Rasa Sayang

Rasa Sayang has long been one of Chinatown's most reliable draws for Malaysian food, a bright, welcoming room on Macclesfield Street that brings the hawker-stall flavours of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to central London. Halal and consistently busy, it has built a loyal following over the years for cooking that tastes like the real thing.

As a standout Malaysian restaurant in Soho, its menu runs through the classics with confidence: char kway teow, beef rendang, curry laksa, roti canai and Hainanese chicken rice among them. The turquoise-tiled bar and glass frontage make it lighter and airier than many of Chinatown's tighter rooms, and it works as well for a quick solo bowl of laksa as a shared feast.

What to expect from this Malaysian restaurant in Soho

Expect the hawker greatest hits: smoky char kway teow, rich beef rendang, coconut-heavy curry laksa, flaky roti canai and satay, plus rice and noodle staples from across Malaysia and Singapore. It is generous, keenly spiced and halal throughout, which keeps a broad crowd of regulars, students and visitors coming back.

The cooking and the setting

Rasa Sayang has become something of a Chinatown institution for South East Asian food, holding its own among the street's Cantonese kitchens. It sits near the corner Dutch pub De Hems, with more of the area's tables in our Soho restaurants listings.

How a visit works

Rasa Sayang serves lunch and dinner on Macclesfield Street, taking walk-ins and bookings; it gets busy at peak times, so arriving early helps. It is listed on the official Chinatown directory, and reviewed by The Infatuation.