Mandalay

Meal for 1: £12.00 for a starter and main with soda

After being turned away the previous evening because they were fully booked up (reservations are definitely required on a weekend evening) I was intrigued. It is not often that a tiny, brightly lit joint with fewer than 10 tables, plastic table cloths and no decor to speak of is booked solid. How amazing must the food be at this far out of the way cheap and cheerful to warrant a reservation?

The following day (Saturday) I decided to make another attempt – lunch this time – and found the restaurant busy but not overcrowded and was able to snag a table.

The first thing I notice is that the food at the table next to mine smells fantastic. I ordered the calabash fritters and chicken coconut noodles based on the waiters recommendation.

The calabash (bottle gourd) fritters were nice and light – more of a foil for the trio of sauces they were served with. Great for a vegetarian but I think next time I will try one of the other fritters.

Calabash Fritters

The chicken coconut noodles were seriously yummy. A nice comforting mild yellow curry with moist bits of chicken and nice fresh noodles. The curry had quite a different flavor than Thai or Malaysian yellow curries I have had. Comforting and definitely a dish I would order again.

Chicken Coconut Fritters

Book I was reading: What Einstein Told His Cook – Kitchen Science Explained

Mandalay
444 Edgware Road
London, W2 1EG