I travelled to Birmingham to attend A. R. Rahman’s concert, as the London show was scheduled for a Thursday at 6pm, which I had no chance of making. Since my friends live in Birmingham, accommodation was not an issue. However, they already had plans to visit other friends that evening, which left me with two options: get a takeaway or explore the area on my own. I decided to choose the latter.
I have always wanted to try Malaysian food, and that is when I came across The Malaya Classic, which was just a four-minute walk from my friend’s place. It is a Halal Malaysian restaurant, in case that helps anyone 😊. The space felt warm and comfortable, with orange walls and soft yellow lighting that made it aesthetically pleasing. Moving on to the most important part, the food.
I ordered the Nasi Goreng Kampung along with a fried chicken bao bun. The Nasi Goreng came with king prawns, chicken, fish cake, anchovies, and morning glory, seasoned with dried fish sambal paste. It was served with a chicken satay skewer, fish crackers, a fried egg, and pickled vegetables, all for £14.90. In my opinion, this was an absolute steal, as the flavours were rich and memorable.
The Nasi Goreng was mildly spicy, making it something most people could comfortably handle. It was so filling that even though the bao bun was incredibly tasty, I was unable to finish it. That said, the fried chicken bao bun may be spicy for some, so I would recommend checking with the staff about spice levels before ordering.
The total bill came to around £22, which felt like exceptional value, especially considering that the Nasi Goreng alone felt like a main dish with starters included, thanks to the chicken skewers and sides. The service was excellent, with friendly and welcoming staff throughout. If you are visiting Birmingham and want to experience authentic Malaysian food at a great price, this is a place well worth seeking out.
By the end of the trip, I felt truly fulfilled, having experienced both great food and an unforgettable concert.
Overall Rating:
Price – ★★★★★ (Higher stars mean better value for money)
Aesthetics – ★★★★★
Service – ★★★★
Taste – ★★★★★
Experience– ★★★★
