Makan House

Makan House has found a new home on Brooklyn’s Avenue U, and I couldn’t be happier. Once a beloved Malaysian gem on Allen Street in Manhattan's Chinatown, this spot continues to deliver the same bold flavors, authentic dishes, and unbeatable prices—just now in a more low-key, no-frills setting. But don’t let the humble décor fool you—the food speaks volumes. We kicked things off with the chicken and beef satay, perfectly grilled and paired with a rich, nutty peanut sauce that adds the perfect touch of sweetness and spice. The coconut calamari, while it could’ve used an extra round in the fryer for a crispier bite, still delivered a tender texture and subtle coconut aroma. My parents especially enjoyed it. The Achar, a vibrant medley of pickled vegetables, was tangy, crunchy, and refreshing—an ideal appetizer to whet the palate. The true star of the meal was the Hainanese Chicken. Tender, silky, and served with a delicate sweet soy, it practically melted in the mouth. Make sure you have it with their aromatic chicken/yellow rice. My father couldn’t stop raving about the salted fish with pork belly casserole—rich, savory, and deeply flavorful. Be sure to pair it with rice to balance the intensity of flavors. If you want to experience a bold taste of Malaysia, don’t skip the Kangkung Belacan. This water spinach stir-fried with pungent shrimp paste is earthy, briny, and full of that deep umami kick that hits just right. The lemongrass clams were aromatic and well-seasoned,not saucy, but still flavorful enough to enjoy with a side of rice. Of course, I had to revisit a classic: the Char Kuey Teow. I remembered loving it at their old location, and I’m happy to report it’s just as smoky and delicious as I remembered—chewy noodles, wok hei magic, and all. My mother ordered the Asam Laksa for a nostalgic hit of sour, spicy, tamarind-forward goodness, and it absolutely delivered. If you’re looking for a dish with eye-catching presentation, try the pineapple fried rice. Served in a hollowed-out pineapple, it’s as fun to look at as it is to eat. Makan House is still one of the best places in NYC for authentic Malaysian comfort food. It’s casual, it’s cozy, and it hits all the right flavor notes. Highly recommend making the trip to Brooklyn if you’re craving something bold, aromatic, and soul-satisfying.

Ordered Nasi Lamak for takeout. The toppings they gave are so generous and yummy. I love how they put the fishes and peanuts in a separate bag to prevent it from getting soggy. Very thoughtful. Will do dine in next time. Update: 12/7/2024 Finally get a chance to dine in today. Excellent service with very authentic taste. Ordered the nasi lamak again and also tried their home made tofu and shrimp dumplings. All good. Will definitely come again.

My wife and I have been hearing a lot of good things about the Makan House recently so we decided to pay a visit. From the moment we walked in, we received an extremely warm welcome from their staff. They seated us immediately and were extremely attentive. I'm not sure how anyone can complain about this place. It's definitely a hole in the wall with authentic Malaysian food. The BOH (back of house aka kitchen) staff are literally S.O.M (Straight Out of Malaysia). Everything was fresh and we ordered quite a few dishes if you look at our pictures. The portion and taste was just right. Our favorite was the coconut pudding which we forgot to take a picture of because we finished it so fast. It was so good that we literally were about to leave Brooklyn (already driving in the car) that we busted a U-turn to get another one. The place is extremely clean and you can tell how much an eatery cares about hygiene based on their restroom. From what I saw, the restroom was spotless. Trust me on whoever is reading this that I am very picky when it comes to space and food. My wife and I thought the food and staff were exceptional. We usually don't linger too long at a spot after we eat, but the staff and atmosphere made us felt so welcomed that we stood longer than we normally would. I don't know where any of you reading this live, but it's definitely worth the visit. We drove about an hour and a half to eat here today and didn't regret it. All in all... just visit and try for yourself.

A new Malaysian spot in sheepshead bay. Got the Prawn Mee myself and my mother had the shrimp string bean over rice. Got a free roti canai for leaving this review. Roti bread needs a redo honestly or my taste buds just bad. Curry sauce for roti was good. I guess I can compare this to my favorite Malaysian spot in Manhattan so it's a little short. Not bad flavors. I can't complete this review since we didn't get the hainanese chicken. Prawn Mee was more diluted than I'm used to. Sambal sauce on the shrimp wasn't bad. I'd come here again, neighborhood needed this spot. It's what you'd expect from sheepshead bay.

