We had the sambal eggplant, which was our favorite. Really well balanced and paired perfectly with rice. The beef rendang was tender and flavorful, though a couple of pieces were a bit tougher. The roti with curry chicken was also really good. The char kway teow was cooked well and had a nice bit of wok hei. The rice was the only thing that didn't quite match the other dishes and could've used a bit more water. Our server was friendly and gave great recommendations, which made the experience even better. Overall, we were very satisfied, and we can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu. read more

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We met family here for dinner as we were in town. This is the closest to good Indonesian food we've had in a while. The server was very friendly and gave us good suggestions on some items to order. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of the food . The beef rendang was melt in your mouth delicious! The mee goreng had nice flavor, though I wish there was more shrimp in it. I would have preferred more spice (heat) in the food, but that's just me. It's a huge space and quite busy for a Thursday night. My family frequents this restaurant quite regularly, so it must be good! read more

Huge space, nice decoration, friendly staff. I got the beef rendang nasi lemak and really enjoyed it. All the parts were done well and the flavor was great. Would totally come back! read more

Kapitan - Rendang Beef - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is delicious.. kids friendly restaurant... definitely coming back again and again... we even ordered take out for next day lunch read more

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My friends and I visited here for some good food and good times, and it ended up being just that. The menu contains many traditional Malaysian and Singaporean food items, ranging from nasi lemak to sambal eggplant to chicken satay, and pretty much everything tasted great with good flavor. The sambal flavor defined the eggplant dish and since you can't really go wrong with sambal, the dish was just great. The chicken satay had good sauce that helped enhance its flavor. The nasi goreng was seasoned very well, with all the seasonings infused into the rice. The rendang beef had very tender beef in terms of texture, and the curry lemongrass sauce evidently defined the flavor, making it an overall very enjoyable experience. Finally, the lamb shank that came with the nasi lemak was also very tender because it was slow-cooked, and together with the nasi lemak, the combination worked well. If there was one thing I wanted to see improvement on, then I would've loved it if the roti pratha included even more roti, simply because it'd be common pratice to eat it in relatively larger quantities. Otherwise, everything was just great. Even if the menu was huge, I couldn't see a possibility of choosing a wrong dish, not only because Malaysian food is bomb in general, but also because the dishes all used the correct types and amount of seasoning to provide good flavor. I would gladly recommend this place to those looking for this cuisine type in Chicago. read more

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I've driven by so many times and finally stopped in, so glad I did! The space feels homey and welcoming, and the Malaysian menu has all the comforting classics. The curry laksa was flavorful and packed with a variety of seafood proteins. The beef chow fun hit the spot, and the Hainan chicken was poached to perfection tender and comforting. Service was great too--attentive and genuinely friendly. read more

Kapitan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow! Food and ambient was great. One of the better Malaysian restaurant in Northern America.

It seems Serai closed and reopened, and now shares a location with Kapitan, so I guess this is a review for both restaurants. Interesting. Anyway, my friend and I came last Thursday for dinner -- really big (and no-frills) restaurant and it was not very busy. Our server was friendly and helpful with our questions, and service was prompt and efficient. We ordered the kaya toast and roti canai as appetisers. The kaya toast was yummy (and honestly a bit rare to find in the US), but I think the portion size was definitely a bit small for the price. Roti canai was yummy -- I loved how fluffy and flaky the roti was -- and the curry was delicious, if not a bit too salty. We also ordered the mee goreng, which was a bit more disappointing. The underlying flavour of ketchup was really just too strong and drowned out all the other (sweet or savoury) sauces. The noodles were also too soft / soggy, but I thought the other ingredients (veggies, tofu) were good. Finally we had the curry laksa (the serai recipe - apparently the toppings are different), which I would definitely recommend. The egg noodles were very well-cooked to a great chewiness, and I really liked the variety of tasty toppies it came with (loved the chicken and char siu, and the fish balls were soft and very flavourful). I wish there were more broth because the noodles did get dry very quickly. Overall a pretty good meal -- I'd be keen to come again :) read more

