Kopi Tim is a nice little Malaysian place close the centre of Gouger Street. I’m not sure whether there is a function area at the back of the premises, but the dining area at the front is quite small. With seating for about 20, we were presented with an area that was simple and yet basic. The first thing that struck us when looking at the menu were their $8.90 lunch specials. About the same price as what you would pay in a food court, this was pretty much a done deal.

Today, I ordered the Nasi Lemak; Beef Rendang, Sambal Egg, Ikan Bilis (dried anchovies) and Achar (Malaysian vegetable pickle) served with rice cooked in coconut milk. The meal arrived 10 minutes after ordering and all meals arrived at the same time. The Beef Rendang was delicious. The meat was lean and tender, and the flavours were just right. I should have just ordered this by itself. My only complaint was there was so little of it. There was basically 3 pieces of meat for the entire dish, but then again, I wasn’t particularly hungry.

I’ve never really tried any of the other sides before, so I can’t really comment on the authenticity. The Sambal Egg was just a boiled egg with a chili based sauce smothered on top. The Ikan Bilis was put on top of several cucumber slices and mixed peanuts. It added a nice crunchy texture but I really wasn’t a fan. The Achar is a bit of an acquired taste. It has a strong peanut flavour about it which hangs around in your breath after eating it.

The staff were nice and friendly, and the service was pretty good. Being on this side of town, the atmosphere was quite relaxed. Their Beef Rendang is definitely a winner here and I’d be back just for a serve of that.

WHERE: 168 Gouger St, Adelaide