C&R Cafe

C&R Cafe is a small, family-run Malaysian restaurant in Soho's Chinatown, at number 4 Rupert Court, the narrow pedestrian passage off Gerrard Street. It has traded since 1998. Owner Rosa moved to London from Penang in the 1980s and opened the place with her husband after struggling to find the rustic Malaysian street food she grew up with. People come for honest, home-style Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking in a plain, casual room rather than for the decor.

The space is compact and informal, with tables packed close together along the alley. Service is quick and unfussy. There is no booking system, so you queue at busy times, and the kitchen takes last orders about half an hour before closing.

The cooking centres on Penang and wider Malaysian dishes, and the kitchen is best known for its laksa, both the coconut-rich curry version and the sour, tamarind-based assam laksa that reflects Rosa's Penang roots. Beyond the noodle soups, the menu runs to char kway teow, nasi lemak, satay, roti canai, claypot dishes and a long list of rice and noodle plates, alongside Chinese-style staples that suit the Chinatown setting. Portions are generous and prices stay modest for central London.

A few practical points. The restaurant closes on Mondays and opens from noon on the other days, serving until 10pm Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, and until 11pm on Friday and Saturday. A minimum spend of around £10 applies for card payment, and service is not added to the bill. The Michelin Guide 2025 lists it as a popular Malaysian and Southeast Asian cafe in Soho. After a quarter-century in the same spot, it remains a dependable lunch or early dinner stop, a short walk from Leicester Square.