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Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight

Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight
28 Clerk Street
Edinburgh, EH8 9HX
Phone: 0131 662 9050
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  • Food served: Mon–Thu noon–3pm, 5–11pm; Fri–Sun noon–11pm.
  • Number of wines sold by the glass: £2.50
  • Private dining: Up to 15 covers
  • Also offers: Takeaway
  • Music on stereo: Malaysian/Chinese music.
  • Capacity: 35
  • Largest group: 35
  • Open since: 2007
View larger map of EH8 9HX
  • Average price 2 courses: £12
  • House wine: £10.50 per bottle
  • BYOB: £2.50 wine; £1 beer corkage
Nominate this restaurant for
The List Reader Award 2010
Eating & Drinking Guide 2009

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2009 – in the shops now or buy online.

What a find! Anyone who has experienced the delights of Malaysian food will be pleased to know that there is an inconspicuous gem hiding in Edinburgh’s Southside. This low-key, family-run operation attracts the Malaysian community and large numbers of students from the locality, and the simple surroundings pale into insignificance as the emphasis is very much on the food. Flavour reigns supreme and the range of spices and different tastes in each dish is astounding. Choose from soups, rice and noodle dishes, plus some Malaysian favourites. Starters include tasty salt and pepper spare ribs and the moreish traditional favourite home-made roti cenai with curry sauce. Vegetarians are well catered for and belacan kang kong (morning glory) is a delicious vegetable accompaniment to all dishes. Everything feels very much like home cooking, from the succulent rendang chicken (Malaysian dry curry) to the kuai fa mien (fried egg noodle Malaysian style), a dish that is understandably very popular. All the family is in on the act and the service is warm and informative. Finish off a very enjoyable evening with pearl milk teas in a range of exotic flavours.

  • High point: A delicious slice of Malaysia in Edinburgh
  • Low point: No desserts – but who needs them?!

Comments for Kampong Ah Lee Malaysian Delight (28 Clerk Street, Edinburgh)

1. YUM – 5 September 2008, 11:29am(5s)Report

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING!!!
try the black bean beef noodle dish and the Rendang Beef!!!!!

2. NeilT, Edinburgh – 16 April 2009, 4:45pm(5s)Report

Its such a relief to find an Asian diner that sells top notch food for such reasonable prices. Needless to say this kind of joint can be found all over London where people go to eat on their way home, or pop in while shopping rather than go out for an arduous dining experience. When I popped in Asians were in abundance, always a good sign! I had a couple of dishes including Malaysian style ribs in a really tasty sauce and randeng noodles. My neighbours were sharing 3 dishes and enjoying their lunch too. I will be going back because the food was tasty, reasonably authentic and very keenly priced. Don't care about table cloths, uniformed waiters or decor - just the food, and it was good!

3. Adit, Edinburgh – 5 May 2009, 7:03pm(4s)Report

Good, tasty, authentic food. The food is mostly Chinese-Malaysian with a few purely Malaysian dishes. The laksa is good but unfortunately lacks the vital ingredient of laksa leaves. Nasi lemak is a popular dish in Malaysia and is a good choice if you want to try a few dishes on one plate. (Its a serving of rice cooked in coconut milk, surrounded by a serving of chicken curry, a handful of dried anchovies and peanuts, a spoonful of pickled veg and half a boiled egg.) This is not a place to go for a formal meal, it is more of a cafe than a restaurant, but for the quality of the food which is very reasonably priced, it is definitely worth a visit.

4. cp123, Edinburgh – 20 September 2009, 4:47pm(4s)Report

A busy dinner serving delicious fresh Malaysia food.

My plus point was the 2 friendly, smiling young lads who were serving....nothing was too much trouble.

My minus point was the menu. Although very inviting a lot of the translations to english were not descriptive enough. Despite help from the boys I still couldn't help like feeling i was missing something!

yum none the less!

5. iwannabelieve, edinburgh – 26 September 2009, 5:16pmReport

the food is really delicious especially the fried kway tiow...yummy!!!! however the rude and arrogant waitress there make me think twice to visit that restaurant ever again. She ordered a wrong menu for me and when i complained she had risen her voice to me...Oh My...!!!!!!What a nice treatment to a customer who had been to this restaurant more than 5 times ( i was served by a friendly waiter before) and for the first time i was served by a waitress....mmmm, not a good thing happenned!!! The food makes me think to visit this restaurant again, the waitress prevents me, though!!

6. japman, aberdeen – 15 March 2010, 8:26pm(5s)Report

its not the ritz but go here if you want great asian cooking in a no faff atmosphere. Delicious home style Malasian dishes, very reasonably priced and served by the charming lee family. We'll be back the next time we are in Edinburgh.

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