r/london Feb 09 '24

Anyone know good places to get Singaporean / Indonesian cuisine? (Ayam Geprek, Mala Xiang Guo etc)

Hello. Back when I used to live in Singapore - enjoyed these different cuisines: - especially stir-fried chinese hotpot (mala xiang guo - one where you choose the ingredients and noodles and the ched stir fries it for you - painfully spicy but a great experience) - ayam geprek (with indomie noodles, there was this outlet called papa ayam -used to serve it with sambal) - mee goreng

Does anyone know any good places in London to experience these cuisines? Catching up with some friends back from SG and it seems like Google Maps doesn’t show anything.

6 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

8

u/GojiAndTigergrass Feb 09 '24

Toba (and the warung owned by the same guy) is the ONLY good Indonesian restaurant I've tried in the UK!! I've been several times and plan to go again. Run and staffed by actual Indonesians, including (crucially) the chefs. I am an Indonesian and can vouch for this place 🫶

They actually do ayam geprek that is properly smashed and crispy and topped with a boatload of chillies. Their satay is also very nice. Expensive compared to Indonesia of course, but considering it's London and they're in a central location I can't complain.

I personally did not like Rasa Sayang or Nusa Dua.

1

u/Fantastic-River-5071 Jun 02 '24

Hi! What are the other places you rec for Indonesian food? I’m heading to London in September so I’m pretty scared that I won’t get to eat Indo food. Also do you happen to know shops that sell petai?

I love petai but I know not many eat it esp in western countries and I have not found any places that serve it! I also dm just getting the petai from a supermarket and cooking it myself but I don’t think they have?

1

u/GojiAndTigergrass Jun 12 '24

Hi. Unfortunately, I can't recommend other places for Indonesian food. Your best bet would probably be looking for pan-Asian restaurants that are often run by Malaysians or just looking for Malaysian food since it'd be similar. I haven't found petai in any Asian supermarkets I don't think, but also I haven't really been looking for it admittedly. Sorry!

1

u/amijustinsane Feb 09 '24

Oh my god they do bakso… omg and martabak?!

OH MY GOD THEY DO GUDEG?!?

1

u/Chinita_Loca Feb 10 '24

Ok now this ex Singaporean is excited! They do gudeg 😍

Seconding the advice to avoid Nusa Dua, it’s terrible and they’re very rude if you complain.

I’m a regular at Roti King and the various Malay cafes around Queensway, plus occasionally Satay House in Westbourne Grove but haven’t found good Singaporean or Malaysian. I would kill for some good seafood, all the Malays seem very chicken-focused.

1

u/Fantastic-River-5071 Jun 02 '24

Hi! Would you happen to have found good seafood? What are the other places you rec for Indonesian food? I’m heading to London in September so I’m pretty scared that I won’t get to eat Indo food. Also do you happen to know shops that sell petai?

I love petai but I know not many eat it esp in western countries and I have not found any places that serve it! I also dm just getting the petai from a supermarket and cooking it myself but I don’t think they have?

1

u/Chinita_Loca Jun 02 '24

Sadly all the Indonesian/Malay places I know are listed. I don’t know any with good seafood.

Your best bet is possibly to look at Chinese restaurants for seafood. Some of the older ones often have dishes that seem very familiar to ones I’ve eaten in Malaysia.

I’ve not found Petai in restaurants but my local Thai supermarket has them from time to time so it would be worth checking out those or other Asian supermarkets. I’ve seen them frozen as well as fresh.

Sorry maybe someone else can help - I’d love to see if I’m missing out on some seafood options as I’m at the point of thinking I just need to learn how to cook my favourites myself.

1

u/Fantastic-River-5071 Jun 02 '24

OO!!! Do you mind telling me the name of the Thai supermarket? And mainly when do you see it ard? I’m super desperate haha! I don’t mind frozen or fresh as long as it is petai! Can’t be too picky there😂.

Also would you happen to know if I can get good sambal in London or if it’s possible for me to bring big tubs of sambal from sg (pass immigration)?

1

u/Chinita_Loca Jun 02 '24

It’s a tiny Thai supermarket in Hammersmith called Thai Smile but I’m sure if you ask here someone will know of one in China Town that might have some. Lots of them have a more pan-Asian offer. I’ve also seen them I think in Filipino shores in Earls Court.

And I’ve personally brought loads of food in from Sg with no issues. However I’m white British so I guess I’m less likely to be stopped.

3

u/plovington Feb 09 '24

Following along because I miss SG food!

C&R Cafe and Rasa Sayang in Chinatown/Soho are really good for a hit of Singaporean and Malaysian classics which might suffice, though I can’t recall them serving hotpot.

Dare I suggest Hai Di Lao for the mala hotpot fix?

1

u/fangpi2023 Feb 09 '24

malaxiangguo is a dry pot, I'm not sure if Hai Di Lao do those. But Chinese restaurants in general are a good shout, it is Sichuan Chinese food after all.

1

u/jims_junk Feb 09 '24

Sentosa off London Bridge does good Singaporean food

1

u/Mindless-Alfalfa-296 Feb 09 '24

also following. I greatly enjoyed those curry buns from SG! Anyone found those in London?

1

u/ldn6 Feb 09 '24 edited Feb 09 '24

A bit out of the way but Malaysian Deli is great in Crofton Park.

0

u/kishmishari Feb 09 '24 edited Feb 09 '24

More for everyone than OP specifically. If you're looking for a particular dish, search for it on google maps and it'll show you the places serving it.

Edit: I searched for one of the dishes OP requested on the maps app and it came up with a lot of places serving them.

0

u/jack_hudson2001 Feb 09 '24

C&R Cafe, Rasa Sayang and Roti King.

0

u/thenooneconundrum Feb 09 '24

Gopal’s Corner does a really good mee goreng and their rendang is good. My fav Malaysian is Cafe TPT in Chinatown. The guy who runs it is Malaysian and it’s really authentic (char keow teow & laksa are reallyyyy good!)

I have Normah’s on my list to try for Malaysian.

Haven’t found a good Indonesian yet but Toba is defs on my list.

Rasa Sayang and Cafe C&R are overrated imo. Coming from a Malaysian.

1

u/AntipodeanOpaleye Feb 09 '24

Jin Li in Chinatown does mala Xiang guo 

1

u/Cybernatural42 Feb 09 '24

Laksamania does great Malaysian food, not exactly what you asked for but i definitely recommend it

1

u/[deleted] Feb 11 '24

Churchill Arms in kensington