London Street Food - Malay Fusion At Sambal Shiok

Some things in London remain constant - bad weather, bad transport and traffic to name a few, but as an expat I'm always pleasantly surprised by what has changed each time I come back.

Parts of Soho are still pretty seedy but it's come on a long way in the last few years. One gentrification indicator are the new street food stalls - Street Food Union, on Rupert Street.

I bow to no man in my love of Malay food - the legacy of a prolonged spell working there a few years ago.
So, on a stroll past Rupert Street a while back I immediately plumbed for Shambal Shiok. Run by former lawyer, Mandy Yin, she specialises in Malay fusion cuisine.

(All images courtesy of Sambal Shiok.)

A Labour Of Love

The stall is very much a labour of love for Mandy. For a corporate lawyer in the City to re-trade as a stall holder might seem odd, but as Mandy says,

 "I have always loved food (especially Malaysian, having been born there) and cooking, and have also been an avid follower of the street-food movement and the London restaurant scene for years. I wanted to share my passion for Malaysian food with the world and thought that it was high time that Malaysian flavours got some well-deserved exposure in London."

Double Chicken Satay Burger, a.k.a "The Leaning Tower of Satay."

The Leaning Tower of Satay

Mandy has deliberately stayed away of the traditional curry & rice format, opting instead for brioche buns - roti bread is hugely popular in Malaysia so as Mandy says,

"Streetfood seemed to be the natural home for my hot buns, following in the steps of the rich hawker scene in Malaysia. I am proud to be part of the vibrant London street-food movement which is going from strength to strength."

I opted for the beef rendang burger, and it was some of the nicest I've tried outside of Sabah. The hint of coconut and lemongrass went really well with the richness of Aberdeen Angus beef, the sambal chilli sauce giving just the right amount of bite. There's also a satay chicken that I've yet to try and a vegetarian satay version. (There's a gag crying out to be made here about hot buns, but I'm a better man than that..)

Beef Rendang. In a bun. That's a culinary win for me...

It's always a boost to morale to see someone forsaking a corporate wage in favour of pursuing what they love. Perhaps more important for us hungry (and slightly hungover) chaps is the quality of the food - and Mandy's is fantastic. I'll definitely be back for seconds soon.

Mandy rotates the stall around several markets in London and also does event catering. To find out where she'll be check her website here.