9 (Really) Delish Halal Malaysian Restaurants in London
If you’ve been looking for the best halal Malaysian restaurants in London, you’ll be happy you’ve come across The London Local today. If we’ve met here before, you’ve probably seen one or two of my guides to the best halal restaurants in Central London, Knightsbridge, or East London. Today, we’re embarking on the quest for the best mashup of South Asian cuisine – Malaysian food. Malaysian food – or Malay food – is one of the best Asian cuisines in my opinion, and I’d recommend it to anyone in a heartbeat. Follow me to discover the best halal Malay restaurants in London, and don’t blame me for being hungry when you finish reading!
9 Really Delish Halal Malaysian Restaurants in London
A lot of people think that Malaysian food is just a fusion of Chinese and Thai cuisines, but it actually has its own unique identity. When you go to some of the best halal Malaysian restaurants in London, you’ll understand what I mean about “unique identity”. Malaysian food is very spicy (but not as hot as Indian food), and often contains ingredients like tamarind, lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric. It has many similarities with Thai food – curries with coconut milk, noodles, fish cakes, chicken satay skewers, etc.
However, the flavors are different from Thai cuisine – they’re often sweeter in my eyes (although some would argue the opposite). To me though, I find Asian cuisines like Thai cuisine and Vietnamese cuisine to be hotter than Malaysian food. Especially halal Thai food, which I love but eat in very small quantities as it’s often way too hot for my delicate palate. I also tend to find Malaysian food less oily, and I feel it’s healthier for some reason.
So yes, I love Malaysian food, and I think it’s one of the best cuisines out there – and different from anything you’ve ever tried in terms of halal food in London. Especially if you’re not from a country where many different cuisines are available. Here are the best Malaysian restaurants in London – halal style.
Halal Malaysian Restaurants in London: Roti King
The first halal Malaysian restaurant in London I want to mention is Roti King. It’s a very famous place in terms of Malay food, and you’ll understand why as soon as you take your first bite. It’s not too far from Central London at all – this Malaysian restaurant is located really close to Euston station. As such, if you’ve been looking for halal restaurants in King’s Cross or St Pancras, that’s really close by. Roti King Euston is a small restaurant, but it’s always quite busy – I think most people order take-out from here because it’s so tiny.
The roti canai, one of the most famous Malaysian food specialties, is really good! All you need to do is basically fold the roti over the kari sauce to eat them together (rather than dipping the roti in curry sauce) so it’s easier. And while we’re at it, let’s talk about the Roti King kari sauces – you can tell that there are lots of spices in there. The roti with dhal costs a mere £6, while the kari with chicken is priced at £7.50. We’re really talking about affordable food in London right here.
I think Roti King does a great job at making halal Malaysian food in London more accessible to English people who aren’t used to eating spicy food. If you’re like me and love fragrant rice, chicken, and South Asian cuisine in general but can’t stand the spice, a Malaysian restaurant is definitely a place you should visit. With Roti King, you can still taste the flavors of the spices whether we’re talking kari and canai roti, nasi lemak, or nasi goreng (two of the national Malaysian dishes).
The fact that this halal Malay restaurant in London is built in a basement makes it that much more original. Oh, and their dishes definitely provide some of the most Instagrammable food pics in London.
Halal Malay Food London: Sambal Shiok Holloway Road
Sambal Shiok is a really popular Malaysian restaurant on Holloway Road, and it’s always really busy. I’ve found there were many halal restaurants in North London when I was living in Seven Sisters. I was on Holloway Road all the time, passing by to work at a library or at a coffee shop. People looking for Malay food in North London would do well to trust Sambal Shiok.
Founded in 2013, it mixes influences from quite a few parts of Southern Asia in its dishes. You might have already come across founder Mandy Yin’s Sambal Shiok cookbook – it’s a very famous book that breaks down all the basics and classics of delicious Malaysian cuisine. It’s one of the few halal Malaysian restaurants in London where the influences are so large and so well-blended in the dishes.
