Boy, do we have some treats for you this month.
First, we just want to thank everyone who shared last month’s newsletter. It’s great to see our unique combination of gluttony and narcissism appealing to so many people.
Apparently, in last month’s edition we came across as quite the lads. That term is rarely used to describe us so we excitedly clinked our rosé and treated ourselves to a mani-pedi in front of Mean Girls.
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On with it…
This month we’re focusing on value for money.
We’ve got some expensive times ahead of us - Black Friday, Christmas, NYE, the top-end gym membership we’ll buy out of self-loathing and disgust in January to guilt ourselves into some half-arsed stumbling on the treadmill.
These are the joints where you can find a good deal on some 👌grub.
Roti King
Rating: 🍛x8.5
Price: £
Address: 40 Doric Way, London NW1 1LH
Hands up - who’s been to Malaysia?
If you have, you’ll recall the incredible aromas, flavours, and sheer variety of Malaysian cuisine; a sumptuous array of deliciousness that at times incorporates some of the best parts of Indian and Chinese cuisine but is totally in a league of its own.
If you haven’t been, take it from us: it’s 🔥🔥🔥, and Roti King is the place to go to experience the tastes of Malaysia in London.
Our favourites:
Roti Canai (buttery layered roti with a curry daal sauce) - their signature dish
Nasi Goreng
Beef Rendang
Kari Laksa
It’s all insanely delicious and very affordable. Fill up till the people next to you stare in disgust.
For us, no dining experience is complete unless it involves a wee tipple. And nothing makes us happier than a BYOB place. Back in the day there was no corkage, but now there is a small levy per table for bringing your own drinks - make the most of it.
Ho-Ja
Rating: 🍜x7.5
Price: £
Address: 39 Goldhawk Rd, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 8QQ
This unfussy West London Taiwanese joint is all about quick, cheap, delicious food. Perfect for a working lunch or a quick dinner - or, as was the case when we went here, a brief snack in between a busy schedule of drinking wine and going to more Asian restaurants.
Don’t expect good service - it’s a Nando’s-style order-at-the-till sitch and the staff aren’t wildly interested in going through the rigmarole of telling you what’s good and what’s not. Or speaking at all really.
It’s functional; you want delicious food, you pay for delicious food, they bring you delicious food. Simple.
Our recs:
You can’t go wrong with one of the bento boxes - rice, stewed veggies, and a main for £5-7
Chicken Popcorn & Hoja Beef Rolls are a highlight
Stewed pork with rice as a side is the one
If you’re feeling masochistic they do a special Taiwanese chilli sauce which is nothing short of lethal. But it’s addictive and leaves you wanting more.
The Kati Roll Company
Rating: 🌯x7.5
Price: ££
Address: 24 Poland St, Soho, London W1F 8QL
The Kati Roll Company has blown up in NYC and recently hit Soho (originally from Kolkata, India).
Kati literally means ‘skewer’ and skewer me sideways are they good.
Skewer-grilled fillings served in paratha flatbreads or rothi. They’re spicier than you might think - be prepared to sweat like a nun in a cucumber patch. A couple are enough for lunch or a light dinner.
Our top tips:
Achari Paneer Roll
Shrimp Masala Roll (🌶)
Unda Beef Roll
Get the Green Chilli Chutney if you want to punish yourself tomorrow
Ochi
Rating: 🍗x8
Price: ££
Address: 226 Uxbridge Rd, White City, London W12 7JD
The food’s incredible. It’s a She Bu institution. It’s endorsed by some of the biggest stars in the world (look out for the signed picture of Rihanna behind the counter).
Don’t expect to sit in - this place is really more of a takeaway. But you’d be happy sitting on the street eating this fare.
Maybe not too close by though… This happened down the road the other day:
We’d get:
Jerk Chicken Meal (comes with Rice & Peas) - you’d be full off this alone
Salt Fish Patty
Plantain
Now run for it.
Honourable mentions:
Misato - we haven’t been here in a while, but we hear the Katsu Curry is still just as good as it used to be. And incredibly well priced for the area (£6.50).
Address: 11 Wardour St, Soho, London W1D 6PG
German Doner Kebab - it’s still a kebab, don’t get us wrong, but you’ll feel marginally less filthy after this than others.
Check their locations here.
The Jackalope - definitely falls within the Cheap Eats category - check our review from last month here.
That’s all for now. Enjoy. Next time, we’ll be getting silly amounts of spicy.
See you next month,
The Massamen
Want to get in touch? Email us at food@themassamen.com