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Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine
Category: Restaurants Malaysian Malaysian [Edit]
8218 45th AveElmhurst, NY 11373
Neighborhood: Elmhurst
(718) 898-8001
- Nearest Transit:
-
Elmhurst Av (E, M, R)
Grand Av - Newtown (E, M, R)
82 St - Jackson Hts (7)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
175 reviews for Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine
Review Highlights
"I always get the roti canai, without a doubt."
(in 51 reviews)
"Beef Rendang - Very tender and flavorful."
(in 34 reviews)
"...were both appetizers: the Roti Canai and Crispy Fish Cake."
(in 8 reviews)
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175 reviews in English
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Review from Emily L.
Brooklyn, NY
2/9/2012
If you are looking for authentic, delicious Malaysian cuisine, you have got to go to Taste Good. The name says it all! You can not go wrong with anything on the menu.
Taste Good is a whole in the wall, mom and pop run place. The cute little Malaysian couple is warm, sweet, and all about the food. They talk about the process in which they prepare their dishes in a very serious way.
The beef rendang is really delicious, and properly slow cooked to perfection. Of course the laksas are delicious!
Their fried tofu is one of the best I have ever had. I love tofu, but usually do not eat it when it is fried, but the tofu is made fresh, on a daily basis. It comes out sizzling on a cast iron platter, in a spicy and very saucy dish.
Do not miss this place! -
Review from Nung E.
Manhattan, NY
2/6/2012
My new Malaysian restaurant. Great authentic food with a diverse menu. Prices are cheap and quality of food is good. Alot of locals eat here so that's also a very good sign.
Don't expect a place with decor or design - it's basically a hole in the wall with authentic food and fast service. Waitstaff are very attentive too even when the place is busy. -
Review from Ro C.
New York, NY
2/5/2012
Fantastic beef rendang and fragrant spicy chicken. Glad I consulted yelp before we ordered :). I'd definitely come back for the yummy food.
-1 for the weird waiter who kept joking throughout about sharing our beer with him (it was BYOB): "Can I have some? haha", "Don't drink too much; you'll be fat like me" (rubbing his belly), "Next time you bring some beer for me, okay".
FYI, it's "Cash Only", BYOB (there's a convenience store next door), and it's a totally no-frills, hole-in-the-wall eatery. -
Review from Melissa L.
Manhattan, NY
2/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The menu is a bit hard to understand, with limited descriptions on some of the items, but the shot in the dark can be worth it! They also have your typical chinese american dishes, like sesame chicken, but wouldn't you rather try the more exotic Malaysian dishes? Make no mistake, the food is really good here! The noodles are delicious, whether they are in the laska as boiled noodles, or in the Hong Kong Noodles as fried noodles. And not to mention, they are pretty cheap. Dishes are like $6-10.
I didn't sit here, took it to go, but would like to dine in sometime and have some hot tea with my meal.
I would go here again and again! Have been sooooo satisfied! -
Review from Michelle L.
Manhattan, NY
2/9/2012
Three words: A-FREAKING-MAZING.
Honestly this is soooooooooooooo amazing. This was the first time I had had Malaysian food and I seriously don't know how I'm JUST trying it.
A couple of friends and I got an assortment of dishes and it was all just so delicious. But the stand out for me was DEFINITELY the seafood taro nest.
It's listed as seafood sweet potato nest or something like that (just look for the word "nest") but trust me, it's taro and it's DELICIOUS!!!
Honestly, I dreamed about that dish that same night XD.
I must say, I really enjoy upscale restaurants like Aureole and Rouge Tomate, etc for their ambiance and decor. But when it comes to food, little hole-in-the-wall gems like Taste Good completely win me over.
So if you're craving dishes that will make your palate sing, GO HERE!! I promise the trek is more than worth it :D. -
Review from flygirl f.
Elmhurst, NY
2/8/2012
Don't let the rough exterior fool you. It's what you call a hole in the wall spot but the foods are delicious and very inexpensive. Very authentic and love the variety in the menu. Only caveat is that it's CASH only if you are not used to carrying cash. Love this place.
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Review from Elaxandrius C.
Jersey City, NJ
2/9/2012
It's a hole-in-the-wall place. Small, not really fancy, but the food more than makes up for the lack of decor. If you're someone who places decor above the the taste of cuisine, then this place might not be your thing. The curry is amazing. The Malaysian milk tea is great, if you can overlook the sweetness of it (they use condensed milk, what do you expect). Great food at not-so expensive prices.
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Review from Ro N.
New York, NY
1/30/2012
We got the #7 - some sort of wrap and it was really good with the Sriracha and Hoisin sauce drizzled on top.
We got the #1 Roti Canai - M and I shared this dish and love it. Not too greasy. I wish there were more roti.
We also got the #3 - which is deep fried tofu stuffed with bean sprouts. M and K love the peanut sauce on this dish, but I didn't really care for the flavour of this dish.
Vegetarian Lovers Dream? - I think this was the name of this dish that K ordered. I love the tofu and mushroom in this dish. Sooooooooooooooooooo good. This was probably my most favourite dish along with the roti.