Food was delicious both times. The first time was take out and the second time sit down. The standard Malaysian dishes Nasi Lemak and Hainanese Chicken were great. But I highly recommend their Thai Style Tilapia and also Seafood in Taro Nest if you're dining in.

If you are craving Malaysia homestyle dish ! This is right spot ! Absolutely be back! Authentic and affordable Malaysian cuisine! The waitress is super attentive and accommodating!

Sharon Y

Love coming here for my Malaysian fix workers are amazing very helpful especially if your new food is really good we always enjoyed when we come here

Robyn Young

Lunch here was fantastic. Food was great. Service was amazing - fast, helpful, and super friendly. We ordered the whole fried fish in red curry which was delicious. Fish was crunchy and seasoned well. It came with lots of fresh seasonal vegetables and in a delicious red curry sauce. Hainanese chicken was excellent too. Poached in a rich chicken broth, and cooked perfectly so it was very moist. The okra/ladies fingers came with lots of shrimp. It was stir fried with lots of aromatics and very flavoursome. Char kway teow came with extra large prawns and plenty of wok hei. Great value. Serving sizes for everything was generous. The server was Malaysian and she knows her food. She made great recommendations. She kept everyone’s glasses topped up, and bringing little things like extra bowls and cutlery for the kids without asking. Very family friendly. Restaurant is newly renovated. Lovely, casual atmosphere. Very clean. Perfect place for an authentic Malaysian meal. Great place to bring friends/family so you can try lots of dishes.

Kat W.

Ordered Nasi Lamak for takeout. The toppings they gave are so generous and yummy. I love how they put the fishes and peanuts in a separate bag to prevent it from getting soggy. Very thoughtful. Will do dine in next time. Update: 12/7/2024 Finally get a chance to dine in today. Excellent service with very authentic taste. Ordered the nasi lamak again and also tried their home made tofu and shrimp dumplings. All good. Will definitely come again.

Kaiyen Liang

My wife and I have been hearing a lot of good things about the Makan House recently so we decided to pay a visit. From the moment we walked in, we received an extremely warm welcome from their staff. They seated us immediately and were extremely attentive. I'm not sure how anyone can complain about this place. It's definitely a hole in the wall with authentic Malaysian food. The BOH (back of house aka kitchen) staff are literally S.O.M (Straight Out of Malaysia). Everything was fresh and we ordered quite a few dishes if you look at our pictures. The portion and taste was just right. Our favorite was the coconut pudding which we forgot to take a picture of because we finished it so fast. It was so good that we literally were about to leave Brooklyn (already driving in the car) that we busted a U-turn to get another one. The place is extremely clean and you can tell how much an eatery cares about hygiene based on their restroom. From what I saw, the restroom was spotless. Trust me on whoever is reading this that I am very picky when it comes to space and food. My wife and I thought the food and staff were exceptional. We usually don't linger too long at a spot after we eat, but the staff and atmosphere made us felt so welcomed that we stood longer than we normally would. I don't know where any of you reading this live, but it's definitely worth the visit. We drove about an hour and a half to eat here today and didn't regret it. All in all... just visit and try for yourself.

Di Feng Tan

A new Malaysian spot in sheepshead bay. Got the Prawn Mee myself and my mother had the shrimp string bean over rice. Got a free roti canai for leaving this review. Roti bread needs a redo honestly or my taste buds just bad. Curry sauce for roti was good. I guess I can compare this to my favorite Malaysian spot in Manhattan so it's a little short. Not bad flavors. I can't complete this review since we didn't get the hainanese chicken. Prawn Mee was more diluted than I'm used to. Sambal sauce on the shrimp wasn't bad. I'd come here again, neighborhood needed this spot. It's what you'd expect from sheepshead bay.

Glenn C

Shortened version of my much, much longer Yelp review- I went to this Malaysian place a couple of weeks ago with a large group. I have had Malaysian food from many different restaurants, and this was excellent across the board with a couple of definite highlights. The place was crowded and the staff was friendly, though a bit overwhelmed, so it took a while for the food to come out. This was also likely the reason why they forgot about one of our dishes (the Hainanese Chicken,) which was unfortunate, but we were full enough anyway. You can see below what we ordered and what my recommendations are- Beef Rendang- Excellent. Semi-dry style. Could use a tad more heat but very flavorful with tender beef Crispy Rice- Excellent. Excellent wok hei and texture. Plenty of scallion oil for flavor and a good amount of shrimp Kangkung Belachan- Very good. Nicely cooked water spinach and a good amount of funk. Trengganu Duck- Very good. Nice curry. Tender duck though there were bones. Plenty of veggies. Chow Zhou Tilapia Fish- Good. Reminded me of some Canto fish dishes but a bit sweeter. Kajang Beef Satay- Good/standard. Good beef. Standard satay Coconut Butter Chicken- Alright. A bit light in flavor. Ice Kacang- Alright. Not sweet enough. A bit bland Would recommend. The rendang over rice is also a tasty reasonably priced option for takeout