Their signature dish is the Curry Laksa – a halal gluten free option to check out if you’re intolerant to gluten. The curry laksa is a dish inspired by Peranakan Nyonya cuisine, a creative mix of Malay and halal Chinese cuisine often eaten in Kuala Lumpur. With rice noodles, green beans, bean sprouts, and tofu puffs, it’s a complete Malaysian food option for anyone who wants to feel satisfied with life after dinner.
You can definitely get the Sambal Shiok curry laksa with chicken or prawn – they even have a vegan option if you don’t eat meat. It won’t set you back more than £15 for the most expensive option, and you’ll feel amazingly full afterward. Word. The snacks are also worth a good try – and even a comeback to try more!
Halal Malaysian Restaurant London: Gopal’s Corner Victoria
Gopal’s Corner is another place to get great Malaysian food in London. It’s a little bit out of the way, but it’s really worth going there if you’re in or near Victoria. The rice is fragrant, as are the sauces and the broths, and there is plenty on the plate to enjoy! I think this is probably one of the best places for roti canai in London!
If you’re looking for amazing halal Malaysian restaurants in London, Gopal’s Corner by Roti King is undoubtedly one of the most famous places for Malay food. With good reason – the plates are colorful, with a bit of a spicy kick, and lack nothing in flavor. If you like the kind of restaurants where you can get instagrammable food, this is it. Get a banana leaf rice dish, and you’re traveling without leaving London.
Read: The Best Halal Burger Places in London
The mee goreng here is also pretty good. The noodles are fried with lots of spices, so it has a really nice aroma. Fried noodles or fried rice will always get the best of me – it’s just something I love. The dishes, from the roti canai to the banana leaf rice are all very reasonably priced. Overall, Gopal’s Corner is one of my favorite places for halal Malaysian food in London. I highly recommend it if you’re in Victoria or nearby!
Best Halal Malaysian Restaurants in Central London: Dapur
Dapur is a Malaysian restaurant located in the heart of Central London. It’s located right between Holborn and Chancery Lane, two locations I really enjoy having a walk around. This halal Malay restaurant is only open for lunch, so be sure to check the opening hours so you don’t miss the deal.
The interior design of Dapur is really nice – it has a modern feel to it, but at the same time there are plenty of traditional touches too. The menu at Dapur is pretty massive – they have lots of dishes on offer including all kinds of Malaysian specialties like Satay, Nasi Lemak, and Mee Goreng. It’s safe to say that Dapur is a great place for Malaysian food in Central London – the food is really good and the interior design of the restaurant is awesome.
What’s really cool is that since Malaysians enjoy any type of dish at any type of the day without being super structured like Europeans, for instance, or Japanese restaurants in London, well – that reflects in the cooking style of Dapur London. Since everything is halal, it’s an amazing option for Malay food in London, and, and: the prices are really affordable.
Mamak Don: Amazing Restaurant for Halal Malay Food in London
Mamak Don in Camden Town is a fantastic halal Malaysian restaurant in London that serves some great Malay food. What’s very likable about it is how adaptive they are to their customers. For instance, since Camden Town is such a trendy place, there are quite a few vegetarian and vegan options on the Mamak Don menu.
The interior of Mamak Don is decorated with black-and-white tiled floors and wooden tables. That makes for a very romantic restaurant in London if you’re looking for halal places where you can bring your other half. The only thing not sober in the decor… is the dish selection. The menu is not that large, and you can be sure that everything there will be absolutely stunning. The chefs do know their Malay food – big time. There, you’ll be able to taste all the classic dishes of the amazing Malaysian culture.
The menu at Mamak Don is pretty huge – they have lots of dishes on offer like Satay (beef skewers), beef rendang, Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng, Nasi Lemak, and more, like pan-fried seabass. Spicy, mild, veggies, chicken, or beef – the only trouble you’ll have is knowing what to pick. Everything is just that good.
