Makan Cafe

We landed in London later than scheduled and were so hungry we were delighted to find this little gem of a Malaysian restaurant open on a Monday afternoon. They have nasi campur with quite a selection of meat and vegetable dishes (recommend the lemongrass chicken), nasi lemak, roti canai etc. Also snacks like curry puffs and sweets like cakes and jemput jemput pisang (with compliments from the staff, many thanks!) My kids loved their Teh tarik. Food could be spicier, and it would be perfect if the roti canai came with a fish curry sauce instead of a dhal, but understandable, this wasn’t a prata shop! Prices were reasonable for London. Friendly staff and card payment was possible.

Tbh, we came in for the washroom. However we stayed and had a quick snack here. I really enjoyed their samosa. it's the best vegetarian samosa I have eaten in London. Also their mango Lassi and crab claw are really good too.

Authentic Malaysian food but not as spicy. Good value for the price and the food were served piping hot. Thumbs up to that! We had mixed rice (ala chap fan), fried kueh teow, cekodok and chicken curry puffs. Teh tarik was decent altho not as kaw. Pompadam was crispy & delicious. A generally pleasant experience.

Although we have only been away from home for a few days, the crave for authentic Malay food is so strong! Our decision to visit Makan Cafe was not a waste of time at all especially when the the weather is super cold, by our Tanah Melayu definition 😁 And best, the food did not let us down.. the basmati white rice, and the dishes we had, lemak ayam, sweet sour fish, lamb curry, and the veges were awesome.. and hey, they even have sambal belacan lah!!!! 🤪 We down the food with teh tarik.. fuhhhhh .. bayek weiiii.. oh, the jemput-jemput pisang@banana buttons, reminds me of the good Warung Pok Leh sebelah sungai.. If you want more Malay in the food, then you got to balik kampung, you are in London! 😄 Make the food taste more alive by eating like a Malay, useth thy handeths! Perggghhhhhhhh 👍 Not forgetting... Awesome staff!! Melayu Boleh!!

Amazing all day Halal English Breakfast. Amazing value for money at 9.75. Can also add extra eggs for only £1. Friendly lady at the counter and quick service. No complaints.

Makan restaurant is a halal place, and the location is great for those looking for rare deals in Portobello market. There are 2 eating area, which was originally from 2 different shops. The first internal deco was mixed Arabic and Asian. The only Malaysian icon that I can see was the wooden window frame on the mirror and a small Malaysian flag. All menu are truly Malaysian. More than 20 dishes for nasi campur (white rice with side dishes) to choose from, plus finger foods like cengkodok pisang, nuggets, popia and samosa. They’re all clean and kept in food warmers. We had white rice with ayam kicap and sayur bendi, as well as made to order yellow noodle seafood soup. Both were served hot, which was really good in winter. The soup portion was big with 5 deveined prawns. Both dishes costs £22 including a bottle of mineral water. I would say this is the most value for money eateries that I have been since we arrived London this trip.

Such a gem! From the food to the Malaysian sweets..this place is incredible. Also - the staff are so so lovely!

I had a full English breakfast with Malaysian tea. The portion was very good and the sausages were really nice! The staff are absolutely lovely and adorable.

Proper cute Malay restaurant. It's extremely casual and extremely HALAL! Which was a major bonus for my friend and I. We got the sizzling platter and another I don't remember. I think it was the CKT. Check photos. Either way, they were delicious Basically, you go to the front cash and order the food you want. If it's to stay, you get a table number and sit yourself. Like I said, casual. When the food is ready, a server will bring it to you. There's a wide variety of food platters to pick from and it's pretty inexpensive. The employees are quite friendly and the owner has a good sense of humour. Highly recommend.

Very casual and very cheap and very scrumptious! Order at the counter and they will bring the food to your table. I have never tried Malaysian food before and it was delicious! The roti canai is similar to Indian daal. The roti was delicious and light and the curry was flavorful and quite yummy!

Excellent food, went with my wife a couple of times and going again this weekend. What a gem of a find.

Halal English Breakfast for like 5 GBP? Whats not to like?! This is right underneath the overpass on Portobello Road, if going South it will be on your right side. Came here on a Saturday morning around 9 am, looks like much of the street was filled with a farmers market like vibe but also very Artisanish. Onto the food, in the English Breakfast Platter, you get a fried egg, beans, sausage, and I think another slice of meat but I forget with toast. Everything was mad good, I would advise having 1 per person. Try their home made orange juice as well.