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This is the most authentic Malaysian place I've been to since Malaysia. There are so many street foods to choose from, some I didnt even know about. Truly so amazing and they don't skimp on flavor- the components of coconut, shrimp paste, pandan and sambal are all there. Bring friends so you can try everything. My favorite was the murtabak- the egg flatbread with onions. You can also buy the Kaya toast in a jar to take with you. Definitely try their drink menu both alcoholic and non alcoholic-- those are creative and authentic as well. read more

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Difficult to find a Malaysian restaurant but Kapitan does it well - coming from a Malaysian. We tried the roti canai, beef rendang, char kuey teow, and Hainanese chicken rice. All the dishes are flavorful and authentic, with good portions for the prices. My favorite was the beef rendang, which was super tender. Overall super comforting meal and the service was great! read more

Kapitan - Roti - Curry Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is awesome. They serve Peranakan food, a Malaysian with Chinese roots ancient fusion. Particularly good was the chili shrimp; huge prawns simmered in sweet chili sauce with fried buns. Appetizers-wise, I highly suggest the roti and dahl and the skewered fish balls (funny name, delicious taste). City-fare of the finest kind. read more

This place was a hidden gem! We ordered the randang beef, the Panang chicken and the Kapitan chicken. They were all magnificent. Service was friendly and prompt. Very comfortable space! We will be back! read more

Kapitan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved having all the classic Malaysian dishes I miss -- char koay teow, mee goreng, lamb rendang, satay, and ais kacang. Also, they are set up for young kids really well -- a great play area with toy cars, books, a magnetic wall with gears and letters, and durable colorful plastic cups and bowls. Great experience and we will definitely revisit whenever we're in Chicago. read more

Kapitan - Kids' play area - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was my first time trying Malaysian food and it was SO good. This restaurant has so many options for everyone to enjoy. We shared family style and honestly that was the best way to do it. A lot of similar dishes to South Asian and Thai food but such different flavors. My favorite was definitely the Kapitan chicken and the drunken noodles were to die for. Would love to come back and try more things here! read more

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I came here to celebrate graduation with family and were easily accommodated on a weekday. The space is huge, making it a great spot for larger parties. We also happened to catch happy hour and took full advantage! The drinks were Asian-inspired and came out quickly. I'm not too familiar with Malaysian cuisine, but overall, the food had great flavor. The rendang lamb had a nice kick of spice, and we ordered a variety of authentic dishes like nasi lemak and mee goreng, which were both solid choices. There's a wide selection on the menu, and the portion sizes were generous for the price. read more

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Pretty yummy Malaysian food -- huge 3 story restaurant so seems like there would likely never be a wait and a good place for a group. Not the best I've ever had but solid choice if you want a nice ambiance and easy seating. read more

Kapitan - Roti canai - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

my experience at kapitan was great! the food took a little bit to come out, but the service was very friendly. the place is big and pretty empty when i went for lunch on a saturday evening. the decor is charming, and it's pretty quiet -- definitely really comfortable. not sure what the dinner crowd is like! every person i went with enjoyed their dish. i ordered the nyonya seafood which i loved. the flavors were strong with a lot of seafood and vegetables in a clay pot. i highly recommend this dish for seafood lovers! i tried the kapitan chicken my friend ordered, which was also very flavorful. both meat dishes came with a bowl of rice. my other friends ordered nasi lemak and mee goreng. they both really enjoyed their dishes. i will definitely be back to try other dishes! read more

Everything was amazing. Large portions for entrees and delicious all around. Will be returning soon! read more

Kapitan - Kapitan chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Super nice Malaysian food, it is better than in Malaysia. Boss also friendly, must come again! read more

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As a Malaysian, i really loved their dish, authentic even dish even i am far from home ! i wish i found out this restaurant sooner ! read more

