Istana Restaurant

This restaurant is held in high esteem with anyone who loves Malaysian food, or, any Malaysians who have lived in Sydney for a long time. It’s been here forever. I’ve had some great meals here over time and held in high regard, their Hainan Chicken Rice and Oyster Pancake. However, it’s time to move on. The staff, especially the old gentleman are quite rude. The Oyster Pancake has halved in size even thought the price hasn’t, and the Hainan chicken rice ain’t what it used to be.

The most important factor, for me, in a restaurant where I'm spending my money on food, is customer service. This place does not have it. For some reason all the staff are grumpy. From observation its looks like that comes from the Boss! The food is reasonable but you can get much better for less in other places. However, if ambiance is what you like in an Asian restaurant, then Istana may be place for you. They certainly overcome the stigma of most Asian restaurants of being messy, unkept and noisy. For a night out with the friends and wine, Istana promises you an environment where most can be happy.

It used to be very good, but quality seems to be going down a bit recently, some dishes tasted a bit different now - new chef maybe? Lukcy, the Hainan Chicken Rice is still top-notch.

Finally tried Istana after years of being faithful to Temasek and I enjoyed the honest, well cooked Singaporean Malaysian dishes. The service was so warm and friendly (stark difference to the cold, slightly irritated reception of Temasek). The Hainanese chicken was tender and flavoursome, rice was alright, Wa Tan Hor serving was very generous, oyster omelette was ok. Didn’t hit the spot for me like the hawkers ones in Singapore but still tasty. The durian icecream was fragrant with bits of durian but lacking silky smoothness (a common characteristic of homemade icecreams) but honestly I didn’t mind. Would be back when in the area!

I think it's more like authentic Chinese dishes with some Malaysian dishes. I was a bit disappointed there was no Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang. Having said that, the Curry Puffs, Hokkien Mee and Istana Squid were all very tasty. The Teh Tarik was nice but not very strong. The owner put ice in it because it was hot (a bit strange because it's supposed to be hot). The owner is a funny guy and the place very comfortable. Will definitely be back.

Great food. Love the soft tofu with prawn. Big portion. Good service and easy parking.

Food was tasty, service good. Lots of choices on the menu. Decor hasn't changed much for years, but still a good restaurant to get hearty Malaysian fare.

Always a must visit when in Sydney - authentic Malaysian food done right. Chicken rice is flavorful with a rich aroma of ginger that compliments it perfectly. Homemade Tofu is a 10/10, silky and smooth with a light sauce and crisp vegetables. The Steamed Cod Cutlet cooked to perfection (Most Asian restaurants overcook it). King Prawn is recommended too. It was fresh and cooked in a way that preserved the sweetness of the prawn. I would definitely recommend you to try!

Extremely pleased with the food here. Amazing how quickly they cooked the dishes after we ordered. Portions are generous and the prawns in the dishes were large compared to other restaurants we've been to. The skin of Shandong chicken was crispy and meat was moist, one of the best we've had. Will definitely be coming back here for more dinners.

One of the best restaurants in Sydney for Malaysian cuisine food and certainly the best Hainanese Chicken rice I have tasted in Sydney. During weekends, the only restaurant that I know of that offers (in Cantonese) Jue Chap Jook - mixed pork congee in Sydney, if not Australia. My other must-haves are 'Malaysian Lobah', 'Wot Tan Hor' and 'Har Mee - Penang style prawn noodle soup which is not in the printed menu, but you can order. Must try Istana King prawns, even though a bit expensive - the aroma is beyond description! Generally, the prices here are slightly above average, but I consider them good value because the meat and seafood used are fresh and good quality - the prawns used are large; the portions are generous too. FYI, I have frequented to this restaurant for more than 30 years.