We went to this quaint, little cafe at about 9.30am and had the satay with rice (~£6), nasi lemak (~£6), roti canai (~£4) and teh tarik. As a Singaporean, I can tell you that the food was pretty authentic and extremely tasty. The satay was tender and well-seasoned, I couldn't resist a second helping. The teh tarik was also so good we ordered two more cups of it. Needless to say, we finished every last bit of what we ordered. A small downside would be that (obviously) it was significantly more expensive than what it would've been if ordered in South East Asia, but definitely still very affordable by London price standards. Eating here made me very, very happy.

At the slightly grubby end of Portabello Road under an overpass sits this cafe. It like everything in the area looks rather forgotten and that it's Love was a few years forgotten. However appearances are often deceiving, they certainly are here. The place is a gem that requires a little polish to see the value underneath. On offer is a buffet of food which if you're in a hurry will fill you. Most people in the cafe chose this option. We however chose the a la carte options. Which take so much longer to prepare. In fact many people came, ate and left before our dishes arrived. But when they arrived the wait was worth it. Both quantity and quality is assured. The dishes had a hint of heat within the perfect prepared noodles. Such was my dining partners live of her food, that she asked for a doggy bag to take them home. True Malaysian food at a great price price. Well worth a visit after a day touring the market outside.

Got the vegetarian laksa and the roti cinnai with dhaal and I was in absolute heaven. Cannot believe I've found vegetarian laksa in London and at such a price! The Roti is perfection - buttery, flaky and rich and the dhal that pairs with it is not too spicy and the perfect pairing with the roti. The Roti & Dhal as listed as an appetizer but you can have it on its own as a main. Ordered delivery and it was definitely worth it - don't see myself ordering from anywhere else for the next little bit! Strongly recommend trying out.

I LOVE LOVE Makan- after a day strolling through Portobello market there's nothing better than sitting down to a tasty plate of Malaysian cooking. For only £4.95 choose two dishes with either rice or noodles- the spicy red chicken and chilli chickpeas are my favourites. There is also great selection of starters- chicken puffs, crab claws, samosas and spicy crackers. Makan is a no frills eating venue but the food never disappoints.

First time trying Malaysian food. I'm from Los Angeles and we don't have any Malaysian restaurants. It's a cross between Thai and Indian food. It was delicious. Food in London is very expensive especially with the exchange rate. This place was reasonable and really yummy. If you're ever in Notting Hill area of West London, definitely try this place out.

Makan has been around for good few years. Located under the Westway it took over the cafe next door a while back. A firm favourite with locals it is busy throughout the week, not just on Saturdays when the area is taken over by tourists. It speaks for Makan that they do so well despite very basic tables and chairs and no interior deco to talk of. They offer a good choice of dishes and I always struggle to make a choice - not been disappointed yet, but quite frequently suffer from food envy when the person next to me is brought a plate that looks even more delicious than mine. Laksa is probably the most healthy as the only thing that prevents me from eating here more often is the dominance of fried food.

For the best banana dumplings in town head to Makan Malaysian restaurant opposite Portobello market. The food is cheap and tasty, under a fiver for curry and rice, and a refreshing change from the many Thai restaurants that seem to populate the Notting Hill area. Choose from chicken, lamb or fish or from the many vegetarian dishes available. There is also a great selection of Malaysian cakes and freshly ground coffee. A great place to sit and watch the busy and colourful market opposite whilst you eat.

Went on a cold day, craving something warm. This place was just what I wanted. Friendly staff greeted me upon entry and the queue was moving swiftly. Ordered the sizzling chicken noodles which tasted very good. It tasted fresh and was piping hot when it arrived. The prices on the menu are very reasonable and a person can leave happy and satisfied having paid under a tenner. Would visit again if I pass by.

A family friendly place, in the heart of Portobello, owned by Malaysians. We were greeted by the owner with a smile and a welcome. I was sad we didn't sample any of their ethnic dishes. Instead my group and I got the English breakfast. To be fair this is probably not their specialty, so I will go easy on them. Although this was my first time eating an English breakfast, it was mediocre. I did enjoy all the halal meets on my dish, and the tea was delicious. I would go back to try their Malaysian food.

