Dublin Food Tour: D’Lepak delicious homely Malaysian food

SPONSORED CONTENT HALAL STATUS Fully Halal

The heart and love that goes into a family-run restaurant is what distinguishes D’Lepak from all the others featured in FtLion’s exciting food tour of Dublin.

Located in the neighbourhood town of Redcowfarm on Manor Road, this Malaysian restaurant is run by a charming Malay couple.

While this modern restaurant has seating for 20 at the front, they also have a beautifully conceived conservatory, complete with hanging florals, at the rear for an additional 20 diners.

In addtion to an Instagram flower wall with the motto ‘Just lepak and chill’ (lepak meaning ‘hang out’), D’Lepak even has a prayer room, making this place an ideal family destination.

Their fully Halal menu offers a mixture of dishes that range from local favourites that include breakfasts, and popular Malaysian street food items, to an exciting array of fusion dishes.

Although closed on a Monday, D’Lepak are open during the afternoon and evening at varying times, and are also reknowned for their food catering service for parties, celebrations, weddings and more.

A family-run place full of love and dedication

Hearty and wholesome food is what defines D’Lepak’s brilliant menu, which revolves around Small Plates, Wok items, Curry dishes, plates of noodle and rice, as well as the restaurant’s Signatures.

But it’s their Local Favourites and Weekend Specials that prove how they keep things afresh, with Honey Glazed Chicken or Chicken Egg Noodles as choices found in the former, and the marrow-based Bihun Sup Tulang Utara soup or the Sizzling Mee in the latter.

D'Lepak Malaysian Halal Restaurant Dublin Food Tour Ireland

Meggi Goreng Chicken Chop, formerly a Weekend Special, now a regular

And the above Meggi Goreng Chicken Chop is an example of a Weekend Special which, while having been introduced as such, has since been upgraded to a regular menu item owing to its popularity.

From their half dozen Small Plates, which includes things like the Tempura Salt & Chilli Squids and the Sauté Prawn Chilli Garlic, you’d be remiss not to order a portion of the Karipap.

Four crumbly and flaky Karipap Curry Puffs

A quartet of handmade curry puffs which aren’t just as crumbly and flaky as they come, but can be had with a simple yet fragrant potatoe and vegetable filling, a more deliciously daring sardine filling, or a combination of both.

Of course, you cannot visit a Malay restaurant and not enjoy a plate of the country’s staple, the Chicken Satay, with glistening nuggets of tenderness being paired with a gorgeous homemade peanut dip.

Classic Chicken Satay with a homemade peanut dip

When it comes to D’Lepak’s mains in the form Wok fried plates, classic Curry Dishes like Lamb Rendang or Panang Curry, and a variety of Noodle & Rice dishes, there’s so much variety that multiple visits will be in order.

While you have your Malaysian Nasi and Mee Goreng choices, in addition to the Char Kuey Teaw and the Char Kuey Teaw, the classic Nasi Goreng has to be the obvious choice.

Traditional Nasi Goreng with fried rice, fried egg, sambal sauce & condiments

This particular version has all the hallmarks of a traditional Nasi Goreng, with a mound of rice attractively draped in a perfectly fried sunny side egg, and soothingly delicious lamb curry.

Malay Tea Tarik (right)

Accompanied by a pungent Sambal Sauce that delivers that flavourous kick, dried anchovies and peanuts that provide the textural contrast, and slices of palate-cleansing cucumber, you will not get any better.

All that’s required to round off a visit to D’Lepak is a good serving of the well-known beverage, the Tea Tarik, or any other freshly-made hot and cold brews.

This can be enjoyed alongside a colourful plate of steamed rice desserts, which comprise of two contrasting layers, and come in an assortment of tantalising flavours.