Malaysia Grill recently closed its doors. ILTUWS visited the site at 224 West 104th Street on Saturday, July 27, and found the gate down during typical operating hours and the phone line disconnected.
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On Sunday, ILTUWS returned to the site and spoke with a neighbor who lives in an apartment above the UWS restaurant. The neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, said Malaysia Grill closed suddenly on Sunday, July 21. “They closed without telling anybody,” the neighbor said, noting that workers had been picketing outside the location for several days earlier in the week. According to the neighbor, Malaysia Grill had been in business at the site for 20 years, moving in one year after he did. “They were striking for better pay. Some weren’t getting raises after years of work because they didn’t have their papers,” he added before heading back inside.
The eatery was popular with locals for its cost-effective menu, featuring dishes like the curry chicken lunch special, which included white meat chicken, onion, pepper, eggplant, okra, and string beans in a curry coconut gravy, for $9.95. Another fan favorite was the roti canai, a crispy Malaysian-style pancake served with curry chicken dipping sauce, available for $5.25.
In September 2018, Grub Street named Malaysia Grill #11 on their list of “The Absolute Best Restaurants in Morningside Heights.” “The extensive menu covers some Thai and Chinese-American standbys, but it’s not called Malaysia Grill for nothing,” noted the review. “The beef rendang is a sweet-and-spicy stew of onion paste, lemongrass, potatoes, and a good dose of chile; the mee goreng — pan-fried egg noodles with shrimp, egg, and tofu — has a similarly addictive heat.” Grub Street also credited the small restaurant for being busy during dinner but not having long waits.
Malaysia Grill had a 4 out of 5-star rating on Yelp, based on 263 reviews. On Google Reviews, it scored 4.7 out of 5 stars from 3,493 reviews. On TripAdvisor, it also fared well with a 4.5-star rating out of 5, based on 56 reviews. A perfect 5-star review from 2002 said, “My favorite place in NYC! Very authentic Malaysian food. Service was perfect and prices are really good! Lovely atmosphere—will come back.”
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One reviewer on Google last month had a different experience, saying, “I’m not sure how this place has managed such positive reviews. I suppose for the area, it’s okay. I’ve been coming here for lunch for months, a couple of times a week, and I’m sick of the inconsistent food and the incredibly rude owners…Today was the last straw.”
The future of the site at 224 West 104th Street is currently unclear. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
Within the past few months, I received a meal with a big bug inside it. I wrote it off as a one off and ordered again. This time I got awful food poisoning which I shared in a review on Seamless, but it was deleted.
Wow – they were not paying their workers a decent wage because they did not have papers. I am shocked to be honest. My wife and I were regulars for a few years and befriended the staff. They were always so attentive to us. Now I have mixed feelings about going back if they reopen. I wonder how much money the staff were getting paid.
Delivery workers at INDUS Valley Indian restaurant (Broadway/100th) were getting their tips mooched by the restaurant to offset fees associated with delivery apps. The workers sued and after 4 years won a 1.4 MILLION settlement. Indus promptly closed, filed bankruptcy (just like stupid Rudy!) and weeks later re-opened under same management as INDUS VALLEY and the workers never saw their settlement. DO NOT SUPPORT MANHATTAN VALLEY INDIAN RESTAURANT:
https://www.waiterpay.com/blog/restaurant-1-4-million-restaurant-workers-wage-violations
Malaysia Grill is (or was, if the close is permanent) one of my favorite restaurants in NYC. They have a large menu and the build your own options offer a lot of flexibility (with a broad array of vegetables for healthy options… I personally like the okra). I hope the dispute is resolved and that they re-open. Keep us posted!
Sad and heartbroken they are gone, owner good people. Food excellent, wait staff in later years mercenary and not Malaysian. Mercenary greed of landlords make it unaffordable for anyone to do business. They expect tenants to pay all for rent and make nothing for restaurant. They don’t want people to live. That’s why all the empty storefronts on broadway. Even garden of Eden couldn’t run. No more bagel stores. Landlords just want to pimp. Watch you’ll see more closing of local institutions and empty storefronts. Shine the light on pimp landlords they are the ones destroying new york. Tell it like it is, call it what it is. Let’s stop trying to sound or look polite. Born and raised here. Broken heart for new york. Even barney’s, Brooks brothers, lord and Taylor couldn’t afford the rents dsw almost Macy’s almost, on and on, nicks hamburger joint, seeing more after opening for short time. I love new york but it has attracted the creeps and economic pimps. Sad.
Yeah, moderation. Try Evictions and politically correct. Highest homelessness of the middle class in history. Go watch the forgotten
Man.
Don’t ask for comment if you don’t want to hear the truth. Sad you want comment and can’t handle candid truthfulness. I made a mistake even bothering to comment
I will hold my tongue from now on. Sad. You want people to live and die in silence .