IF it's tasty, pacy and affordable Asian tucker you're after, LK ticks all the boxes. Kick off with murtabak, a roti-wrapped mix of curried beef, eggs and golden onion, then make an assault on the dozen or so prawn options, including hin apan – plump kingies served with roasted chilli and cashews. Other standouts include Assam fish, the fleshy fillets floating in a piquant tamarind sauce, and sizzling char kwai teow, a find hawker-market fave. A lurid Kuala Lumpur skyline stencilled on this bustling cafe's feature wall transports you there. And the service? Brisk with more smiles than a ravers' T-shirt shop.

Squaring off against China Ria in the middle of Acland Street, this newish Malaysian restaurant seem to be pulling in a loyal crowd of its own. The fit-out's smart, if a bit garish, and the food is terrific. Most of the dishes are Malaysian, with a few Chinese and Thai favourites thrown in. Open your account with the beautifully marinated satays and some subtly flavoured chicken dim sims. Move on to main like the excellent assam fish, served in a slightly sour tamarind sauce and some tender salt and pepper calamari with a dish of fresh chilli. The service is friendly and the prices are too.

KL stands for Kuala Lumpur, of course and that’s where the menu start - but it doesn’t limit itself. You’ll find rendang curries and roti breads for sure, but you’ll also strike dishes that poach from Indonesian., Thai and Chinese cuisine, too. If you work in the area check out the great lunch specials. KL’s design is sleek and modern and - major bonus (for some of us) - there’s no smoking inside. LK is the kind of restaurant - cheap, cheerful and great quality food - that gave Acland St its reputation in the first place.