In my search for the best ginger tofu dish in Seattle, I did not find it in a Thai restaurant as I would have expected, but rather in the area's premier (and as far as I know only) Malaysian restaurant. This dish is actually the Mango Tofu with ginger slices added. You can also substitute ingredients (usually at no additional cost). Since I think the mango slices make the dish so sweet it almost tastes like a dessert I prefer to add vegetables and additional tofu.

Actually it is quite frustrating because there are so many interesting looking dishes that it is hard to know where to begin. Walking in the restaurant and looking at the food on the other tables just gives an idea of the possibilities-- from all kinds of seafood dishes to clay pot soup to the satay skewers that give the restaurant its name. Asian food fanatics actually have a great opportunity with the extensive menu here.

In addition to the regular menu there are always specials listed on a board that are seasonal or are made from ingredients that the chefs can find fresh at the market. A fish fillet is always offered, cooked in different styles such as the Nyonya Fish Fillet, a spicy mixture of vegetables and chile that will remove any doubt about the potency of Malaysian food.

The Penang Chow Kueh Teow, an item I have tried from the regular menu, is a noodle dish that was recommended by the waiter, and I can see why. The flat noodles with brown sauce were not terribly exciting, but tasted better than at just about any Thai restaurant where I have had the same type of dish. This is probably not because Malaysian noodles are better than Thai noodles, but because Malay Satay Hut takes great care in the quality of the ingredients. The dish also contained generous portions of shrimp and squid, items about which I am generally not very fond, but which were so fresh they conveyed the flavor the dish must have in its native area. A red chile dipping sauce is an excellent flavor enhancer for the dish.

The Roti Canai is a type of pancake appetizer dipped in a tomato sauce that seems to receive recommendations from just about everyone. I did not think this represented the best food served at the restaurant, however, and the sauce seemed to taste a lot like the standard curries found at the average Asian restaurant. I do think, though, that this is probably an accurate representation of the dish as it is found in Malaysia.

Not only is the attention to freshness and quality obvious at Malay Satay Hut, but the wait staff's willingness to work with you to substitute ingredients as desired in an attempt to create an even better experience for you is noteworthy.

The list of beverages is quite impressive too-- everything from fresh lime juice to Malaysian Tea Tarik to ice coffee (personally I prefer the complimentary jasmine tea).

Malaysian food can be rather overwhelming, with many items that are unfamiliar. I think becoming familiar with the food here is well worth the effort. With Malay Satay's extremely reasonable prices it is easy to experiment.