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We made a reservation for a birthday brunch, but the place did not open until 10mins after their opening time, which did not seem very professional. The person who opened the door did not apologize on keeping us waiting. The price is colorfully decorated inside, but had a very strong cigarette smell. The waiter was friendly and came back multiple times to check on us. The Roti Chenai curry sauce taste was mild, but the roti portion was very small. The Hokkein Soy Noodle was too salty and too much sauce. The Fried Hainan Chicken was a whole chicken and was crispy on the outside, but the meat was tender and juicy. The Hainan rice that came with the chicken was not a flavorful as expected of Hainan rice. The Rendang Beef taste as expected, but the meat was very dry. The Bechalan String Beans was on the salty side, but goes well with rice. I liked the Singaporean Laksa as it has a good curry flavor without being too overpowering. I was ready to try their Kuih, sweet. Cakes, but they did not have it available. If I have a craving to Malaysian Singaporean food, I might try doing carry out next time. read more

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Met up with a friend to check out Kapitan for some good Malaysian food but left feeling underwhelmed. We got the nyonya curry laksa lemak to share and ordered two appetizers, the roti canai and pork buns. The pork was tough and the eggs in the laksa overcooked. Service was slow despite the restaurant being at 30% capacity. A filling albeit subpar meal that didn't make me curious to try other menu items. read more

This was first time at Kapitan. I came here for a lunar new year event with a group I'm part of. What I didn't know that this is the sister restaurant of one of favorite but now closed restaurants Serai. This brought back all the memories of my favorites from Serai including Roti and Rendang beef. If you're looking for a great Malaysian meal definitely stop by here. Even though this was a buffet style catered meal, the staff takes care of you! Can't wait to come back read more

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Two years ago, we, a group of Malaysians, enjoyed a great assortment of pretty close authentic Malaysian meals served here. We excitedly returned to this place recently. Sadly, this time, the food was a complete disappointment. Every dish tasted bland and sweet. Nothing Malaysian about the food. The sambal was runny and sweet. One of us was even charged for asking extra! The last time we were here, a nice young waitress brought freshly made fiery red sambal with no additional charge. The flavors in the Hokkien mee were like the kind you'd find in a Chinese buffet, sweet and greasy. The kind of noodles they used were different too. The Ramly burger was NOT Ramly burger. It tasted like dry ground meat patty drenched in a runny sticky sweet chili sauce. The chendol was runny and tasted flat. The only positive was the waiter was attentive. We deduced Kapitan has a new management and/or cook. My buddies and I will not return. read more

The food and drinks were amazing again tonight! I came with a few friends and we ordered a lot of food. We started with some tender and tasty chicken satay. Next, as an appetite enhancer, we had otak otak which tasted very authentic and spiced perfectly. It was wrapped in banana leaf like how it is cooked in Malaysia. Everyone loved it! Next course, noodles! We ordered gluten free version of Nyonya Curry Laksa, Hokkien Mee and Char Kuey Teow. All of the noodle dishes tasted sublime. We were very surprised as how they all tasted so traditional and very good, yet gluten free. We then had lamb rendang with coconut rice. This brought me back to Malaysia, as the lamb was so tender, as it cooked for hours and the stew or gravy was so authentic. Last entree was the cili shrimp that served in a very delectable spicy gravy with huge sized prawns and fried mantou buns that were so crunchy and dipped in the gravy was it so delicious and reminded me of home. We all had teh tarik (tea) which complement all the dishes we ate, to blend with the heat from the spices blended sauces. Nope we didn't stop there, for dessert, we ordered the ais kacang and coconut dessert to cleanse and padded our palate from the wonderful foods we enjoyed. Note: You can ask for their separate gluten free menu where you can choose the same great dishes but as gluten free. We ordered mostly all the dishes as gluten free, so one of our friends can feast with us. With exception to the mantao buns that it came with the cili shrimp dish, everything else was gluten free and so authentically good! Service was so friendly, fast and the space is so harmonious and open. Well done, Kapitan! read more

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Overall, the food was okay and nothing to write home about. I had the poached Hainanese chicken with chili and ginger sauces which was okay, and the rice was alright. read more

Kapitan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I read somewhere this was from the same owner as Serai, which I've enjoyed, so I decided to give Kapitan a try. TBH, I still prefer Serai more. The Roti Curry Chicken was the only dish I ordered that I've had at both locations, and it was consistent. Mee Goreng was a bit too sweet for my taste, and the Singapore Noodles were too dry. The Nyonya Curry Laksa Lemak reminded me of a different take on the Thai Khao Soi. This was my favorite dish. Generous portions and ingredients, reasonable pricing. read more

