Malaysian food is an exotic amalgamation of different cuisines from around South-east Asia. Rich in spices and flavour the food is as diverse as its people and not to mention absolutely delicious as well!
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It’s growing popularity among people from all over the world has contributed to it being available in places beyond the Asian state to European cities even! In fact we’ve listed down 8 places in London where you can go to get your fix of Malaysian food if you happen to be around the area.
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If you know of any other halal Malaysian food restaurants, share with the community on HHWT Forum!
1. Rasa Sayang
Located in London’s own Chinatown is the treasure of a restaurant that is Rasa Sayang. It is the only halal certified restaurant in the Chinatown area and is famous for being one of the go to places for a taste of real Malaysian or even Singaporean food in London!
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The dishes have their roots in Peranakan cuisine and utilize Malaysian spices to give them a real kick!
Among the dishes that you can find here are Nasi lemak, Beef rendang and even traditional Malay Kuehs like Kueh Dadar! What’s most exciting is that Rasa Sayang is committed to keeping things fresh, introducing new dishes every month ensuring that theres always something new to try!
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Address: 5 Macclesfield St, London W1D 6AY, UK
Opening Hours: 12.00pm-11.00pm Mondays to Thursdays. 12.00pm-12.00am Fridays and Saturdays. 11:30am to 9:30pm on Sundays.
2. Dapur
Hidden inconspicuously in the streets of London is the little-known café known as Dapur. This establishment may blend in well with the rest of London but it’s food could not not be any more different! Despite its contemporary outlook Dapur is a no frill’s café, serving up a variety of simple, hearty and authentic Malaysian dishes!
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They have 3 different menus that each follow a distinct theme, such as “Wedding feast” and “Selera Kampung”, that each comprise of different combinations of dishes. These include favourites such as Lamb Kurma, Beef rendang, Nasi minyak and, of course, Nasi Lemak, as well as a selection of other delectable Malaysian delicacies.
To top it off, they also serve a handful of traditional deserts such as bubur pulut hitam and Banana cake to complete the meal!
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Address: 13 Lamb's Conduit Passage, London WC1R 4RH, UK
Opening Hours: Mondays to Thursdays 11:30am to 3.00pm. Fridays 11:30am to 3.00pm and 5.00pm to 9.00pm. Closed on weekends.
3. C&R (Unfortunately, the restaurant currently serves pork dishes in their establishment :( )
In terms of dining experience, C&R restaurant probably most closely resembles what you’ll typically find in Malaysia! This unassuming, hole in the wall restaurant possesses all the characteristics of your typical everyday Asian eatery, giving it a nostalgic quality that’s sure to accentuate the food!
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Speaking of which! C&R is probably one of the few places in London where you can find a hearty bowl of rich and spicy laksa. Beisdes that, can also find other popular Asian dishes from different cuisines on their menu like chicken rice, char kway teow and even kangkong belacan which adds a welcomed touch of variety. On top of that, they also serve Cendol, a popular desert consisting of Gula Melaka and Coconut milk that makes for the perfect way to end of a Malaysian dinner.
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Address: 4 Rupert Ct, London W1D 6DY, UK
Opening Hours: Daily, 12.00pm - 10.00pm daily
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4. Satay House
What Malaysian gastronomic experience would be complete without Satay. This dish of skewered meats barbecued to perfection is emblematic of Malaysian or Malay cuisine in general and probably appears on most people’s minds when they begin to crave Malaysian food.
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Thankfully, with Satay house, good Satay isn’t far away. There you’ll find the usual and always delicious chicken and lamb satay accompanied with the very traditional condiments of thick peanut gravy as well as lontong (rice cubes). They even have a more novel vegetable satay that you can try if you’re looking to try something new. If not, you can just indulge in their very traditional menu consisting of savoury varieties of Nasi goreng and much more!
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Address: 13 Sale Pl, Paddington, London W2 1PX, UK
Opening Hours: 12.00pm to 3.00pm and 6.00pm to 11.00pm daily
5. Tukdin
Tukdin, is a modest family run restaurant down in London dedicated to showcasing the beauty of Malaysian cuisine. Its rather small size imbues it with a cosy atmosphere that brilliantly compliments the heartiness of the food to give anyone a great dining experience!
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The owners of Tukdin prefer to stay true to their Malaysian heritage which shows in their food. They serve up a mean sambal terung (aubergines in chili paste) along with a whole host of other favourites such as Satay, Mee Bandung and Nasi Lemak. For desert you can choose to be a little bit more adventurous and try fried ice cream or settle for their bubur hitam. Just make sure you wash it down with a glass of teh Tarik at the end!
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Address: 41 Craven Rd, London W2 3BX, UK
Opening Hours: 12.00pm-10.30pm Mondays to Thursdays. 6pm to 10:30pm on Fridays.
6. Roti King
Whether you call it roti prata or roti canai there is no denying that this pan-fried bread is a favourite amongst most people and has become a huge part of Malaysian cuisine. That said, Roti King has made it their mission to spread this love for roti canai to London offering up a dizzying selection of fresh and crisp roti canai for your indulgence.
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Their menu includes a selection of both sweet and savoury variations of the standard roti canai such as roti with cheese or roti tissue (a cone shaped roti with sugar sprinkles and vanilla ice cream). They also have a handful of original recipes like their roti with spinach and cheese! It doesn’t stop there of course, their menu also extend to include standard rice and noodle based Malaysian dishes like Nasi goreng and Kari Laksa ensuring that there’s something for everyone!
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Address: 40 Doric Way, Kings Cross, London NW1 1LH, UK
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays 12.00pm to 3.00pm and 5.00pm to 10:30pm. Saturdays 12.00pm to 10:30pm. Closed on Sundays.
7. Melur
Melur is a rather chic Malay restaurant that combines traditional elements with modern inspiration to produce something unique. Its designs take’s after modern French themes of dining and service which helps to elevate the entire establishment while keeping still keeping it warm and accommodating for its patrons.
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The food however does not stray far from conventional Malaysian cuisine! They’ve got an expansive, all-encompassing menu that includes a whole list of seafood, meat and vegetable dishes all prepared in traditional Malaysian fashion. These includes of course dishes like sambal sotong, sambal udang, ikan belado, beef rendang and even Ayam percik. That’s not all, their desert menu also features the famous ABC or Air batu campur, a sweet desert comprising of shaved ice that’s serves as the perfect end to a hearty meal!
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Address: 175A Edgware Rd, London W2 1ET, UK
Opening Hours: Daily, 12.00pm to 11.00pm.
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8. Makan Café
What better way to refuel after exploring Portobello market, the world largest antiques market, than to dive into some freshly prepared traditional Malaysian food. Convenient located around the vicinity, Makan café serves a mouth-watering array of Malaysian food that’s sure to satisfy your cravings for some robust and flavourful Asian cuisine!
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Makan café awards the freedom to choose from a range of ala carte dishes that include mee goreng, nasi goren, nasi lemak and even Singapore style curry laksa. If you’re in the mood to mix and match, then you can order a plate of plain rice instead and pair it with as many of the side dishes that they have on offer as you want. This includes stir fried vegetables, curries and rendang just to name a few. After that you can perk yourself up with a cup of freshly brewed coffee to help you recover from the impending food coma!
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Address: 270 Portobello Rd, London W10 5TY, UK
Opening Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm.
That brings us to the end of this list! There are of course other Malaysian restaurants in London that serve great food. The great thing is, with more and more Asian and Malaysian restaurants popping up all over London Home is never really far away. If you'd like to know of any other halal Malaysian food restaurants, share with the community on HHWT Forum!