Edinburgh by Cuisine: Southeast Asia up

Coming to Edinburgh, at first, I found myself homesick. The food at Pollock Halls was just fine, to say the least, aside from their exceptional hash browns, and much of Edinburgh was still vastly unfamiliar. So, when everything else was new and strange, I sought out comfort in familiarity, hunting for the flavours that I had grown with in Southeast Asia.

1. Kampong Ah Lee - Malaysia

Kampong Ah Lee first came to me as a recommendation from a friend, and, over the course of the following months, I proceeded to drag all my friends, both new and old, for meals and snacks here. Conveniently located just a stone throw’s away from George Square on Clerk Street, Kampong Ah Lee is family-run and has been serving hungry Edinburgh customers since 2007. The restaurant features an extensive menu that you absolutely need to eat your way through, from noodle soups to rice dishes including staples like nasi lemak and beef rendang. A variety of vegan and vegetarian options are also readily available. For me, however, nothing at Kampong Ah Lee is better than a plate of roti canai and a mug of teh tarik in between classes.

2. Singapore Coffee House - Singapore

Stepping inside the kopitiam (Coffee shop, as referred to in some countries of Southeast Asia), the smell of earthy spices and fresh herbs wafts through the room. Behind bright blue doors in Canonmills, Singapore Coffee House is cozy, personal, and perfect for catching up with a friend. While you can find staples of Singaporean street style food like Kaya toast and Nasi Lemak, Singapore Coffee House also combines the traditional Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Indonesian flavour profiles of Singaporean cuisine with British classics. The cafe’s House Full Cooked Breakfast offers haggis and sausages alongside house masala beans, roti prata, and sambal chili tomato in a striking fusion of cuisine.

3. Manorah Thai Halal Street Food - Thailand

This is a favourite of my dad’s, who swears he was Thai in a past life. Manorah Thai’s Pad See Ew is an automatic Deliveroo go-to whenever he’s in town to visit, and their creamy Tom Yum soup is my personal favourite. Recently opened in February of last year, Manorah Thai’s flavours are rich and vibrant, with dishes cooked traditionally and so clearly from the heart.

4. Viet Street - Vietnam

Along the same road as Manorah Thai and Kampong Ah Lee, Viet Street also started off as another recommendation from a friend. Serving your usual noodle soups, Viet Street’s menu also includes an extensive section on the renowned Vietnamese coffee drinks, from the sugary and sweet egg coffee to Vietnamese drip coffee and coconut coffee. Just a quick stop nearby university, Viet Street is a sure go-to for your daily cup of coffee. More than just their drinks section, however, Viet Street’s menu as a whole features Southeast Asian comfort flavours at their very best.

5. Peter’s Food Hub - The Philippines

Reminders of home are often difficult to come by in a city so far from where I’m from, but going to Peter’s Food Hub always temporarily transports me back. Located in Leith, Peter’s Food Hub is a family-run restaurant serving a variety of cuisines including Chinese, Japanese, but most significantly, Filipino. The restaurant’s chicken lumpia, adobo, menudo, and kare-kare are all authentically reminiscent of my childhood at home in the Philippines.