Putera Puteri Bayswater: Halal Malaysian Restaurant in London
When it comes to purely traditional halal Malay food in London, I think I couldn’t mention a better place than Putera Puteri. Putera Puteri is located just off Edgware Road in Bayswater. It’s quite small inside but they have a few tables outside as well should you want to sit outside on the warm London summer evenings.
Putera Puteri is known for their Nasi Lemak (coconut rice), which comes with your choice of meat, sambal, and egg. It comes with pickled onions and cucumber slices – the traditional way. You’ll also find Nasi Goreng on their menu, great potato curry, and the famous roti canai.
Ibu Restaurant Paddington: Great Halal Malay Food in London
Ibu Restaurant is a Malaysian restaurant located in Paddington, West London. It’s a small restaurant with just a few tables inside and a few outside. Where do I start with Ibu? It’s one of those restaurants where you just want to try everything on the menu – not only is every dish described deliciously, but the prices are very affordable. Considering we’re in Paddington, I mean. Malay restaurants in London are affordable in general. Yet, at Ibu Restaurant, the Nasi Lemak is priced at £10.90. Barely more expensive than other places in North London, for instance.
If you want a real feel of halal Malay food, I’d definitely recommend the starters. They’re a true mix of Indian,
Thai, and other amazing South Asian cuisines. Skewered satay chicken, samosas, curry puffs, or Thai prawn crackers are all listed on the menu and waiting for you to pick one (or more) of them. Since a starter is priced between £3.50 and £5.90, you’ve got a large choice for a good budget.
It’s an easygoing halal restaurant in West London where you can go on a romantic date, or bring your family for a celebration. And you’re bound to have a great time.
Halal Malay Food London: Normah’s in Queensway Market
Normah’s Cafe is a halal Malaysian cafe located in Queensway Market, Bayswater. It’s a small cafe with just a few tables that give off a very family-like vibe. If you’re around Bayswater and would like to have a walk at Hyde Park nearby, then you should definitely come back to Normah’s for lunch. Fried rice, noodles, decadent prawns, and beef – yummy.
Halal Malaysian Food in Central London: Rasa Sayang Soho
If you’re looking for a great halal Malaysian restaurant in Chinatown or in Soho, Rasa Sayang is definitely the one. In terms of halal Malay food, it is considered one of the best in London. And not only because it’s located in Central London. Chinatown and Soho are two of my favorite places in the city; there are many coffee shops, bakeries, and independent shops there. Basically, what you need to do is have a walk all around Soho, cross Shaftesbury Avenue, reach Chinatown in 5 minutes, and end a full day at Rasa Sayang. And that’s how you call it a day.
The food here is really good and the portions are quite big. I was stuffed after eating this! The service is also really good – the staff is friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend Rasa Sayang to anyone looking for a halal Malaysian restaurant in Central London. It’s a great place to go with friends or family, and you can also order takeaway if you don’t want to sit in the restaurant.
9 Really Delish Spots for Halal Malaysian Food in London
Now you’ve got all the best options for halal Malaysian restaurants in London. Those are 9 halal spots scattered all around Central London where culture and tradition are still going strong on a London food scene that keeps evolving by the day. All in all, I think Malaysian food is one of the best cuisines out there!
The best part about it are the spices – they’re not too heavy, and they just add a wonderful aroma to dishes. I also love how most dishes are served with rice – it’s just such a great combination that these restaurants know perfectly to translate with their countless choices of Malay food in London.
My favorite dish would have to be Nasi Goreng because you can’t go wrong with that kind of dish. The mix of fried rice coupled with fried egg is a combination of so many different flavors going on at once: sweet, sour, tangy, spicy… It’s an endless game of fireworks in your mouth. One last tip – when you go to one of these halal Malaysian restaurants in London: do save some space for a traditional dessert. You can thank me later.
Having previously lived in both Paris and Rome as a fashion makeup artist, she enjoys the freedom that freelancing offers and loves to spend her time seeking out new and exciting spots in London.