Roti King, Euston.

Yesterday I met my friend Adam for lunch. We went to a tiny, cramped, underground hole-in-the-wall called ROTI KING. A Malaysian couple in my daughter’s nursery said it was the very best Malay food in London. The best Malay food in London is across the street from Euston Station? I had to try it.

There was a very lengthy line to get in before they even opened. The room was not about the atmosphere. I ordered my very favorite Malaysian dish — nasi lemak — considered Malaysia’s national dish. It’s a small mountain of coconut rice which is surrounded by little piles of the following: deep fried anchovies; roasted peanuts; lamb curry (an umami flavor explosion!); a few pieces of fried chicken; a hard boiled egg; and sambal, unbelievably delicious garlic chili sauce. Adam and I both shared piping hot crispy and chewy rotis which came accompanied with a cup of spicy lentil dal. Honestly - I can see why the UCL students go weak in the knees for this place; the cooking is up there with some of the greatest restaurants in London and yet nothing on the menu is over £10.

Aforementioned queue in front of extra hidden Malaysian restaurant.

Nasi lemak - Malaysia’s national dish. Clockwise from top: coconut rice, cucumber, roasted peanuts, hard boiled egg, fried anchovies, lamb curry with sambal, fried chicken wings.

Crispy, chewy, stretchy, crunchy roti with accompanying dal.