Southeast Asian Flavours in London: Rasa Sayang Restaurant

It was a chill Saturday afternoon with nothing much planned. My friend and I were wandering around near Regent Street, just enjoying the city. As it got closer to dinner time, our stomachs started growling. That’s when my friend said, “There’s this pretty good Singaporean-Malaysian place in Chinatown — want to check it out?”

I was immediately down. It’s not that easy to find truly authentic Southeast Asian food in London, so I was curious — especially since my friend was vouching for it. We headed straight for Chinatown and soon spotted the bright red sign that read Rasa Sayang, which means “the taste of love.” The name already felt warm and familiar. Unsurprisingly, there was a line out the door. But don’t worry — the restaurant has two floors and a pretty fast turnover. We waited maybe 10–15 minutes before being seated. Not bad at all.

Iced Lemon Tea: Light tea flavour, not too sweet. Simple but refreshing.
Teh Tarik (Pulled Milk Tea): Creamy but not too heavy. Since it was served cold, it balanced out the rich dishes nicely.
Lor Mee: Massive bowl — bigger than my face. The broth was thick and flavourful with a slight spicy kick. The chicken, deep-fried beforehand, was crispy outside and tender inside. The noodles were springy and held up well in the sauce. Hearty and satisfying.
Pan-Fried Carrot Cake: Basically fried radish cake, crispy outside and soft inside. Good texture and depth of flavour. Great side dish.
Sg Fried Beehoon: Fried vermicelli with a nice char to it. Toppings were generous. Personally, I found it a bit too salty since I usually eat lighter, but fans of bold flavours would enjoy it.
Nasi Goreng Istimewa: I only tried the satay from this dish — and it tasted just like the ones I had in Malaysia. The peanut sauce was rich and nutty, though a little oily.

Rasa Sayang is busy for a reason. If you’re craving Southeast Asian food in London, it’s worth a try. Just keep in mind — the flavours here are bold. If you’re used to milder food, maybe pair your meal with a drink to balance things out.

📍Rasa Sayang Restaurant
5 Macclesfield St, London W1D 6AY, United Kingdom