M got the Assam Curry Fish Casserole - I didn't like the tomato based curry. It was good, but a bit too sweet for me.
Bathroom here was freaking clean! SURPRISED! -
Review from K T.
Astoria, NY
1/28/2012
I don't know how many times I've been there and I don't know why I had never reviewed this place. I'm hooked with this place.
Every food I've tried here is so good. My favorite is Udang Mee (prawn noodles). I've tried Udang Mee (prawn noodles) at different places but this place's is the best. This place is so tiny, it gets pretty crowded during the weekend lunch time. But it's worth waiting.
I like New Malaysia in Chinatown too but Taste Good Malaysian is more authentic and it's consistent.. -
Review from Mike B.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I haven't had good Malaysian in a long time - it's been a while since I went to Satay in Hoboken - so this was a good way to kick off the new year with my Yelp buddy Monique while galavanting around Queens (okay, correction, I was playing chauffeur because I'm the 1% of Yelpers with a car).
we started off with roti canai with chicken curry - nice and fluffy.
I figured something standard would be a good benchmark - I got a plate of curry chicken with rice. a nice amount of food. meat was really tender and came right off the bone, and the curry (the same type which came with the roti) was pretty good. it wasn't that spicy to me, though, so next time I'll try something a little hotter. Monique got the curry pork and she liked it, but I'll let her cover that in her review.
total bill for the two of us was $16. pretty good.
it's a small place, so you will have to time your visit right. the wooden bench along the wall is a bit awkward to sit on.
I'd definitely go back.Listed in: Around The World in Several…
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Review from Andrew A.
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Looking to try something different in a different neighborhood (I don't go to Elmhurst often) - friends and I decided to check out Taste Good Malaysian....
This place is completely unsuspecting.. On a busy street next to a chinese market - that smells like trash, and across the street from a park with kids playing handball and basketball, you find Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine... Walking in, the place isn't much to look at either, completely a hole in the wall.. and you can expect to be seated in any spot that is open and share your table with random strangers... all in the true experience...
So for the food, i was still in a daze from new years eve, my friend Jeremy did the ordering for us..
Roti Canai - Very good. I'm not sure if there is bad Roti Canai, but the bread was warm and fresh, and the dipping sauce was really good too...
Good Taste Tofu w/ Minced Meat - This was excellent - the tofu was perfect, and the sauce and meat was delicious.. .really, this dish was simple but excellent... It's about $10 for this plate, but its a good amount of tofu..
Singapore Kari Laska - This was pretty much a curry noodle soup with some sea food mixed in - mmm... the soup it self was delicious, not too spicy and very flavorful..
Watercrest (one of th e belacans, but i forgot the name) - this comes with a malaysian shrimp paste sauce.
Everything here was excellent... The service was great, and the food came quick. I have nothing else to say and will need to come back. -
Review from Katie R.
Elmhurst, NY
1/31/2012
I felt like Taste Good was a bit of a let down after reading all of the great Yelp reviews. I ordered the Udang Mee, which was good, but not so good that I'll be in a rush to come back. To be fair, I'm no connoisseur of Malaysian food.
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Review from Monique R.
Kew Gardens, NY
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
When my chauffer (Mike B) offered to take me on an errand in his iron chariot, we decided to have lunch since we were out midday... i mean, why not. It was his brilliant idea to dine in Elmhurst and with a quick search on the yelp app came across Taste Good.
My dyslexia kept saying Good Taste... which stems from a blog i used to read. I digress.
It was my first ever malaysian experience and i was looking forward to it.
The establishment, had I not been looking for it, is missable. Its humble sign on the outside says plainly "Taste Good". Its really the only sign they need as everything in here tastes good, indeed.
The restaurant is cozy. The bench we were seated at was a tad bit awkward. We sat next to the door which sucked when there was a line of people waiting to dine letting all the cold air into the warm and cozy dining area. ANd by the looks of it, we got there at the perfect time, around 130 pm on a Monday. Then, there was a wait for a table.
We were given hot tea to start and we didnt take long to look over the extensive menu.
we opted for the Roti Canai to start which was really an amazing start! We then each ordered an entre. I ordered the curry pork with rice and he ordered the curry chicken with rice.
The pork was delicious. I was full halfway through the meal but could not stop eating and managed to finish the meal yet resisting the urge to drink the leftover curry sauce...
I just really love curry.
The chicken came on the bone which looked a little difficult to eat politely. I recommend shoving the pieces in your mouth with your fingers and give those bones a good cleaning!
The lady said it was spicy but i didnt find it spicy at all.
Our total bill was $15.95. For an app and two entrees, i would say this is the best deal around!
Will i be back?
HECK YES.Listed in: Eat Like a Queen!, Cheap Lunch Time Eats
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Review from LIAN B.
Brooklyn, NY
12/9/2011
It's that time of year again!!! That's right, Christmas gift shopping... which means 85% of my income this month have vanished in to thin air in a matter of 4 hours :(
Hunger kicks in and I only have $25 cash on hand (and I was treating my boyfriend to dinner being that he is so awesome to pay for the gifts for me first because I "left" my card at home lol!) ANYWAYS fast forward, I was in the mood for some cheap but good Asian cuisine.