Kapitan - Roti Curry Chicken, Nyonya Curry Laksa Lemak, Mee Goreng, Singapore Noodles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I walk by here pretty much every day and I was curious what it was. I'm so glad that I finally went in and tried it. We came in and were seated right away because there's so many seats and it's not that crowded. The food is amazing. There are so many options and you literally cannot go wrong anywhere. With influences from all over Southeast Asia, flavors are popping off. I had the Mee Goreng and my date had the Singaporean noodles. I got to try them both and would've been happy with either choice. The service could've been better but I'm not going to ding a star off because more people need to go here. It's a super convenient location for me and the food is so good and I don't want anything to happen to it. read more

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the kaya toast!!!! the kaya toast!!!!! the kaya toast i cant stop thinking about you you are so good somebody help me!!! ahhh!!!! read more

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Went here with some coworkers and really enjoyed the food. I had the Kapitan Chicken and it was incredibly flavorful and had a mild spice to it. Im a big fan of any coconut milk based sauce and this did not disappoint. We went at lunch time and were surprised that the restaurant was completely empty except for us. It really deserves more customers in my opinion, I will go here more often to support them! The restaurant itself is huge and has plenty of seating. It's a split level type and has 3-ish half-floors of dining spaces. The service was great and the waiter was nice. I wish they served everyone at the exact same time so people didn't have to sit and wait awkwardly for their dish, but it's not that big of a deal. Overall, I definitely need to come back and try more food! read more

Kapitan - Kapitan Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A lot of "fusion" places just offer a variety of cuisines, but Kapitan actually is fusing some of them together. The results are a delightful array of colorful, artfully plated, and creative offerings. My favorites all came from the Local Favorites and Shareables sections of the menu, rather than the Entrees. Of particular note were the Roti served with Dahl rather than a typical curry, and Lobak, which was much better than its description sounded--it was almost more like an eggroll. The cocktail list is also worth a shout-out. There are many creative, mostly floral-influenced offerings under read more

Very spacious space and the service was good. The menu had a lot to offer and I definitely was overwhelmed by all the options! I wish I had a bigger wallet to fulfill my wants, but alas, I can only afford to eat so many things. We ordered the cheong fun to start, 3/5. It wasn't anything special and a little too sweet for my liking. Laksa 4/5, it's been so long since I've had laksa and it hit the spot for me! They added lots of goodies and protein to this bowl and I felt like it was just endless. Hokkien char me, 3/5. I definitely enjoyed my first few bites but after a while, it was incredibly salty. I am not from the area so I am not sure if there are other restaurants like this, but for someone who wants to expose themselves to new foods, this is definitely a good start! read more

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I never had a true Malaysian cuisine till I met a few friends here for a early dinner. The menu was easy to read and has pictures of the dishes. We started with a few appetizers such as satay chicken ($8) - not dry, tasty like Thai satay. Next was the entrees that we went with sambai shrimp ($18) - this dish was the spiciest of all. The next dish was the roast Hainanese chicken- ($25) Marinated with spices and roasted enough for 4 people. Overall the food was great but the service is lacking as we had to wave them to get items like extra rice. There were items such as hot sauce we asked for that they charge extra ($.50). I would recommend for legit Malaysia cuisine but watch out for the extra's that can drive up the bill. read more

My friends and I were looking to try something different every week. The food did not disappoint. It was delicious and was very filling. Gives the bang for the buck. We had 2 curry dishes. One being the chicken and the other being the beef. Service was great. I was surprised to find it kind of empty on a Friday night given how amazing the food is. Definitely adding this as a go to spot when looking for Malaysian food. Wish we had a bigger stomach to try all the different foods read more