The price is right. We chose this place because it was easier to eat here as a family than getting food from a stall and continuing our walk through the market. We assumed it would be pricey and that we would walk out disappointed. Gratefully we stepped out with most f the cash in our wallets an adequate meal to get us through. If I am being honest, I love Thai food and Malaysian feels like the weaker brother of the food coupling. The food here was good. Lacked some of the flavorful spice of Thai. The wait staff were kind and wanted us to enjoy. It was a nice place.

Question: Is there anything better than amazing Malaysian food? Answer: Yes. Amazing Malaysian food for under a fiver. I won't name names, but seems that London restaurateurs have a penchant for taking classically cheap cheap cheap street food and poshing it out in some fancy warehouse space with expensive market trend analyzed decor and painfully overplayed menus. Let's be real -- you're not paying for the food, you're paying for the "authentic" atmosphere... of central London. Blah blah... The food here at Makan is far more authentic and delicious than any you'll find tucked into the "shady" streets of Mayfair, Park Lane or Belgravia, and the cheap prices reflect that. Their noodle selection is literally drool-worthy with char kway teow, mee goreng, mee hoon goreng... Mmmmmmm! Pair that with Singapore laska, egg fried rice, a few curry puffs and a sweetcorn fritter or bhaji? Heaven. Next time you're stall-gazing at Portobello Market, pop in for a large vegetarian combo to take away with the option of rice or noodles and three vegetable dishes for £4.40. Seriously, this place can't be beat!

My favourite take away in 'The 'Bello'. Yes, they do use magic boxes to re-heat the food but nevertheless Makan is still the daddy! With my lady being a veggie and me a carnivore, we usually sample just about everything on offer which is 9 times out of 10 spot on. Everywhere has an occasional blip, which in their case is if it's late and food is running low and may be a little dry but wow, the chicken IS finger lickin' and the dumplings are heaven, although not good if you're trying to shed a few of those extra winter pounds! Polite staff and management too. Average spend about a tenner for two huge mountains of food, which when compared to CrapDonalds and the like, this is for me the best way to part with ten of the Queens pounds. Mmmmmm, dumpings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very tasty food. I seem to come here often when I'm in London and get a solid, cheap meal each time. The roti is authentic, spicy, and tasty. We love the shrimp chips. They're so addicting! I will return.

Lovely food. Yummm, so delicious! I walked in on an afternoon based on the Yelp reviews. I ordered white rice with green Thai chicken curry & prawn curry and I'm not disappointed. This is the best food I've eaten in a long time. I'm very pleased.

My go-to to-go lunch spot! If I'm really hungry, their mixed platters are perfect! For about a fiver, you can get a serious meal instantly and it's some of the best food (Malaysian) in the 'hood. You can be healthy here or totally indulge. I typically take away my food here, but you can also have a quick dine-in meal and walk away totally satisfied. The place is not trying too hard, but it isn't a hole in the wall either. It's just a simple place with good, cheap food. Why wouldn't someone like it here. I've never been for dinner, but I assume it's about the same: a yummy, filling, cheap meal! Hugely recommended.

Not sure if I quite get it? My noodle soup was okay, my mum's sizzling noodle dish looked... okay. The atmosphere was rubbish, I felt like I was eating outside... I'm giving it 3 stars because I think maybe I should have chosen from the pre-cooked items, the chicken and the curry puffs looked pretty good and the teh tarik was delicious. Also, I don't think I could ever 2 star a Malaysian street food restaurant in London.

The Makan Cafe on Portobello is another great example of an unprentenious, good quality eaterie on the Portobello Road. The interior is not anyway too fancy, in fact it can look a bit grubby at times. However, with Makan serving a variety of thai dishes, with the main meals consisting of either fish or chicken, it's a healthy alternative to some of the fast food joints (or the more prentenious and expensive restaurants in the local area), Makan is recommended as a enjoyable munch and a welcome relief after a day shopping at Portobello market.

Cheap and cheerful place on Portobello Rd. Spicy Malaysian flavours add a touch of warmth to your meal. I had a combination plate of chana and lamb curry with noodles - delicious and really affordable. I hear it gets busy busy on the weekends but it was quiet when I ate there.

Quick, cheap, delicious. Don't let the modest interior deter you, the food is excellent. Love the veg curries, crab claws and coconut cake.