This place was just a walk away from my boyfriend's house and it had great reviews with one "$" !
I ordered the Singapore Laksa and He had the Beef Rendang. The Singapore Laksa was served with a clear thick and round noodle (one of my favorite type of noodle) with a creamy curry and coconut soup base. It pretty much hit the spot in my stomach. The beef was awesome! medium cut cube of beef smother in a flavorful thick rendang sauce.
However; We had ordered the roti canai for app and lets just say it taste like something that I can get in HK supermarket's frozen section... but it wasn't a big deal.
They had picture of their other foods on the wall and it looks good.. I was planning on what to have next time as I sip on my noodle!
*Fast service (serious, fast! it took 2 minutes for them to bring out the beef)
*Good food (don't get the roti tho)
*Cheap! (everything with tip was everything I had in my pocket! :)
It is a place that you go in and out, not a place that you dine and chat for 2-3 hours
Will definitely be back! -
Review from Solomon M.
Manhattan, NY
1/9/2012
Hands down the best Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant in the NYC area. It might not be the prettiest (definitely a hole in the wall), but that's just fine, because it reminds me of SE Asia.
They not only have Singapore Hokkien Mee, but they have AUTHENTIC Singapore Hokkien Mee. I mean, come on! Trust me when I say that it is quite possibly the only place in the US where you can find that dish.
The Young Chow fried rice is quite authentic tasting as well, and so is the Hainanese chicken, though the chilli sauce is a tad on the sweet side. The char kway teow? Yeap, authentic.
The prices at this place are quite possibly the lowest out of all similar restaurants in NYC as well. I have tried Nonya, New Malaysia, Sanur, and Malay Restaurant (please, no Fatty Crab or Laut. eeekk), and Taste Good is definitely the best and worth the journey out to Elmhurst. -
Review from Julia B.
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yes, the food does taste good here!
Service here is impeccable. From the moment you sit down, you are given a teapot with cups and the menu. Within minutes, they ask if you are ready to order. We kept telling them to give us more time but I appreciated that they wanted to feed us asap. Getting the food to our table was super quick too! They do not waste time here!
The menu is extensive and will please everyones taste. My date and I had the following:
Roti Canai - you can't come to a Malaysian restaurant and not have this as an appetizer. Seriously. You know what, it was delicious! I couldn't stop dipping the hot, fluffy Indian roti into the chicken curry sauce. You only get one Indian roti so definitely ask for 2.
Kangkung Belacan - smothered in shrimp paste, the way I like it! My date found it a little too 'fishy' for his liking but I couldn't stop shoving it in my mouth.
Nasi Goreng Belacan - the shredded mango on top of the fried rice with chicken and shrimp was a great touch.
Even long after paying the bill, they did not rush us out. They allowed my date to sip on his tea for as long as he liked and for us to just sit there chatting til we were ready to leave. Again, much appreciated.
Conveniently located by the Elmshurst Station (R/M train) so you really have no excuse to make that trek to have some fantastic Malaysian grub! -
Review from Seiko F.
Woodside, NY
12/11/2011
I've been planning to visit this restaurant in a month and I finally when there with my husband a always!
I craved some asian food in midnight and "of course" start checking Yelp with my computer and found my crave point in this restaurant.
somehow, I already knew about around Elmhurst is the hot asian cuisine area in long time cuz I've been live in Woodside, Sunnyside in 15years and Elmhurst is also my everyday grocery shopping area and go there pretty often.
Only my problem was I couldn't and hard to change my mind ones I got a favorite restaurant and I never thought to trying another place...
anyway, my husband and I when there after the long Sunday work.
We had 5 dishes total!
1, Sizzling Bean Curd
2, Kangkung Belacan (vegetable dish)
3, Malaysian Satay (beef)
4, Nasi Goreng (rice dish)
5, Crispy Seafood Egg Noodle
I know that was too much order...but! we almost finished everything.
all reasonable, good portion and taste sooooo good!
seats are bit tiny so not good for big group if there are crowded but you still can go there with your friends cuz there has a 2 bigger table seats for about up to 5 people so as far as that table is available.
and customers are in and out so quick and smooth so you won't wait long I'm sure.
I may suggest just call them and ask before you arrived to make sure the table seats is available or not.
also all the service is very very good, all the workers were so nice.
We are already making a plan to go there again in very very soon! -
Review from Mr F G and Ms M S.
Flushing, NY
12/9/2011 5 photos
i had a craving for hainanese chicken rice, and after some click click in yelp , we found this restaurant has the best rating, and it's close to our place. So here we go!
The place was small and simple, next door to supermarket.
It was good, we ordered hainanese chicken rice with leg and roti canai plus 1 coke. They served it real fast, which I like.The roti canai was a bit on smaller side but it's only $2.75, the roti was soft and the curry was tasty although I prefer more spicy. The chicken rice was good, and the chicken meat was soft.
