Ex-Potato Head chef serves reasonably priced brisket burger and jerk hen

When it involves western meals in hawker centres, we all know what to anticipate. Steak orders with none choice on its doneness, frozen lambs which have extra fats than precise meat, and the way about fried-to-the-max hen cutlets? Lest we neglect the canned baked beans and coleslaw that nobody touches. What if we may do higher? Salai M’an makes an attempt to reply that query.

Salai M’an was opened in early 2022 by Sulaiman, who’s a former Potato Head chef. It sells a plethora of burgers, jerk hen, smoked meats and even sizzling canine. Sulaiman was motivated to start out Salai M’an as he wished to carry reasonably priced restaurant high quality meals to the plenty, as he understands that not everybody, together with himself, can afford to eat at eating places.  

What I attempted at Salai M’an

I clearly needed to go for the extra distinctive objects on the menu such because the Pull & Tear Burger (S$8.90), Salai Jerk Chix (S$9.90) and Chilli Beef (S$4.50). It had a number of different burger objects such because the Classic Chezzy (S$7), Salai B. Bacon (S$7.90), Rendang Kampong (S$8) and Black Beauty (S$8.90).

There have been additionally platters such because the 4 Pax Heart Attack (S$50.90) and 2 Pax Salai Combo (S$33.90) do you have to include firm. If you’re questioning why the costs don’t match with any current photos of the menu, it’s as a result of there’s a further S$1 cost for all objects.

Though that is an comprehensible determination, it definitely pushes the that means of reasonably priced to a near-internet hoax stage.

My first style of Salai M’an was its Chilli Beef. I used to be upset with this rendition of chilli because it wasn’t in a stew or soup kind, as the way it usually is. Instead, it was sidelined to a topping on french fries, and was sauced up with cheese sauce and what seemed to be spicy mayo. The dish additionally had cubes of tomatoes that I, sadly, can’t admire (sure, I’m that man).

True sufficient, it tasted like the way it seemed— which to be truthful, was fairly good. The fries have been sizzling and crispy and I truly loved the sauces that have been used, as they tasted tacky with a bit of warmth on the finish. 

This would have been an excellent rendition of cheese fries, which might sit nicely above some eating places’ requirements, however I ordered Chilli Beef and the chilli fell manner under expectations. It was basically simply bland-tasting minced beef and a few beans. 

The tomatoes solely distracted me from absolutely having fun with the fries with a continuously undesirable tart flavour.

Next into the stomach was the Pull & Tear Burger. It got here with smoked shredded brisket that was slathered with do-it-yourself BBQ sauce, and topped with coleslaw in-between two actually charred brioche buns. I had my justifiable share of actually good burger experiences in hawker centres, so my expectation was actually excessive.

My first chew noticed the burger disintegrating into bits because of the overwhelming quantity of sauce, and even the bun didn’t survive it. That was the tragedy of the burger. I may solely style the BBQ sauce in addition to the coleslaw, which got here with its personal sauce. Combined, it tasted like a mish-mash of teppanyaki sauce and candy mayo.

There was additionally a conflict of textures, as my enjoyment of the smooth brisket was all the time interrupted by the sharp crunch of coleslaw. As if my irk with coleslaw wasn’t sufficient earlier than this!

This was actually a ‘not angry, just disappointed’ sort of state of affairs. When I separated the bits of brisket, it tasted actually good and the smoky flavour got here by strongly. It’s only a disgrace that the style was misplaced to a really unremarkable sauce and a very unneeded texture variation.

With low optimism, it was time for the Salai Jerk Chix. It had 220g of contemporary hen leg marinated in Salai M’an’s personal in-house jerk marinade, and it additionally got here with two sides of alternative. I went for the Mac & Cheez and the Butter Rice. Some of the opposite sides embrace Buttered Veg, Grilled Korn and Coleslaw. 

Just by chopping into the hen, I used to be already impressed by how straightforward it was, particularly contemplating it was grilled. The pores and skin was even sliding off, with the jerk sauce performing as lube. Finally, one thing that tasted pretty much as good because it seemed! The hen was juicy and the sauce had a pleasant tang to it that jogged my memory of peri-peri sauce.

The most spectacular a part of the hen was the seasoning on it. In most locations, hen solely will get its flavours from two choices: the batter of the fried hen or the smearing of sauce. Salai M’an managed to infuse the flavour from its jerk marinade into its hen, and it carried over even after being grilled and lined with sauce. This was actually a formidable feat.

As for the edges, nicely, they obtained the job performed as sides usually do. Nothing of notice and nothing too horrible about them. All I cared for was combining them with the superior hen and sauce, which took them to the following stage.

Final ideas

Being comparatively new to the enterprise, I actually hope Salai M’an would tweak a few of its recipes as they have been only a shot away from being wonderful. 

Price-wise, it undoubtedly isn’t the most affordable western meals round, particularly for a hawker. But then once more, the standard you’re getting justifies the value. Plus, who says you’ll be able to’t take pleasure in good-quality western hawker meals each on occasion?

And with that, Salai M’an answered my query.

Expected harm: S$4.50 – S$9.90 per pax

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