Step into Rasa Sayang and you are greeted by a pleasing wave of warmth, a buzz of conversation and an aroma of what’s to come. The friendly but hurried staff lead you through closely packed tables, piled high with skewers, soups and Singapore slings. This is ‘straits cuisine’, a combination of flavours from Singapore and Malaysia, featuring dishes such as roti canai alongside the likes of Canton-style roast duck.
If you are given a table downstairs, however, the atmosphere isn’t quite the same. That being said, the basement is a much better spot for a quiet catch up. Once sat, sipping on Tsingtao beers, we perused the plethora of options. Roti canai is such a staple that missing some was out of the question. A good thing too, as they were excellent. Not quite as fluffy as we’ve come to expect, but still pleasingly pillowy with a punchy curry for dipping. The har cheong gai, fried chicken wings laced with prawn paste, were conversation-missingly crunchy and came with tingly chilli sauce.
Worryingly full from the generous starters, we were thankfully given sufficient time before the staff-recommended mains arrived. The salted egg prawns were just that: fat, juicy prawns fried until crunchy then basted with creamy egg and perhaps a touch too much salt. The laksa, meanwhile, could comfortably serve two people. Slippery noodles, piled with prawns, puffed tofu and hard-boiled eggs. The broth was the kind that warms your whole body, although lacked a little more oomph.
While Rasa Sayang might not be perfect, it has its merits: fast service, good-value food and a relaxed atmosphere ideal for casual get-togethers. Be sure to head to Rasa Sayang in a group so you can cover more ground on the menu (and finish what arrives). This is a place that knows what it is and does what it set out to do well.