my bf just shook our heads to that. I will never wait that long for a table for such horrible service. How can this restaurant garner so many good reviews when the experience I had was so bad. I will never go back there and will never recommend this place.
I've been to this restaurant quite a few times and it's always packed at lunch. The service is all right considering how busy they always are, but I notice that I ALWAYS get placed at the worst table (right by the door, so it's freezing in winter) and I'm pretty sure this has something to do with the fact that I'm clearly a student. Most of the patrons at lunch come from the offices in the area. The food is about as authentic as I've had in Toronto (this isn't saying much though). It does the job when I start missing Malaysian food and I'd definitely recommend it.
Tucked away on Baldwin St., just north of the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). Nice simple and fresh restaurant, with some interesting quotes on the walls. The food is simply superb. The Satay is especially good and an excellent way to start your evening. The main dishes are excellent as well but I have to give special recognition for the dessert. Their Banana Matahari, a sliced banana with whipped cream, and divine caramel rum (?) sauce is alone worth a visit. My only criticism would be the service at times when the owner is not there, it is always friendly but can be slow and less attentive than it should be. Overall an outstanding dining experience that I would highly recommend.
This is the hidden jewel of Baldwin Street. A great place to take a date away from the mainstream. The Lemongrass Martini is like having your soul massaged! The shrimp-tamarind soup devine! The coconut crepe- is beyond words!!! All the maindishes are great for vegetarians or for those shy of spicey.
Its silly this place isn't reviewed on this list. the food is great, awesome location, always packed on weekends, food is authentic enough, very good wine list to boot.. good place for dinner with friends or for a date... fail safe choice.
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Looking for something more exotic? Matahari Grill's Malayasian fare includes tempting dishes like Sambal Udang (grilled tamarind scented prawns in sweet, sour and spicy tamarind shallots sambal) and Sayur Lodeh (vegetable curry with eggplant, tofu, green beans, cabbage and tomatoes in an exotic curry broth). The bonus? All those spices will make you feel warm.
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