Are you sick of the typical Asian take away places where the food is greasy and loaded with MSG?

There’s a new cosy little store that has opened up close to the corner of King William and Pirie Street called Mamachau. Run by two lovely sisters, whose backgrounds are in hospitality, this place offers a selection of healthy meals which could best categorised as Asian fusion or soul food. Their specialties are their cold rolls, Asian tacos (baos), rice bowls and salad bowls.

The decor here is funky and practical, with the use of full length chalkboards on the main walls and studio light fittings. With 10 seats available in store, dining in is an option, however, most of the clientele are take away customers.

As a starter, I had the KFC Asian Taco which consisted of Korean fried chicken (KFC), Asian slaw and kim chi mayo. The chicken is a thigh fillet that had been marinated, crumbed and then fried. The meat was tender, succulent and not too oily. The vegetables in the slaw were fresh and crisp, and typical of the ingredients you would find in a Vietnamese salad. The kim chi mayo was light and savoury without having too much kick. The taco is a flat version of an Asian steamed bun. The dough was light and fluffy, yet thick enough to hold all the ingredients. The combination of ingredients worked really well and the taco itself was delicious!

As a side, I had the Spicy Lotus Root Chips. The chips were seasoned perfectly and were crunchy like potato chips.

As a meal, I had the Lemongrass Beef Salad. This salad was simply amazing! I’m not usually a fan of salads because they lack protein and I’m hungry again after a few hours. Not so with this salad, as it contains slices of marinated beef. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, with the peanuts, fried onions and carrot gave it a nice crunchy texture. The soy based dressing gave this salad real depth and it’s probably one of the best salads I’ve ever had.

The staff here are very friendly and inviting, and the service is exceptional. Should you choose to dine in, the atmosphere is nice and relaxed. The pricing is more than reasonable with nothing over $10.

I must say, I was really impressed with the quality of the food here. The menu items are well thought out and what I had was nothing short of delicious. The staff here take great pride in what they do and it shines through in their food. This place is great and definitely worth a visit!

WHERE: Shop 3, 118 King William St, Adelaide