Total is around $10-11 without tip.
I was happy with my meal, and it did satisfy my craving so yeah we'll be back again -
Review from Amy M.
11/10/2011
Taste Good is a small restaurant that is kind of like a hole in the wall and it is in the ghetto part of Elmhurst in Queens near the Hong Kong Supermarket across the street from the park. Of course, everyone would be hesitant to go in there unless you're from the area and you know of the awesome food already! Don't be dissuaded from going in there because of the appearance. You will not regret eating here.
The food here is very good. I usually get the Hokkein Char Mee, a noodle dish with soy sauce and a variety of meats. It is very saucy and a bit on the salty side, but very good.
They are also known for their curry dishes so give it a try if you're into spicy food.
And you have to get the Roti Canai! It is amazingly crunchy like how it is supposed to be and it comes with a little bowl with potato and chicken pieces. Very flavorful!
And the plus side is that the food is very cheap and affordable!
If you're in the area, you should definitely come here to have some Malaysian food!Listed in: Casual Eats
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Review from Jin C.
New York, NY
10/9/2011
Come on, guys. Perhaps I came on a bad day. Perhaps I ordered the wrong dishes. But honestly, nothing was great and things were mostly bland. I got the roti canai - tasted like premade frozen stuff; char kway teow, fried rice and indian mee goreng was just bland bland bland, and the famous curry laksa was good, but not hike-worthy - especially if you live in Manhattan.
The best thing going for it was the friendliness of the servers: they took the time to recommend dishes and was surprisingly patient with the toddlers that were in my party. -
Review from Gary L.
Updated - 8/18/2011
I've been coming here since I was a child. Food use to be great but for some reason the past 3-4 times I've ate from Taste Good Malaysian Cuisine, I've been getting really bad stomach aches and more.
I get my usual, the hainanese chicken and their oiled rice. Their oiled rice is bangin. I can feast on their rice alone but their chicken been messin me up. I'm not sure if it's because of their workstations being dirty or if their chicken isn't fully cooked. At times, I see some really bloody areas around the bone. The cucumbers are probably infested with salmonella. Whatever it is, I can't have any more of their chicken even though I use to love it. I'm just coming here to pick up their oiled rice from now on. I personally think they don't clean their knives when they cut into raw chicken and then the cucumbers that are added underneath the dish.
I know there's many 4-5 star reviews written for this place but be honest. Their workstations don't look very clean. They just happen to be the very few good long lasting Malaysian restaurants in Queens. I like Malaysian food but when something sends me to the toilet 3 consecutive times in a row and need Pepto, we got a problem! This place is a hit or miss. Some days you get explosive diarrhea and some days you don't.Listed in: Hate List
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/28/2009
Most Malaysian restaurants I've been to are pretty much lousy. This place been here for awhile and… Read more »
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Review from Nelson W.
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Some of the most ghetto neighborhood spots in Queens and Manhattan actually serve the best tasting dishes one can find. Elmhurst has become a haven for excellent food in Queens, and Taste Good (TG) is situated in the very heart of it all.
Most dishes (appetizers, entrees, rice/noodle) are around the $7-$8 range, and portions very reasonable. For a first time experience, the fried fish is very crispy, and the sauce puts it over the top with a nice spicy/sweet kick. The noodles (Indian Mee Goreng) were on the bland side, but it had enough variety due to the amount of ingredients mixed in (sprouts and egg). Finally, there was an okra dish which I cannot remember the name of even if my life depended on it. An abundant of okra lathered in a mildly spiced paste sauce was the highlight of the night.
The extensive menu will warrant repeat visits. We can start with the beef rendang, laksa, and tofu. Mmmm, ghetto goodness at its finest! -
Review from VJ K.
Boston, MA
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
For a place I had been raring to go to, I was pretty disappointed and even embarrassed to introduce my New Yorker friends to a sub par version of my home cuisine.
The Hainanese chicken rice was overly yellow, dry and not flavorful by any means. The chicken was also not impressive, with the only saving grace being the garlic chili sauce but how hard is that to make?
Of course, the laksa wasn't bad but why is it the only one that they did a decent job with? Roti Canai wasn't great, just a saucer full of gravy (coconut milk fattiness) and one pathetic piece of chicken dunked in the middle.
I'm hoping other Singaporeans will give me a better idea of where to go in New York but Boston sure doesn't cut it for me and that lame experience is making me miss Singapore food like crazy! -
Review from Rich W.
Updated - 8/3/2011 10 photos
I have grown a love for the Achar Salad and the Hokkien Char Mee. Not eaten separately but combined together!
The sweet and sour salad mixes so well with the noodle and seafood; so delicious!
Achar Salad- mixed vegetables pickle tossed w/ground peanut sesame seed & tamarind sauce ($4.50)
Hokkien Char Mee- thick yellow noodles fried in dark soy sauce w/fresh shrimp, pork, squid, fish cake & vegetables ($6.00).
