Randomness Guide to London - Differences between Version 15 and Version 14 of Roti King At Euston Chinese, NW1 1LH

The Roti King has been on the move since being turfed out of Oriental City when it closed in 2008. He has now set up shop in the Euston Chinese restaurant just round the corner from Euston Station. In October 2022 he set up a second branch in Battersea Power Station. Battersea Power StationTime Out

The restaurant is quite small — perhaps about ten tables — and located in the basement of a block of flats off Eversholt Street, at the bottom of a fairly narrow switchback staircase. The decor is very basic and the location somewhat insalubrious, but you don't come here for those. Menus are dog-eared laminated sheets — make sure you get the Roti King menu alongside the Euston Chinese menu as it comes on a separate sheet which looks like it has traveled with the Roti King on his recent peregrinations. The Euston Chinese menu itself seems to cover a reasonable range of Chinese, Malaysian Chinese, and Malaysian standards.

Shuri and Robbie visited on a Thursday lunchtime in July 2014. The (short and sweet) roti menu consisted of a choice of lamb curry, chicken curry, or dal served with two roti canai on the side (£5.50). The roti were expertly produced: light and soft on the inside and cooked to a crisp perfection on the outside. The lamb curry was rich and interesting, and the presence of plenty of bones hinted at where some of the flavour came from. Chicken or lamb murtabak (flat roti dough fried with a filling of spiced meat with what appeared to be egg — I found a whole star anise in mine) cost £5 and were well made and tasty.

Sweet roti were available for around £3 each; we tried a roti with kaya (coconut curd) which was hot and fresh with a good smear of sweet kaya inside, though Shuri would have preferred a bit more kaya on her half. Other sweet options included banana roti.

Soft drinks included teh tarik (a milk tea drink) and a sweetened soy milk that Shuri reported as decent but nothing special. Other options were grass jelly drink, luohan guo drink, and Milo, all apparently available hot or iced, which was welcome on the day we went as it was 27 degrees outside. Tap water was available on request, as well as standard carbonated soft drinks.

It was almost empty when we arrived at opening time for lunch, but the only tables which weren't reserved were for two people, so if you want to bring a group it would be best to call ahead to book. After about 20 minutes the place was pretty full, and by the time we left there was a queue waiting both for tables and takeaway. Service was also getting very slow by the time we left as there's only one man making the roti, which limits the speed somewhat.

Robbie's verdict: Overall very tasty food in a fairly downmarket location, and two people can eat well for £20 if they don't mind it taking an hour or so.

secretlondon visited on a Friday lunchtime in August 2014 on the strength of Robbie's comments. I had to wait to get a table and longer for my food, but it was very good. I had roti canai with lamb curry photo. The lamb was on the bone and in a rich brown sauce with lovely flaky roti. I had iced Malaysian coffee which tasted a bit like Vietnamese coffee — white and sweet. To follow I had chocolate cone (£4) photo which wasn't a roti, it was sweet and crispy. This was interesting but I think next time I'll get a sweet roti instead. This is a great little place but it doesn't have a lot of capacity. I spent 90 minutes there and about £13. Highly recommended!

See also:

• Marina O'Loughlin's review in the Guardian
• Halal Girl About Town review
• Hollow Legs review
• Lucy Loves To Eat review
• Steak & Teeth review

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