Low Key Dining

Yes the place may have formica chairs, plastic table tops, no air-conditioning and the clientele dressed mostly in their best housewear and slippers, but add in fabulous food and you get a dining experience that will keep you coming back again and again in your favorite flipflops.

Here are my top 10 picks for low-key dining, and not only has the food been great, but the memories of bonding sessions at these places are even better. Actually I wrote this because I started getting homesick (or food sick?) and I suddenly realized I had forgotten some of the names....I actually had to ask friends! It was quite a trip to remember these..but now I'm craving for the food (and the company), especially those that aren't here in KL...

(I know the list is kind of random, but if ever you find yourself in any of the cities/countries I mentioned, its worth a stop especially if you’re looking to get the most bang out if your buck!)

Newton Hawker Centre, Singapore – sate, stingray and cereal prawns mmmmm

Paubaji stand, the Strand (beside the Ganga River), Kolkata – open air, yellow lighting, and a sin-free spicy vegetable sandwich. You can also try hot sweet tea from the friendly tea vendor…after which you unceremoniously dispose the ceramic cup onto the river shore.


Midway Grill, San Juan, La Union – comfort food at its finest – liempo, baby back ribs and sweet spaghetti, perfect after hours of surfing.

Victor’s Lechon Manok, Tarlac – for what else but they’re yummy lechon manok!


Procy’s Bulalo, Mahogany Market, Tagaytay – steaming hot bulalo, and the best thing is…you can ask for extra marrow!

Sri Ananda, behind the Bangsar train station, Kuala Lumpur – the best ever chicken tandoori I’ve ever had. Goes best with their garlic or cheese nan.

Dencios anywhere in the Philippines – sisig, crispy pata, pork BBQ, laing and San Miguel Beer, my mouth is watering just thinking of it.

Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice Restaurant, Novena, Singapore – in a place where Chicken Rice is famous, this is the best of the bunch, so good that even the Prime Minister of Malaysia, (and myself!), have gone for a meal.

Dampa, Libis, Ortigas City, Philippines – buy the crab fresh and have them cook it buttered, and then add an order of halabos na hipon, its out of this world

Gurney Hawker Center, Gurney Drive, Penang, Malaysia – tons and tons of stalls with fried oysters, all manner of “mee” (noodle) dishes, Rojak, and laksa – though I have to mention that my best ever laksa experience was is Khatulistiwa café in Kuching, Sarawak.