.a running list of places that hit the mark.
Chengdu.
- Le Sud - Dongmen Daqiao, Oriental Times Plaza, 2nd Floor
成都市成都市东门大桥东方时代商城二楼 - Kafe Stugan – swedish cafe run by a very sweet swedish / korean husband-wife team. they have a grilled cheese menu. enough said.
- Peter’s - 117 Kehua Bei Lu 成都市科华北路117号 People are torn about Peter’s, and I get it. It’s an attempt at Tex Mex, in southwestern China – of course they aren’t going to be the most authentic tacos you ever bite into. But if you stick to the basics – fajitas, nachos, margaritas, basically things they can’t mess up – and stick to the location on Kehua Bei Lu, it’s worth the familiar flavors and friendly atmosphere.
- The Underground – it’s the closest Western outpost to our apartment, so we may be biased, but it’d be worth the trip anyways. i’ve only gone so far as the sichuan burger, but i’d gladly stop there. they also have beer Lao. and 50% off (real!) coffee and tea from 2:15 – 5:30pm. + wifi = ex-pat gold.
- Mike’s Pizza Kitchen – the answer to my pizza prayers. delicious, and well-priced. want to read more?
- Wenshu Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant – scenic, delicious, reasonably-priced with an extensive selection of traditional Sichuan dishes (and several not-so-Sichuan dishes) made without a single chicken foot or pig snout (or any other meat product). want to read more? 15 Wenshuyuan Jie, Chengdu. 文殊院街15号
- Cafe Mosaico – pricey, satisfying Italian fare – the only of it’s kind in Chengdu. want to read more?
Singapore.
- everything, everywhere – we pretty much ate for 24 hours straight.
- Newton Hawker Centre – there may be as many hawker centers as there are dishes to hawk; this was our favorite.
Thailand.
- Prego (Koh Samui) – the only good thing about Chaweng (unless you’re into prostitutes). it’s as pricy as anything else in the area, but the pizzas and pastas are generous and tasty; i got the vegetable minestrone with pesto 2 days in a row (despite 100 degree temp. that’s saying something)
- Nahm (Bangkok) – dayum. pure foodgasm – David Thompson hits the mark. the set menu is an amazing way to sample the offerings (but does a number on the wallet); every dish was better than the last (minus our last, the chicken, which i’d avoid). the desert was perfection.
- Shaharazad (Bangkok) – this arabic eatery came highly recommended, by friends and by the internet, and did not disappoint. the babbaganoush was stand-out. the replenished side dishes of arabic pickles were fantastic.
Kuala Lumpur.
- Nero Vivo (Kuala Lumpur) – unexpectedly inventive italian at this well-reviewed KL trattoria. the babycress salad with pumpkin tallegio was a heavenly combo; the lamb ragout was divine (and the first time i have ever voluntarily ordered, and thus truly appreciated, lamb.)
- Pelita (Kuala Lumpur) – i can’t believe there’s a website, or that it’s a chain. this was one of the best meals of our entire trip. mouth-watering and mouth-wateringly cheap. (just don’t be a culturally insensitive asshole and ask for a beer like i did. awkward.)