Great takeaway or sit-in Malaysian restaurant in the heart of Portobello market. A good selection of spicy and non-spicy dishes. Great for vegetarians too (three veg dishes plus rice or noodles is £5.50, sit in) . They use microwave behind the counter to warm up the pre-cooked food. I don't mind it. I'm sure many restaurants do it nowadays, they just do it in the back kitchens.

Had dinner here twice and both times it was great. The food was good and the service excellent. Will definitely come back when I have the chance to be in London again.

Wonderful friendly local little malaysian cafe. They've been here as long as I can remember but they are as consistent now as they were 10 years ago. Wonderful Roti Canai & Curry Puffs. The best food is made to order from the menu on the wall above the service area, though you can't go wrong with any dishes here.

Delicious food! Nothing fancy about this place, but I have to say the food was really good! Friendly service too which always a bonus!

Sorry, but I can never give a 5 to a place that microwaves. I selected three tasty veggie dishes from the pre-prepared in front of me. They were tasty, but not "blow my mind". Plus the nuker really put me off. It is a good cheap-eats place, tasty, and great if you are with a veggie friend. And you got to like ya some rice or noodles, so starch it up (oh did I mention all of the potatoes too?)

This place is popular and affordable. It had a food-court type layout - a big variety of meal options in trays on display, but you can also order directly off a menu on the wall behind the counter. I got a roti canai and a coke. It came out quickly and was a tasty lunch. Good value too. If we lived close-by, then I would certainly come back here more often. But I wouldn't make a special trip across town for it.

I like this restaurant, not for a cafe. I had Mee Goren(Noodle) It is thin noddle and its fried. a little bit spicy but not too much for me. I love to go again definitely!!!!

Makan is a lovely eaterie and now run the 'classic cafe' next door which is a Malaysian take on the old english greasy spoon. I wish there was more Malaysian takes ont he old english greasy spoon as it was great! turkey rashers and chicken sausages replace the pork and the tea was a1. Will be back to try the Malaysian breakfasts soon.

Great food. Lovely staff. Best restaurant on this end of portobello. Prices are usually around a fiver and for the quality that is a bargain!

very tasty malaysian food and super cheap! i wandered in on a busy saturday and purchased some curry puffs and crab claws to snack on while we browsed the market. i enjoyed them so much, i came in the next day to try a combo with rice, veggies and chicken pendang. if you choose all vegetarian options, the combo costs about a pound less. minus a star for using a microwave, but i do think one can order freshly prepared items too. i can't wait to try more of the menu, will definitely be back!

popped in here after a cold day wandering through portobello market. i had the 3 vegetable choice dish with noodles. all of the veggie options were great i had the eggplant (definitely my favorite), black bean tofu, and some sort of broccoli dish. this was a huge amount of food and definitely could have been shared between two people. i wish there had been more veggies and less noodles because i was left with a large plate of plain, not so flavorful noodles once i ate all the veggies off the top. the restaurant is not very glamorous but its fast, super cheap, tasty and seems to be always buzzing with people.

Great little eatery selling authentic Malaysian and Singapore cuisine. Nip in for a bite or to rest your legs after an afternoon shopping at Portobello and enjoy the warm hospitality. The food is authentic and should be a delight to Asians pining for good, homecooked food. Try the Teh Tarik (milk tea) as an alternative to the typical watered down English tea with milk.

A very enjoyable meal having spent the day visiting the Portobello Market and finding some gems are great prices. they serve all food from english fry-ups to chicken noodles and lamb and potato curry with rice. They have great variety and at respectable prices.

This is a lovely airy cafe where the food is quick and easy to choose from. I was not really a fan of Malaysian food but I must say I was pleasantly suprised at this cafe. I had a chicken curry of some sort (sorry I can't remember the exact names) whilst my boys had the noodles. One had prawn curry whilst another had a spicy chicken curry. We all finished everything on our plates! So what does that mean? Well it means that the portions were just right. We are all being told that we as a nation are consuming too much, but if I was totally honest I would have liked a bit more on my plate (even tho' my hunger had been satisfied). There was one slight downer, and that was for me that the food became cold quite quickly, and I do like to have my food hot for the whole duration of the meal. Apart from that, all the staff very very polite and helpful. The place was clean as were the toilets. So if you have never had Malayasian food before this is a good place to start. For 3 meals it cost us about £18, not bad at all.