Adelaide loves to call a place a “hidden gem,” but the phrase has been diluted by a sea of franchises, trendy cafes and venues insisting they’re secret while popping up on every feed.
Sedap, the new Malaysian and South Asian eatery in Valley View, earns the title without trying.
Tucked into Adelaide’s north-east, Sedap officially opened on Christmas Day after a soft, word-of-mouth weekend launch. In the short time since, it’s quietly built an almost-perfect 4.9 Google rating, with diners raving about generous serves, friendly staff, and authentic flavours that “transport home without a flight ticket.”
Behind it are Sharinah, Praveen and Dhillon, three nurses who decided the recipes they grew up with deserved more than the walls of their family kitchens.
“We’re not trained chefs,” Praveen says. “But we’re cooks. This is what we’ve always done.”
The trio met through nursing shifts, bonded over food, and what started as a pipe dream quickly turned into a shopfront with a constant flow of locals and homesick Malaysians.
The menu is rooted in Malaysian cooking, shaped by South Asian flavours, and guided almost entirely by what Sharinah grew up making at home. Many of the recipes come directly from family, with flavours refined through constant conversations, advice and memories passed between generations.
That sense of tradition is most visible during Sedap’s banana leaf lunches, served on Saturdays and Sundays, a South Indian dining ritual that remains surprisingly rare in Adelaide.
For those unfamiliar, banana leaf dining isn’t just about what’s served, but how. Rice sits at the centre, surrounded by freshly prepared vegetable dishes, sambar, rasam, papadam and a sweet finish. The heat of the rice releases a subtle aroma from the leaf itself, lifting the entire meal.
“It’s natural, it’s good for the environment, and it keeps the food moist,” Praveen explains. Not to mention it’s visually beautiful, too.
At Sedap, the banana leaf set is vegetarian and halal, staying true to tradition, with optional add-ons like chicken curry, mutton curry, prawn sambal and fried fish for meat fiends, a detail that’s quickly become a point of difference for them.
During the week, the menu leans into Malaysian comfort staples. Nasi goreng in its various forms, fragrant coconut curries, beef rendang slow-braised until spoon-soft, curry laksa rich with spice, and wok-tossed noodles cooked to order. Praveen describes nasi lemak as the signature dish and the most approachable entry point for newcomers – but if you’re a carb lover, the flaky roti chanai is a non-negotiable. Trust me. Just do it.
It might be the trio’s first foray into hospitality, but the overwhelmingly positive response is no stroke of luck. The work behind it all is deliberate and labour-intensive. Spice bases are built slowly, dishes are prepared in stages, and final elements are cooked fresh to preserve texture and balance. Sharinah has stepped back from full-time nursing to focus on the kitchen, a leap that’s clearly paying off.
“If you don’t do it fresh, you lose the crispness,” Praveen says. “And then it’s just not the same.”
Drinks, handled by Dhillon, also lean heavily into his heritage. Teh Tarik, Malaysia’s iconic “pulled tea” arrives frothy and comforting – just like it does roadside in KL – alongside Milo ais (iced Milo) and sirap ais (rose syrup drink).
Then enter the palate cleanser. Ice kacang, the colourful shaved-ice dessert, is found at almost every Singaporean hawker centre and loved across generations (for good reason.)
“People recognise these straight away,” Praveen says. “They remember them.”
Sedap’s Valley View home has quickly resonated with locals, particularly those who had been travelling further afield for Malaysian food after other much-loved eateries left the area.
It had big shoes to fill, but Sedap Eatery has already become a delicious part of the north-east dining fabric. It might be unassuming from the front, but inside, it delivers exactly what Adelaide keeps searching for. A flavour-packed hidden gem, a slice of home for some, and a cultural entry point for others.
Sedap Eatery
Where: 10/26 Vale Ave, Valley View
When: Thurs and Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat 11am-3pm/5-10pm, Sun 11am-3pm
For more info, click here.
@sedapeatery_adelaide
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