A Malaysian restaurant hidden behind Chinatown providing a rare treat of authentic dishes, so good it’s difficult to give away the secret of its existence.

The Venue
Amazing, it is not. In a narrow alley-way between Wardour Street and Rupert Street, this tiny restaurant is sometimes over-looked because of its resemblance to an old English caf. Tables and chairs are crammed together with barely enough space for waiters to get by. A draught blows through from the front door on a winter’s eve. Tablecloths are non-existent. There are no low-lighting effects by candle-light and you practically sit on your neighbour to eat but no one cares about any of that because this is Malaysian food at its best.

The Atmosphere
Always busy, with queues most nights, this little Malaysian restaurant still manages to have a great atmosphere. People that frequent C and R are wise to its secret and are quite happy to be stuck by the toilets, the door, the draught but if you’re of a delicate nature you can ask for a table downstairs. Again, it’s not massive and if not busy you may feel isolated from the hubbub but on a weekend it’s a great spot. The staff are generally happy and helpful and never rushed. In fact, even on extremely busy occasions they’re happy to let you sit for hours after a meal as long as you’re drinking.

The Food
If you’ve been to Malaysia you’ll understand why the C and R Cafe is such a find. Although nothing is as good as the real thing, they manage to get it pretty close; this is evident in the massive population of Asian customers every night. You can hear satisfied sighs when food is served and then silence, and obligatory slurps, until it’s finished. The menu offers a great choice of traditional fare and one or two Chinese-Malay dishes. It’s difficult to recommend just a few dishes but be sure to savour the char kwey twoi – fried flat noodles, kang kung blachan – spicy green vegetables and the laksa. The Kampung style nasi goreng could do with a little more spice to give it the kick it needs and some go just for the roti chanai alone; the curry sauce served with it can sometimes be a touch on the greasy side but hey, it is a caf after all.

The Drink
You’ve got to try their Teh Ice with milk which seems to be a popular choice among Malay clients but they also serve a selection of the usual soft drinks and juices. There are a handful of average wines on offer but none are tremendously memorable.

The Last Word
The C and R Cafe is a great place for a fast feast or a substantial sit-down meal, as long as you’re not after exquisite surroundings. It truly is difficult to beat for authentic Malaysian food.

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