Ice Cold

I'm so glad I ignored the negative reviews. If you want delicious Malaysian food be sure to try Makan House. We had the beef rendang, drunken noodle, Malaysian pork chop, and roti canai. Every dish was delicious. The beef was tender and flavorful. The deep-fried Malaysian pork chop was crispy and delicious. The staff was friendly and made us feel at home.

Michelle Luo

It was my parents’ first time trying Malaysian food and they loved it! They tend to be very picky but they loved every single dish we ordered. My brother is the pickiest eater, but he wouldn’t stop talking about the chicken rendang. I’m so glad there’s a delicious Malaysian place on Ave U. We 100% will be coming back!! the food was so delicious that I forgot to get a pic before everyone dug in😔

Alvin Chong

Excellent food and service! We ordered the drunken noodles and Hainan chicken and it was among the best Malaysian food we've ever had. Highly recommended! A+ for food and great service!

Johnny Chan

Malaysia homestyle cuisine, 2 adults and 2 kids for lunch. My son loves the chicken so much. It has excellent service and very friendly. Definitely with the awesome food, will guarantee come back again.

Michelle Yu

Service was amazing, super friendly and helpful for anything we needed they even joked with us in english and cantonese! The food was also amazing every dish was seasoning perfectly. Overall 10/10 no complaints! Best dishes: beef lo mein, roti, drunken noodles, and the creamy shrimp (i forgot what it was called)

Yin Lau

Makan House has found a new home on Brooklyn’s Avenue U, and I couldn’t be happier. Once a beloved Malaysian gem on Allen Street in Manhattan's Chinatown, this spot continues to deliver the same bold flavors, authentic dishes, and unbeatable prices—just now in a more low-key, no-frills setting. But don’t let the humble décor fool you—the food speaks volumes. We kicked things off with the chicken and beef satay, perfectly grilled and paired with a rich, nutty peanut sauce that adds the perfect touch of sweetness and spice. The coconut calamari, while it could’ve used an extra round in the fryer for a crispier bite, still delivered a tender texture and subtle coconut aroma. My parents especially enjoyed it. The Achar, a vibrant medley of pickled vegetables, was tangy, crunchy, and refreshing—an ideal appetizer to whet the palate. The true star of the meal was the Hainanese Chicken. Tender, silky, and served with a delicate sweet soy, it practically melted in the mouth. Make sure you have it with their aromatic chicken/yellow rice. My father couldn’t stop raving about the salted fish with pork belly casserole—rich, savory, and deeply flavorful. Be sure to pair it with rice to balance the intensity of flavors. If you want to experience a bold taste of Malaysia, don’t skip the Kangkung Belacan. This water spinach stir-fried with pungent shrimp paste is earthy, briny, and full of that deep umami kick that hits just right. The lemongrass clams were aromatic and well-seasoned,not saucy, but still flavorful enough to enjoy with a side of rice. Of course, I had to revisit a classic: the Char Kuey Teow. I remembered loving it at their old location, and I’m happy to report it’s just as smoky and delicious as I remembered—chewy noodles, wok hei magic, and all. My mother ordered the Asam Laksa for a nostalgic hit of sour, spicy, tamarind-forward goodness, and it absolutely delivered. If you’re looking for a dish with eye-catching presentation, try the pineapple fried rice. Served in a hollowed-out pineapple, it’s as fun to look at as it is to eat. Makan House is still one of the best places in NYC for authentic Malaysian comfort food. It’s casual, it’s cozy, and it hits all the right flavor notes. Highly recommend making the trip to Brooklyn if you’re craving something bold, aromatic, and soul-satisfying.

K. Sher

Very friendly Malaysian (and some Thai and Singaporean food) restaurant. They have a number of small tables for 2 up to big tables for probably 10. It was full when we got there but they managed to setup a table for us to be seated without waiting. They provide hot tea as opposed to iced cold water which we liked. The menu included an array of Malaysian restaurant dishes, and we chose their house special tofu (it was homemade and the tofu was so so soft) and Trengganu beef casserole and both were really good. Also had their soy mixed grass jelly and that was good too. Would definitely come back again!