Take a walk on the wild side and give it a try.Listed in: Feel like a King in Queens, My Cheap Eats, Play It Again Sam... and…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/17/2010
For a while, I have being wanting to come back to Taste Good for lunch. Since the Queens Yelp-buddy… Read more »
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Review from Nga C.
8/8/2011
Funny enough, this hole-in-the-wall looking restaurant really does live up to its name when it calls itself, Taste Good, because when it comes right down to it, this restaurant really does taste oh so deliciously mmm mmm yummy good!
I ended up getting their Nasi Sambal Udang - shrimp sauteed with exotic blend of spice ($5.25) and damn was it delicioso! The flavor of my dish was prepared perfectly with the right complexity, intensity, exoticness and richness and was kicked up a few more notched when served over coconut rice.
My friend and I also tried their popular Roti Canai ($2) and it was absolutely delightful. The roti was warm, chewy and tasted fresh and fluffy especially when dipped with their coconut curry condiment.
When all is said and done, this place really does kick ass. For the quality of their food, this place is seriously cheap and let's just say, as I'm on the verge of finishing my review, I'm still salivating at the thought of my next visit!!Listed in: Cuz You Know You're Cheap!!!
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Review from John N.
Manhattan, NY
11/7/2011 4 Check-ins Here
After reading about this place and how many reviews it has, I wanted to go see if it is going be good Malaysian food or not. When I walk in the door, it remind me of a mom and pop shop. Everyone there were enjoying their food in silence so that was a good sign. I order 2 items to eat, roti canal and the Singaporean noodle and order 1 more item to go for later on when i get hungry again. Anyway the food that came out were delicious and bold. The soup was sweet but had sooo much flavor. I was impress and enjoy every single bite. The best part was it wasn't even expensive. Everything was under $18 and i had more food to bring home to try.
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Review from Tu-Lien N.
Astoria, Queens, NY
8/12/2011
45th Ave STINKS. The restaurant is a grungy, for lack of a better word, hole in the wall. Expect to feel dirty when you walk in.
Despite the severe lack of aesthetics, this small restaurant is pretty bomb. The Singapore Kari Laksa is top notch. The bowl is filled with a full-bodied, coconut milky, curry-ish broth and I love biting into the puffy tofu squares after they've soaked up the broth -- delicious!
The Assam Laksa is a spicy, sour fish soup. This is what they will give you if you order "laksa". Make sure to be clear about what you want. I received a bowl of this at my apartment when I expected the Kari Laksa. It's really, really (unbearably) fishy.
The food here has very complex flavors that took me back to days of frolicking around Malaysia and Singapore. Highly recommended. -
Review from Mabel W.
Forest Hills, NY
After being asked to come here for dinner, I couldn't pass up the opportunity although my mama made food already (yes, I ate her cooking too). Had this bad boy bookmarked for months! No way was I going to pass that up.
Alright so down to business,
Hands down the best pancake I had for Roti Canai and I've been to quite a few Malaysian restaurants. It was crisp yet fluffy all the same time..a fiesta in my mouth. We should've ordered two, sigh.
For our entree, my date and I shared steamed flounder with hot bean sauce with a side of coconut rice. With all of the seafood entrees, you can choose the choice of fish you'd like whether it be tilapia, seabass, or flounder. It came out siZzZzling on a metal dish covered in the hot bean sauce. The fish was so huge that we couldn't even finish it although we tried really hard to. I tasted a lot of garlic in the sauce but hey, who doesn't love garlic? The coconut rice was a great complimented the fish very well.
Things that you should know:
They got an A for their health inspection +
The service is really friendly and prompt ++
My date almost tripped from the steps at the front door so watch your steps when you're leaving. They're kind of hard to see at night.
Enjoy! -
Review from Serena T.
7/25/2011 8 photos
I recently made a little "field trip" out to Elmhurst, Queens, in the name of soup. But this wasn't just *any* soup - it was one of my favorite Singaporean dishes, laska. The venue in question? A hole-in-the-wall joint called Taste Good (I'm not making this up). I wrote about my experience with the real deal in Singapore (and that wasn't even my FAVE laksa place in Singapore!), so I was quite eager to see how this version compared. Taste Good's laksa is listed in New York Magazine's selection of the City's 50 Best Soups - so it has to be good, right? I was about to find out...
But first, we started with one of my old faves - roti canai. This flaky, chewy pancake with chicken curry dipping sauce is always a welcome hit, and Taste Good's version didn't disappoint.
Four our mains, in addition to the bowls of laksa, we ordered the Hainanese Chicken with Rice. Prepared with a method that distills the very essence of chicken flavor into tender, perfectly seasoned meat, this dish is accompanied by aromatic rice that is prepared with the chicken fat and stock. Delicious.
Taste Good also ordered a hard-to-find dish that we simply had to order - sambal stingray. Sambal, a sweet sour chili sauce, covers barbecued stingray meat. The stingray itself is surprisingly tender, not gamey at all, and hearty.
As a vegetable, we ordered my favorite (when it comes to veggies; it's all relative, right?) - the kangkung belacan - Chinese water spinach with spicy shrimp paste. It's got a just a tad of heat and briny, shrimpy flavor. Mmm.
