Serai

"A Malaysian restaurant in Logan Square known for its diverse culinary influences, closed permanently." - Serena Maria Daniels

"There aren’t many places to get Malaysian food in the city. In fact, there are only two, and Serai is one of them. This casual, sit-down restaurant is perfect for a date or low-key dinner. Besides Malaysian specialties like char koay teow and nasi lemak, the menu has a bunch of Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian-influenced dishes. Most are well-balanced and toe the line between sweet and spicy, like the roti pratha that comes with a mild (but flavorful) curry, or the sambal eggplant which has a pleasant, slow-burning heat. For more aggressive spice, there’s the three pepper fish—and no one will notice the sweat rolling down your face thanks to the dimly lit dining room." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru

"Serai’s brick exterior is pretty nondescript, so it’s easy to miss the entrance and end up halfway down the block—which is what we did on our first visit. But the food at this Logan Square Malaysian spot is worth doubling back for. Inside the dimly lit space you’ll find two dining rooms: one with a bar, and a cozy annex that's perfect for a date or low-key dinner. The menu has Malaysian specialties like char koay teow and nasi lemak, plus a bunch of Chinese, Thai, and Indonesian-influenced dishes. Most are well-balanced, toeing the line between sweet and spicy. For example, the flaky roti pratha comes with a mild (but flavorful) curry of tender potatoes and chicken, and the sambal eggplant has a pleasant, slow-burning heat that’s never overwhelming. For more aggressive spice, get the three pepper fish which comes heavily dusted in black pepper, red chilies, and jalapeños." - Veda Kilaru

"Serai, owned by Victor Low, is a Malaysian restaurant focusing on street food. It serves as a gateway to more traditional Malaysian items, keeping some familiar dishes for those new to the cuisine." - Ashok Selvam