The operators of Chinatown's highly-awarded and ever-popular Mamak restaurant are facing court after allegedly underpaying six employees to a tune of more than $87,000 and using false records to disguise the underpayments.

The Malaysian restaurant on Goulburn Street, which is famous for its long queues and fast service, allegedly paid rates as low as $11 an hour to the casual staff over more than three years.

Mamak attracts large crowds, but has not escaped the attention of the Fair Work Ombudsman.

One employee is believed to have been underpaid by $26,793 while another was allegedly owed $21,538.

In total, the workers - four of whom were international students and one a bridging visa holder - were allegedly underpaid $87,349 between February 2012 and April 2015.