If there’s anything that cures my homesickness being abroad, it’s definitely the heartwarming taste of Malaysian food. 🤤 I’ve spent a lot of time (and money) on these three restaurants for all the times I’m homesick… or just want good food. There are plenty of Malaysia restaurant in London but these are my personal top three picks. There are notable mentions at the end of this post for more restaurants that I have been to.
Roti King (Euston)
This small restaurant tucked in a basement right behind Euston station is always busy but the food is by far the tastiest I’ve had in London and it’s definitely my favorite Malaysian restaurant in London. Their roti canai is made fresh and the daal that comes with it is so thick and yummy. My favorite dishes are their kari laksa, char keuy teow and sambal belacan. My main issue with Malaysian food here is that they tend to taste ‘watered down’ but Roti King has never disappointed me in terms of authenticity of the taste of their dishes. Definitely the best one in London, in my humble opinion. Also, I brought my mom here and she approves of it if that helps 😉.
I would highly recommend visiting Roti King within the hour of their opening time because the wait time could be up to 30 minutes since it’s a small restaurant.This restaurant doesn’t take card so prepare yourself with cash before heading there.
Open Daily except Sunday from 12pm-3pm and 5pm-10.30pm.
Mamak Don (Camden)
Mamak Don sits in the heart of Camden and the ambience in the store really makes it feel like home — the traditional decoration and pictures on the walls. They have a large menu that boasts a wide range of south east asian cuisine. From individual meals to dishes for sharing, they have almost everything you can think of.
My favorites from this restaurant are their ayam percik which brings me back home to the night markets and their assam laksa which is hard to find here. This place is so homey and the taste too reminds me of home.
Open Daily from 12pm-3pm and 5pm-10.30pm.
Rasa Sayang (Chinatown)
Rasa Sayang is literally in the heart of London, the glorious Chinatown just off Picadilly Circus. The restaurant is sat amongst so many other Asian food and grocery as well as London’s West End theaters. With its vast choices of food, there’s something for everyone here.
My personal favorites are the hainanese chicken rice, wan tan hor and cendol. The hainanese chicken rice here is tastes a lot like the good ones you can back home. Their cendol is literally better than some I’ve taste in Malaysia. This place is definitely a must-try for Malaysian food.
Mon – Thurs: 12pm to 11pm
Fri – Sat: 12pm to 12am
Sun: 11.30am to 9.30pm
Notable mentions:
Malaysia Hall Canteen (Bayswater)
This is exactly where to go to get a quick fix for Malaysian food. They have a nasi kandar style set-up with all the dishes that you can pick from as well as quick stir fry options like mee goreng and nasi goreng.
Makan (Notting Hill)
This cafe is also a quick self-service type of restaurant. They have a similar set-up to the Malaysia Hall but have more options of dishes. The restaurant is tucked beneath a bridge but is easy enough to find.
Link: http://makancafe.com/
Melur (Edgware Road)
Melur is in a basement along Edgware Road which is sometimes hard to spot. Upon entering, it feels like a Malaysian restaurant and their menu is quite Malay-focused. The food was pretty average and by choice, I wouldn’t gravitate towards it.
Link: http://www.melurlondon.co.uk/
Noodle Oodle (Bayswater)
This restaurant serves more Chinese-Malaysian food but is good none the less. They have a wide range of food from noodles to rice and dishes. The food is simple and nothing to shout about but its does the trick!
Link: http://noodleoodle.com/
Tuk Din (Paddington)
This small restaurant is tucked in Paddington. The menu focuses more on food for sharing like dishes to have with rice. The dishes are also more toward the Malay style. The food was good but it wasn’t the greatest. The restaurant in itself was very nice though.
Link: https://www.tukdin.com/index.html
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About the author: A twenty something girl looking to make something of herself, Sofia Emily Parrott, hopes that someday her sideline writing will pay off — literally. She spends a copious of money on modern poetry books and make up and spends even more time on Netflix and taking inspirational naps. Right now, she is discovering where she belongs in this big, mean world by attaining a master’s degree in Marketing Communications after getting a degree in Media Studies. On the side, she is constantly writing more poems to add to her collection of unshared poetry and looking for a job that can potentially support her and her dreams.
