In the Mood for Malay...

While living in the UK, Kelly and I fell in love with a nearby Chinese restaurant, Eat Well. The owners were from Hong Kong and produced the most wonderful assortment of dishes from throughout the southeast Asian region.

At least once a month, we'd ring Eat Well for takeaway. Our order always included sweet and sour chicken (delicately battered chicken with the sauce on the side) and Singaporean street noodles. Delish!

Since returning to the US, and finding ourselves in the Great State of Texas, we've engaged in an on-again, off-again search for good Asian takeway. Unfortunately, we've largely struck out. The best meals are eat in affairs, with takeway being relagated to overly salted and every sauce tastes the same experiences.

Except for Lion City Cafe in Plano.

Now this certainly doesn't qualify as a cheap place to eat. But the food certainly is good and they have no problem preparing it for takeaway if you'd like.

It's also one of the only places we've found authentic Singaporean/Malay-style foods in our region. Here's a sampling from a recent visit.

Curry Puffs
Similar to samosas, but in a flakier, pastry-type crust. They're large, filling and wonderfully spicy:


Black Pepper Shrimp
Cajun peel-and-eat shrimp meets spicy, peppery Asian seasonings:



Hor Fun Chicken
Tender pieces of chicken, greens and wide rice noodles, covered with a light sauce:

Spicy Crab

Whole crabs, bits of egg and a spicy sauce that intensifies as you eat. Amazing:

Other fun aspects of eating at Lion City Cafe:

• They cook to order. No hurry up, order, eat and get out is expected (or possible!)
• Husband is the waiter, cashier, busboy and all-around doer.
• Cash only. Cash only. Cash only.