When it comes to getting our Malaysian cravings fixed in the Queensway area, without any hesitation, Normah’s our top pick. The fact that we visit them nearly every week speaks enough volumes about how excellent the food is. But when Normah’s not open on Sundays & Mondays, there’s been a few times we found ourselves at nearby Putera Puteri when those Malaysian food cravings were desperate. Whilst it doesn’t beat our favourite ever Malaysian restaurant, Putera Puteri is still quite a decent pick in the area for a casual no-frills meal. We also later came across Halia Restaurant, which is only a few steps away from Putera Puteri and is run by the same people with a very similar menu. You can read more about Halia Restaurant here.
Putera Puteri: Neighbourhood Malaysian Eatery
Putera Puteri is quite a well-known name amongst Malaysians in the neighbourhood and has quite a community of loyal diners. Serving homely authentic dishes daily aside, they also regularly donate meals to the homeless and the poor. In fact, during our first visit, the restaurant was busy prepping for a huge batch of hot meals ready for donation on the table next to ours.
As for the restaurant itself, it is quite small and cosy. It really has a community vibe to it, which is nice to see. Tables are rather limited so, if you can, it might be best to make a reservation ahead. There is some outdoor seating available as well should the weather allow.
The Food: What We Ordered
Date of visit: February 2022
Complimentary Prawn Crackers
We were offered some complimentary prawn crackers to start. These prawn crackers were addictively delicious – crispy, savoury, and a subtle myriad of spices to give your taste buds a little tingle. They’re absolutely great for opening up the palate for the meal. This only happened during our first visit though probably because it was extremely busy that day and there were delays in getting our food ready. Regardless, we appreciated it and, again, they were delicious.
Roti Canai (£6.95)
For starters, we ordered the Roti Canai, which comes with two flakey hand-rolled roti and a small bowl of chicken curry. I must say the roti was excellent and could nearly rival that of Normah’s. In true hawker-style, the curry was robust to taste and the roti was perfectly crispy on the outside and beautifully fluffy on the inside. It was absolutely delicious and we definitely recommend it!
Kari Laksa (£10.95)
I’ve got my eyes set on the curry laksa the moment I opened the menu. Served in a gigantic bowl, the laksa didn’t disappoint. The portion was generous and fully loaded with chicken and mixed seafood and topped with a boiled egg. Flavour-wise, it was relatively spot on. It’s got a beautifully fragrant curry coconut broth, intricately laced with a mellow tingle of spice that sends down a warming sensation down your stomach. Some may find it on the milder end (i.e. the other half), but personally, I quite enjoyed it!
KangKung Belacan (£9.95)
Stir-fried morning glory (water spinach) is my favourite vegetable dish ever and I just couldn’t resist ordering it after seeing it on the menu. The vegetables are stir-fried with chillies and shrimp paste, which turned out to be incredibly fragrant and got a lovely umami taste to them. It’s got a gentle kick to it and a decent amount of “wok-hei” to give that robust edge of a proper stir-fry. All in all, I loved it and it totally hit my childhood cravings spot on.
Teh Tarik (£3.55)
For drinks, I always like to order a Teh Tarik when visiting a Malaysian restaurant. The tea strength for this particular Teh Tarik was slightly on the weaker end but the overall taste was nice. The texture was rich and smooth, and it was beautifully frothy on top. Not a bad cuppa at all but just not a stellar one either.
Rose Sirap Bandung (£3.55)
Last but not least, we had the rose sirap bandung. The light rosy fragrance was lovely and the drink was mildly sweet & creamy to taste. Personally, we are more used to and prefer a rich milky touch like Normah’s. It’s not too bad, nonetheless.
Restaurant Review Summary
All in all, it doesn’t beat our top favourite Malaysian spots but Putera Puteri is a decent restaurant to pop by every now and then. I’ve heard some good things about their Char Kway Teow, which I managed to try at Halia Restaurant instead and I can confirm that it doesn’t disappoint!
Looking for more halal Malaysian food spots in London? Check these out too:
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Tel: 07395 575377
Website: https://www.puteraputeri.co.uk/
Instagram: putera.puteri.london.official
Nearest station: Bayswater