We also ordered the beef rendang, which I'm generally not a fan of (there's an unknown ingredient in the dish that is appetizing to others but not to me). However, this version was flavorful, not overwhelming and tender.
And what did I think of that bowl of laksa? Well, I cleaned that bowl UP. With tofu, shrimp, chicken, fishcake, egg, onions and more in a rich, spicy coconut curry broth, Taste Good's laksa was as close to the real deal as I've had in NYC thus far. Do yourself a favor and spice it up even further with the chili paste provided at the table - you won't regret it. You are in for the soup experience you'll remember for a while.
Unless you live in Elmhurst, Taste Good is a bit of a trek - however, the authenticity and great prices make the trip worth it. If you like Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine, you'll get a kick out of Taste Good!
Lives up to its name! -
Review from Jando S.
Behold worshipers of Malaysian cuisine, your temple is here. It's high priest is the chef behind the doors of this wonderful establishment and your sacrifice is a trek to Elmhurst, where the culmination of many great eateries come together to represent Queens in the highest regard. Few of these places come better to please the palate than Taste Good Malaysian, which may be the finest Malaysian restaurant in NYC.
Known to the Chinese community as "Ho Mei" (Mando: Hao Wei), the literal term for "Good taste" or in this case, Taste Good. There is a reason why it's become one of the highest ratings on Yelp, the food here doesn't just taste good, it tastes great.
Let's start with the obvious: This place does not look all that clean. The Dept of Health C grade may be enough to scare most folks away before they ever enter the doors and the dodgy exterior suggests it might be a wee bit dirty inside. The good news is that once you are seated, it's really not that bad. in terms of cleanliness, it's on par with Golden Mall (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) for those who are keeping track, but unlike most food stalls or dives in Asia, this place actually has air conditioning and is pseudo group friendly for those who are looking to really feast in a bunch.
The service is impeccable. While these Malaysian ladies are typically speaking Cantonese with each other, they also speak extremely good English (yay for official Malaysian languages!). They are very good at pointing out recommendations for all tastes and are courteous and polite every time I'm here.
Fans of noodles or curry (or both) would be doing themselves a disservice by not trying their amazing Singapore kari laksa (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), a coconut curry soup base filled with everything from chicken, shrimp, fish cakes, fish balls, bean sprouts, potatoes, tofu, and even a hard boiled egg swimming in a bed of laksa noodles. It is without a doubt, every bit as good as advertised. The broth is light but full of flavor and rarely so spicy that I can't finish it. At $6.95, it's more than adequate for one person and can definitely be shared with others.
Other Malaysian classics also fare well here, such as the Mee Goreng (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), a stir fried noodle filled with garlic, shallots, sliced rice cake, fish cake, and shrimp. It's not too greasy and the egg noodles are thick like yakisoba or big Chinese wheat noodles (a la Shanghai Noodles), which make for a great bite any time. I definitely prefer the mee goreng to the Hokkien style char mee. The Beef Rendang (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) is also quite tasty, especially with a bowl of rice. For this dish, it's all about the sauce (which for curry seems a bit rich though somewhat greasy) and the beef cubes (which have been tender and juicy each time). My favorite street side dish in SE Asia is Hainanese Chicken (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) a weekend only dish that takes a freshly boiled chicken that has been garnished with garlic and various spices, served with a mound of rice that has been cooked in the chicken's juices. A little bit of hot sauce and vinegar make this one of the most sought after dishes on the menu.
Starters like the Roti Canai (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and the Chicken Satay (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) are a must. The curry that comes with the roti canai is well made, flavorful, and goes along with the Indian roti perfectly. The satays are charred just right, with the meats still tender and tasty, and are usually quite easy to get off the skewer. Each of them come with a side of peanut sauce, which seems to be fresh and made in house.
And while folks may still rave about this place, can you imagine it was better a couple of years ago? The original chefs were still whipping up some incredible food, the prices were cheaper, they had wall only menus, and an array of charm that was hard to ignore. Now with their Yelp popularity, they're sporting lamented menus complete with English translations, slightly higher prices, and busier nights almost throughout the whole week.
And as one of their regular patrons, I can say it's worth the visit if you somehow find yourself in the Elmhurst area. Don't go expecting to be blown away, just go in the name of good food at reasonable prices. If you come while you're super hungry, it's almost guaranteed you'll leave super happy.Listed in: SE Asia (NYC-Queens), Excellence of Elmhurst…
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Review from Marcia P.
9/6/2011 1 photo
Found this little place on a drive back from Rockaway beach. Thanks Yelp! I'll just basically forward the message that, yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall, but the food does *Taste Good*!
The waitress treaded a thin line between hovering and helpfulness; she did make some good suggestions, but stood behind us and must have asked us 5 times if we were ready (the place was mostly empty and the menu is huge... so what's the rush?).
We started with one Roti Canai, immediately had to order another. They're pretty small, but yummy (fried thick crepe/flat bread thing with rich curry to dip it in).
