It was Sunday afternoon, and I had been looking forward to this dinner all week. I have lived in Marietta for months, and my friends ordered delivery from Rhasa Sayang many times. Each time was a delight in a bag. In November, they took me to the restaurant for my birthday, and it was no disappointment. Their menu sports a wide variety of Chinese, Thai and Malaysian dishes. On the Chinese side of things you see many of the classics like: Egg Drop Soup, General Tsu Chicken, and Hot and Sour Soup. In each section there is a nice variety of vegetarian dishes and even a “Vegetable Lover” section on the menu. There should be something on the menu for everyone. On Sunday, I journeyed alone to try something different (and to get the last info I needed to write this article).
I parked in the spacious lot just across from the typical mini-mall exterior and took the steps from the mundane bitter cold into elegance. The dining room is well furnished with dark-stained wood chairs and paneling with an art-deco finish to the upholstery in the booths. Each table is set far enough apart to give the diners ample space to enjoy their meals. Quiet instrumental music added a peaceful feeling to the dining room. This restaurant has come a long way from its tiny-hole-in-the-wall beginnings. Originally, it was a tiny little place on Holcomb Bridge Road with décor that did little justice to the food they served. I was greeted quickly and very courteously by the manager, Daniel, to be seated in a booth across from the mirror covering the far wall that added to the ambiance.
My server arrived in a timely fashion, and I proceeded to torture him with the ever-dreaded question,”What is your favorite dish?” To be fair, I clarified that I had eaten the Rendang Lembu (slow cooked thai beef) and wanted something different. His apprehension faded, and he suggested the Malaysian chicken and shrimp in a fresh mango sauce. I agreed and quickly requested some extra spicy sauce on the side. I also ordered a cup of the hot and sour soup as a starter.
The soup arrived in less than five minutes with a nice cold Tiger beer; the beer selection is limited to domestics, but they do have a few imports. The soup had a nice basic flavor, mildly tart with thinly-sliced bamboo, sliced mushroom and a little pork. I could see the universal egg drop and thick texture as typical of this soup, but it didn’t have any real spice to it. No restaurant is perfect. I finished the soup and set it aside only to note that the cup disappeared from view almost as fast as I had moved it.
My entrée arrived a few minutes after I had finished the soup (great timing!). Just looking at the presentation of the meal, I hesitated to eat it; it was beautiful. The lightly battered and seared shrimp and chicken lay under an array of julienne cabbage, carrot, cucumber and fresh mango. The whole ensemble was drenched in this delicious spicy-sweet sauce that slightly resembled plum sauce in flavor. Each bite was an explosion of flavors. The crisp texture of the shrimp and the chicken with the crunch of the fresh cabbage balanced well in the combination of tender tangy light pine of the mango in the sweet burn of the sauce. I used the side of spicy chili sauce very sparingly, as the dish had plenty of heat on its own. The steamed short-grain rice served to “sop up” every delicious bit of sauce on my plate. It took a great deal of willpower to eat only half in order to save room for dessert.
I ordered the fried banana with green tea ice cream for dessert. It came out about ten minutes later and was also an eye-catcher. In a long rectangular dish they arranged five tempura-style battered and fried nuggets, lightly drizzled with honey and sprinkled with sesame seeds, next to two scoops of creamy sweet green tea ice cream. The bananas were still hot so it took a little time to eat them but all in all it was delicious.
If you are planning a nice meal with someone special, an exotic family dinner or even take-out, this is definitely the place to go. They do deliver within eight miles of the restaurant, but do not let that deter you from the delightful experience in their dining room. The service and ambience make it worth the trip. From start to finish, my experience at Rasa Sayang was definitely worth repeating.
- Food: Malaysian, Chinese, and Thai
- Service: Top notch
- Location: 1425 Market Blvd. #1390 Roswell, GA, 30076
- Phone: (770) 643-8812
- Website: http://www.rasasayangrestaurant.com/
- Hours: Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30 AM - 2:30PM
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 4:30PM - 10:00PM
Friday & Saturday 4:30PM - 10:30PM - Best Dishes: Lobak Roll (shrimp & pork eggroll), Rendang Lembu (spicy slow cooked beef), Malaysian Chicken and Shrimp in Mango Sauce, Tom Yum Soup, Rasa Sayang Kari Beef (Malaysian beef curry with veggies)
- Kids: Half portions of any entrée.
- Takeout/Delivery: Yes! They deliver within 8 miles of the restaurant.
- Price Range: $5-$20 (A bargain for the quality)