Finally, we had a chance to go here. Came on a Sunday around 2 p.m., so it's pretty much empty. We were greeted by this lovely lady who was also our server. She's so nice. Looked at the menu and instantly wanted to order everything, but that's not possible. I mean, who will eat it? One thing that shocked me was the amount of food that came for the price. The nasi kuning with chicken kapitan was pretty much two days' worth of food. Like literally! We had so many leftovers, enough until tomorrow lunchtime Taste wise - everything tastes so good. My personal fave is the roti with curry dip. My kids definitely love the satay. Price - If people complain about the price, honestly, Chinatown price is also the same as this place. Overall, it was an amazing experience and will be back here again. read more

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If you're in the area, please check out the food at Kapitan. If you're unfamiliar with the cuisine, the Roti Canai is the perfect dish to start out with. I would also try the Nasi Lemak as it is the national dish of Malaysia. Ambience: we came on a weekday so we were able to be seated right away. The decor of the restaurant was more modern, but still had nice touches of the culture through their mural on the top floor, canvases, and hanging bird cages. There are 3 levels of seating and a bar on the top floor. Roti Canai: must try if you haven't already. This dish really set our expectations as to how the rest of the dishes were going to come out. The roti was soft and flaky, which pairs perfectly with the light curry. If you're worried about the curry being spicy, I'd say that it wouldn't be a problem as Malaysian curry typically has coconut milk in it to reduce the sharpness of the spices. Char Kway Teow: stir-fried flat noodles with soy sauce. There was a good amount of wok-hei (smokiness) in the noodles which makes this a great dish. The dish contains shrimp, bean sprouts, sliced fish cake, and egg. Nasi Lemak: My to go dish if I'm not craving something in particular. The coconut rice was fluffy and fragrant and the peanuts may have been cooked with brown sugar to give the dish an extra crunch with sweetness. This is not common, but I thought it was a creative addition. Curry not shown on the picture was perfect as it wasn't too heavy and the potatoes and chicken were very soft. Overall I had a great experience here at Kapitan and I would consider this my favorite Malaysian restaurant at the moment after experiencing different varieties in New York, California, and Illinois. read more

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I have to give Kapitan props for being much better on the second visit, impressing me with their roti canai, otak otak, and sambal petai with shrimp. I said in my last review I would try to order things that it would be very difficult to make too sweet, and this seems to be the way to go here. My companion's favorite was the roti canai, a fall-apart chicken thigh in a spicy broth made milder by how coconutty it was. My favorite was the shrimp sambal petai. I love petai and how they taste kind of like weed smells, but the impressive part of this dish was the thick candlenutty gritty rub that coated the whole thing. Herb-wise, it tasted exactly like Malaysia. I like my otak otak a little less creamy but this was still delicious - and similarly herb heavy. I will absolutely return, at least for the sambal petai, and to see what else they can surprise me with! read more

Taste is decent but I found sand in your chili crabs. You need to do a better job cleaning your crabs. Also, I have to keep calling on the wait staff for fresh plates. I see a whole bunch of them just milling around chitchatting even after our plates are piled high with crab shells. If you've ever been to a seafood restaurant in Singapore or Malaysia, you notice that they have a retinue of attentive wait staff replacing diners' plates *before* they are filled up with shells. This is an essential service for a good dining experience. All Malaysian dishes we ordered were good and fairly authentic but the lamb skewers (certainly not Malaysian) were inedible. Stick to Malaysian cuisine; do lamb satays instead. read more

Kapitan - Chili crab - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Have you ever tried brunch from Singapore? Imagine sweet coconut jam and doubled roasted coffee with margarine on a lazy Saturday morning! I went to Kapitan to try out their classic brunch set: Kaya toast: Kaya is a delicious Malaysian jam made with coconut, eggs and caramel. Sweet and filled with natural fragrance, 11/10 Soft boiled eggs: Singapore's own kind of making eggs. Gooey and runny. Slurp it from the bowl or spoon as you please. 7/10 Kopi-O: not your regular coffee! The O means sugar added and it's twice roasted with margarine. Strong and sweet. 10/10 read more

Kapitan - Asian Fusion Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food and service in general were fine, but they added a 20% automatic gratuity to the lunch bill. They explained it was their 'policy,' which feels unreasonable and wasn't stated beforehand. If they don't want to lose customers, they may want to rethink this "policy". read more