The weakest link was the Nasi Lemak Goreng, which the 12-year-old wanted; then again, I'm not a fan of fried rice. She like it but we adults found it insipid.
Steamed striped bass with Hot Bean Sauce (which the waitress suggested) packed deep flavor in the brick colored sauce, it was good on rice by itself. A little sweet, a little spicy, and lots of exotic flavors.
Beef rendang was succulent and delicious, love the intense sauce.
Dry Curry Spare Ribs Noodles were on the lighter, sweeter side, but also kinda addictive. The meat wasn't anything special, but I couldn't stop eating the noodles.
We over-ordered and took home leftovers. I'm heartbroken that scheduling did not permit anyone to eat them. Waaah! Don't know when I'm heading out to Elmhurst again... -
Review from Hong L.
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yes, I took my parents here for Father's Day dinner. It tastes so good that my dad was rubbing his stomach with a silly childish grin.
The waitresses, though Malaysian, spoke English and Mandarin. They were very involved in the selection of our dinner. Few notes:
1. BYOB
2. Cash only
3. Go early. By the time we were done with dinner (7ish) on Sunday, there was a wait.
Apps:
Roti Canai - You should just order this when you come in the door. We ordered 2 right when we walked in and it came out while we were deciding what to order.
Satay (6) - They gave us the option of pork, beef, chicken. We decided to order two of each kind. I did not particularly like the peanut sauce they provided and found myself dipping my satay into the sauce that came with the Roti Canai. I would not get this dish again.
Fried Fish Cake - I am a fan of fish cake and to bring it out fried. Huge fan. It was not deeply fried and the dipping sauce is a sweet chili thick sauce. I also dipped this into the roti canai sauce.
Entrees:
Singapore Kari Laksa (spicy noodle coconut soup) - A suggestion from the waitress, apparently very popular with the customers. I can understand why. Yes, this is a little spicy but there is a balance of creamyness and sweetness from the coconut. The noodles were clear and cooked perfectly so that you can make the slurping sound.
Beef Rendang ( moist beef slow cooked in coconut milk & spices)- Fellow yelpers have suggeted it. I personally did not think too much of it. The beef was very tender and the favor was in the meat, however, it was not something that I would battle others for the last piece.
Sizzling Bean Curd (lightly fried tofu on a hotplate)- You can ask for this not spicy. Layers: Bottom is a thing layer of egg, next is the lightly fried tofu, and then they add on the ground pork, onion, carrots, peas, and scallions in this soy sauce reduction. The tofu was cooked so well. Each component had a different set of flavor, when combined, it makes you go "mmmm...more."
Sauteed Eggplant - My mom is a fan of ordering sauteed chinese eggplant in restaurants. This is because, apparently, chinese eggplant is hard to cook and make perfectly. My mom, who is a good cook, always had problems cooking this. Overal, great flavor and the eggplant was not soggy at all. -
Review from Ranjelle J.
East Elmhurst, NY
7/7/2011
This restaurant's Kangkung belachan is the best!
I've tried the ones at Pinang & a few other Malaysian restaurants & they are nothing compared to Taste Good restaurant's. Their version is not soggy and soupy. The belachan sauce is rich and flavorful.
I would rather do a take out than to dine in, because the dining area is small. I get a bit cranky and claustrophobic in very confined areas. I'd appreciate it if they would expand the place or perhaps, move to a bigger location somewhere nearby. -
Review from Sally W.
Updated - 6/29/2011
Okay I wrote Ode to a Singapore Kari Laska last time....I still have wonderful dreams about it.
This time NO JOKE the Bubur Cha Cha OMFG!
The 5 stars is NOT for the decor...which is BLECH!
The 5 stars is not for the smells wafting from the street. UGH.
The 5 stars is for the one little bowl of Bubur Cha Cha that I had. OMFG.
It is a dessert....but.....as God as my witness....it is the best dessert I had in my life. That is my new love now.
Burbur Cha Cha, what is art thou?
It's a Nyonya dessert of sweet coconut milk with a medley of sweet potatoes (in yellow, orange, and purple color), yam (taro), black-eye peas. Bubur cha cha is a colorful and sweet dessert. It is served warm in a bowl and it looks like a dessert soup.
OMFG. I am going to have Bubur Cha Cha dreams tonight.
I had a similar dish in New Malaysia in Manhattan..DONT..New Malaysia Cha Cha dessert is NOTHING in comparison to Taste Good in Elmhurst!Listed in: Godmother of Chinatown's Best…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/23/2011
I remember this place!!! I went on one date here MANY a moons ago.
But I am treating it as if I have… Read more »
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Review from Elle P.
3/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
My Yelpers do not lie. Taste Good Malaysian really does tastes good AND the sizzling tofu is DA BOMB! Ka-boom! That's me, exploding because of stuffed happiness. I ate entirely way too much (didn't help that afterward we did an Amy S. by having bubble tea at Kung Fu Tea).
The sizzling hot tofu with ground beef, peas, and egg was my favorite of the night. Even after we were done eating, I was still idly picking at the little leftover bits that were hanging in the cast iron platter. I'm a die-hard Astorian where I think Queens begins and ends with Astoria (much the same way Manhattanites believe the world begins and ends with Manhattan), but I'll venture out of Astoria for this sizzling tofu!