Ling Lin

Overall great experience! Have always hoped for a Malaysian restaurant in Sheepshead Bay Area and this place didn’t disappoint. Our go to dishes are chow fun with seafood gravy and Hainanese chicken and both were good. My husband loved their roti canai (the curry sauce was excellent!). Definitely coming back and trying a full curry dish next time. Last but not least, the service was exceptional.

Chelsea

I had the curry mee with yong tau fao on a cold winter day and it was absolutely incredible. Rich and flavorful. Give yourself the treat of enjoying this food.

htc guy

I’ve ordered here before but through a delivery app. It was packed well, food was ok considering the travel time and temperature which of course is to be expected with deliveries. We went to dine in and boy oh boy! It didn’t disappoint. The place is clean, and the staff were attentive to the customers. We ordered their rice dishes: Beef Rendang, Malaysian Porkchop, Ginger Pork and their lunch special of Singapore Fried Mee Hon and a couple of their appetizers: Wings and Chicken Satay.. all were superb!! We loved the smoky noodles.. wok hay you say?! The spice level of the beef rendang was tolerable for me, tasty and tender ginger pork in every bite and the porkchop was not heavily battered and the sauce coated every bit of the meat without being too goopy. The toppings on the wings were interestingly tasty, there were sesame seeds and some nori with some meat floss of some kind.. again super yummy! Chicken satay was very tender and enjoyable even without its sweet chunky peanut sauce. Overall, I’m satisfied with the dine in experience and will definitely keep coming back!

There are several large round tables. The owner is friendly and works fast. The staffs might be a little overwhelmed with the owner’s fast pace. The owner needed to remind staffs several times to get rices or drinks to the table. The food is a hit and missed. The roti tasted like store bought. The chicken and beef were ok. The sweet and sour fish is a winner. It’s not printed on the menu but it was written on the wall as special.

Wing Lee

There are several large round tables. The owner is friendly and works fast. The staffs might be a little overwhelmed with the owner’s fast pace. The owner needed to remind staffs several times to get rices or drinks to the table. The food is a hit and missed. The roti tasted like store bought. The chicken and beef were ok. The sweet and sour fish is a winner. It’s not printed on the menu but it was written on the wall as special.

Ordered the lunch special and received an unrequested extra special portion of rice. The Cheng Mai chicken was alright and dry. The general Tso was a bit bland (not enough sauce) had way too much rice not enough protein and left me hungry. Will just head over to Wing Hing Seafood restaurant next time for their lunch- they have better portions for the price.

Will M

Ordered the lunch special and received an unrequested extra special portion of rice. The Cheng Mai chicken was alright and dry. The general Tso was a bit bland (not enough sauce) had way too much rice not enough protein and left me hungry. Will just head over to Wing Hing Seafood restaurant next time for their lunch- they have better portions for the price.

This restaurant has many 5 star reviews. They are probably lying. The seafood taro nest is not worth your money. Hannan Chicken was okay. Nothing outstanding. Service was okay. Prices were higher than typical Malaysian restaurants.

Was happy to see a Malaysian spot on Ave to bring my diverse cuisine to the neighborhood. So we went to try them out. Ordered a few dishes, was disappointed, the flavors are off and most importantly the ingredients like the seafood were not fresh, for the squid and shrimp. Very disappointing because we wished they are good so we can come more often. I hope they Mitch team sees this review and can rectify this issue as soon as possible because Asians can tell right away if ingredients are fresh or not, and this is the foremost important thing we care about. Hainanese chicken was average. Servers were friendly.

Wien Loo

Was happy to see a Malaysian spot on Ave to bring my diverse cuisine to the neighborhood. So we went to try them out. Ordered a few dishes, was disappointed, the flavors are off and most importantly the ingredients like the seafood were not fresh, for the squid and shrimp. Very disappointing because we wished they are good so we can come more often. I hope they Mitch team sees this review and can rectify this issue as soon as possible because Asians can tell right away if ingredients are fresh or not, and this is the foremost important thing we care about. Hainanese chicken was average. Servers were friendly.

Chloe

This restaurant has many 5 star reviews. They are probably lying. The seafood taro nest is not worth your money. Hannan Chicken was okay. Nothing outstanding. Service was okay. Prices were higher than typical Malaysian restaurants.