The last time I had a proper relaxed week was at the end of December, when my cousins visited the UK. Since then, I have been consistently busy with work and everything I do on the side. Weekdays blend into weekends, and it has now been almost three months of that routine.
I could slowly feel the burnout building. My thoughts felt scattered, and I was starting to lose clarity. That is when I decided I needed a proper break.
Around the same time, I found out that a friend from university was in London for work. We decided to meet, try a Malaysian restaurant in Soho, and walk around Chinatown London. That is how we ended up at C & R Café.
First Impressions – A Busy Malaysian Restaurant in Soho London
The restaurant was already quite busy at around 6 pm, which is always a good sign when looking for popular food spots in Chinatown London. It is not an Instagram-style café or restaurant, but it felt warm, welcoming, and authentic.
The décor reminded me of casual restaurants you would find across Asia. Nothing overly polished, but comfortable and familiar. The staff were friendly and attentive, even during a busy service.
What We Ordered – Malaysian Food in Chinatown London
I originally wanted Nasi Goreng, but it was not available, so I ordered the seafood fried rice instead.
My friend ordered the Penang Prawn Mee, a well-known Malaysian noodle soup made with shredded pork, prawns, boiled eggs, bean sprouts, and vegetables in a spicy shrimp broth.
For dessert, we shared Ais Cendol, a traditional Malaysian dessert made with pandan-flavoured jelly, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup.
Food Experience – Good Malaysian Food, But Not Fully Authentic
The seafood fried rice was decent. The prawns and squid were cooked well, and the dish itself was enjoyable. However, the rice lacked seasoning and felt slightly bland. After adding salt and pepper, it improved, but it still did not fully deliver.
The Penang Prawn Mee stood out more. The broth was rich, spicy, and flavourful, and the noodles worked well with it. It was easily the stronger dish of the two.
My friend, who is Malaysian and has lived there for over 20 years, mentioned that while the food was good, it did not feel fully authentic. That is something I had to take seriously.
The Ais Cendol was enjoyable, but instead of shaved ice, it was served with ice cubes, which slightly took away from the authenticity of the dessert.
Pricing and Value – Is C & R Café Worth It?
The seafood fried rice was £15.50, and the Penang Prawn Mee was £14.50. For a Malaysian restaurant in Soho London, the pricing is not surprising. However, the food did not fully justify the cost.
That said, the service was genuinely warm and welcoming, which added positively to the overall experience.
Final Thoughts – Malaysian Food in Soho London
I walked into this meal looking for three things: a break from burnout, a good catch-up, and comforting food.
I got the first two.
The food felt like it was almost there, but not quite.
It is one of those places you leave thinking the experience was good, but the value did not match the expectation.
Overall Rating:
Price – ★★★ (Higher stars mean better value for money)
Aesthetics – ★★★
Service – ★★★★
Taste – ★★★
Experience – ★★★
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