Singapore Kari Laksa (spicy noodle coconut soup) was good, but it wasn't spicy because I was with non-spicy eaters. I wished they gave us little bowls because I had to put soup on a plate (not good).
Crispy Fried Fish cake was delicious. Very crispy, but not oily. Definitely eat it with the sweet Thai chili sauce and let the sauce soak into the cake before taking a bit. The combination of savory from the fish and sweetness of the chili sauce made my tongue do a happy dance.
Beef rendang is a beef curry. It was a good beef curry. Solid choice.
Roti canai -- rotis with a curry sauce. Soft, fluffy roti.
Char Kway Teow -- good flavor, but the noodles were overcooked so they were falling apart. :(
Green beans with some sort of meat sauce/paste -- good, reminded me of a Thai dish pad prik khing. Not at all mushy.
Restaurant is definitely small and cramped and their grade is still "pending." Eat here at your risk, but my eating companions and I all have the same philosophy -- sometimes it's the dirtiest places that have the best food. -
Review from Sophie H.
12/7/2011 1 photo
came here for sunday brunch where it was packed. families, couples, friends crowded the restaurant for plates of noodles, roti and chicken. the waitresses were few and seemed extremely busy but were pretty friendly. the roti was only okay, i've had better at sentosa, the chicken satay wasn't too bad, sweet and flavorful with great peanut sauce. what disappointed me the most was the hainanese chicken. the meat was a bit dry and lacked flavor. the only thing that made it bearable was when the pieces were dipped in hot sauce. the sizzling tofu was not too bad, the portiions were huge for the price and the two of us couldn't finish half of what we ordered. although i have yet to find a great malaysian place like sentosa in elmhurst, this place isn't so bad.
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Review from Cathey K.
New York, NY
5/19/2011
Alas, its time to write a review...
the bf and I have been coming here at least once / week for the past few months
we go on foodie adventures quite often and there are few places we become "regulars" at for reasons other than convenience...I believe this place and Xi'an Famous Foods are the only ones
We come here so often, yet we always seem to get the same thing...Asam Laska--a sour-y, very spicy, a bit sweet and absolutely delishh noodle soup.
We come here so often that the waitress confirms "2 laskas" with us once we walk in the door, every time we come...and we always sit at the same table on the right, 2nd from the back.
We often get a 3rd dish to share but that varies...we've tried a few of the fried noodles which have all been consistently good and yummy but nothing to rave about like the laska
I really think noodle soups are their forte though as I've had another one that was really good awhile ago (forgot the name) and I've heard the other noodle soups such as the singapore curry laska are delishh as well.
Definitely worth coming! -
Review from Edna C.
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ok Ok Ive had my share of malaysian restaurants and honestly have never been to a bad one. You can easily walk past this joint, as it looks dinky and old and tiny. Its traditional and not too modern looking but relaxed service. The hainanese chicken was good, your standard fix. the rice it comes with is really dry and tasteless though. the curry beef tripe over rice was good, but nothing im in awe about. Roti Canai was a bit too doughy. Lychee ice was awesome though, even though I know its just canned lychee juice and ice. Cheap meal, win.
Listed in: Where Couples Can Eat Cheaply!
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Review from Randy F.
New York, NY
5/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Without a doubt this hidden gem is as good as it gets when it comes to serving Malaysian/ Singaporean cuisine. No frills, cheap, no fancy shamacy decor like Buddha's carved in ice and pictures of the king of Malaya, this establishment is arguably number 1. This place is also family run but recently the owners changed but the food remains just as good as before!
The fried fish cake is to die for: lightly battered, not overly heavy and dipped in the chili sauce is the beginnings of an excellent meal to come.
Typically, when I dine in, I usually order the staples. Laksa, char kuay theow, Hanian chicken, Popieh, Rojak and the peanut butter noodle dish. All of these dishes are relatively delicious but what I like the most is the Laksa. The curry Laksa at Taste good is wayyyy better then the ones served at Laut in Union Square and Nyonya in Little Italy because the Laksa here taste like if it was made in a hawker stall in Penang. The curry isn't overpowering yet the curry brings out the subtle flavors of the thick coconut broth along with the shrimp and tofu curd. Absolutely divine.
The Char Kuay Theow is also pretty one of my favorites, even though the dish is Chinese influenced, the masters who made this in the kitchen absolutely excelled at making this simple yet humble dish.
At the end of the day, you won't regret coming here. Remember, no credit cards, and no being picky about ambiance because all you'll end up is regretting that you chose some other crappy Malaysian restaurant rather then coming to this hidden gem. ( The R train Elmhurst ave stop is 400 meters away from the restaurant ) . -
Review from John L.
Manhattan, NY
6/20/2011
Have been here twice since, and everytime I try something, its been great!
I especially LOVED their Beef Rendang Dry Noodles. Seriously a MUST try!
Small place, simple, cheap and delicious :)
