Rasa Kitchen review

The exciting hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur’s markets, lined with street food vendors, meets the surprisingly muscled and wholly Russell group crowds of the Sherfield walkway. Slotted right between the JCR and SCR on the Walkway, Rasa Kitchen is unmissable – partially because it sits at what might be the walkway’s narrowest point, but mostly due to the frequently long line of people tracing the wall and eagerly awaiting Malaysian food. On a Friday, the Felix lifestyle team joined that line and were pleasantly surprised.

Unlike the disarray of the SCR, Rasa Kitchen’s queuing is streamlined and easy to navigate, but your journey is likely to start outside as ours did. Inside, we were snaked towards the food bar, giving us ample time to decipher the simple and clear menu. There are two primary hot dishes to choose from: one of the staple noodle soups of Southeast Asia, laksa, or a “street food” dish that varies by day. Both choices provide a meat/fish and a vegan option, where the principal protein source is typically tofu. The variety dish, however, adds another layer of possibility, allowing us to select either rice or noodles as the base carbohydrate. If you are still worried about not having time to decide between the ~6 possible combinations, have no fear as there is only a single till at the end of the food bar, and the staff are kind with no stress-inducing rush to be had.

Despite the laksa being the first dish you see, and the cheaper option at around £5, most people seem to go for the variety dish, but it’s no wonder why. At £6.45, roughly the same price as any other Taste Imperial main, the variety dish is bountiful. When we went, the vegan option was a coconut and chilli curry with tofu, while the meat option was a spiced chicken curry. We had the tofu with noodles and the meat with rice. At the till, each of us was greeted with a small, simple salad and prawn crackers (not vegan) and on the way out, we had the option to add some free chilli oil, but by 1pm, this was already completely drained.

Once done in Rasa Kitchen itself, you are met with one of the only downsides of the spot. Finding seating is going to be a challenge. However, this is a challenge shared by most of the catering outlets in Sherfield, so it is nothing that some cunning and strategic hovering over people who are already sat can’t solve. 

When finally sitting with our food, we were once again reminded just how plentiful the portions are. For the coconut curry with tofu, the noodles made up the bulk of the carbohydrate. However, this was no tragedy, as the mahogany noodles alone were alluring, having been coated in a simple but flavourful oil. The curry itself only made the dish more appetising with a mix of sweetness from the coconut, and saltiness that, while not out-of-this-world, was certainly out-of-this-university and passed my expectations for campus food. The tofu was firm yet spongy, making it a quick flavour-bomb when bitten into, while the sprinkle of chilli offered a welcome glow. Hiding in the curry was a combination of sweet potato and bamboo that deepened the dish with some soft and crunchy textures. In total, this coconut curry variety dish was hearty, nutritionally sound, and an uplifting lunch, even though you may find yourself wanting a nap afterwards. 

Nevertheless, not all things at Imperial can be bliss. The only additional downside to the Rasa Kitchen experience was the simple salad. Comprised of lettuce, carrot, green beans, bean sprouts, and the odd lentil, the salad tasted slightly old and oddly wet. While it is possible that this was an unfortunate batch, we couldn’t help but theorise that it might have been frozen, or at least overly chilled. However, it still put no damper on my satisfaction with the main dish and certainly couldn’t deprive me of the stamp on my “CHEAT ON MEAT” card, taking me one step closer to a free vegan meal.

There is a completeness to be felt when you finish your food. It’s tasty and even a bit too filling, but it gives you either an excuse to extend your lunch and keep yapping with your friends, or a delightful savoury snack later in the day. Either way, the food leaves you with something to smile about. Even though I am still unsure what truly constitutes Malaysian cuisine, I am eager to keep finding out.