Kaya Malaysian Restaurant

Among the bright lights and shouty signs of this vibrant corner of Manchester’s Chinatown, Kaya offers a friendly welcome and simple, affordable home-cooking. Small plates, roti, rice, and noodles encourage a mix ‘n' match approach to Malay street food’s greatest hits. Portions are generous and fresh and nothing on the laminated menu tops £15. Layers of flaky roti are perfect for mopping up the accompanying dahl, chicken curry and moreish homemade chilli ginger sauce. A deeply braised, aromatic beef rendang is complemented admirably by salted anchovy, peanut, cucumber and egg staples while fried chicken is the stuff that dreams are made oft moist and flavoursome in a fragrant coating of ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, coriander and chilli. It’s unlicensed so a variety of Malaysian tea, coffee and soft combos – including the popular Iced Dinosaur Milo – match the compact menu. Aluminium furniture, bright lights and a canteen feel mean it’s perhaps not a spot for lingering but as a food-focused pit-stop in the company of a cheery young crowd.