Top 10... Asian Eateries

Feature by Neil Pooran | 14 Jul 2010

Karen Wong’s Chinese Restaurant 
107-109 St Leonards Street
0131 662 0777

The Karen Wong's Chinese Restaurant experience often ends up being more about Karen Wong than the food. The chirpy proprietor bounces around the tables with an irrepressible energy, usually striking up some banter with the diners and giving the restaurant an entertaining, sociable atmosphere. For its price range the food doesn’t disappoint, and there’s a fairly broad range of Chinese meals on the menu. Banter aside, service is astute and courteous. It’s perhaps not the best destination for a quiet, pensive meal, but a great venue for a high-spirited dinner with a large group of friends. Count yourself lucky if Karen starts dancing in celebration of your order. [NP]

Khushi’s Diner
32b West Nicholson Street 
0131 667 4871

An offshoot of the defunct Khushi’s Restaurant in the Old Town, Khushi’s Diner is more suitable for large parties and speedy service than most Indian restaurants, and is all the better for it. Instead of laboriously collecting individual orders from large groups, a wide selection of dishes and sharing platters are brought to share. These tend to supply all the options you were thinking of asking for, and it makes the whole experience flow a lot easier. Bring a few bottles of wine (it's BYOB) and a lot of friends, and Kushi’s Diner will deliver a great evening out. [NP]

Celadon
49-51 Causewayside 
0131 667 1110

Celadon offers eye-wateringly good Thai food for slightly-less eyewatering prices. The usual are on offer—like green and red curry—but here they're cooked to near perfection. Most dishes have a spiciness that newcomers to Thai cuisine should approach with caution. The service and ambience in the restaurant are similarly upmarket, making this a great location for a well-earned treat or a romantic dinner for two. Staff are beyond polite, though the atmosphere remains friendly and congenial. If you don’t mind a larger-than-average bill at the end, Celadon is a must for fans of authentic Thai cuisine. [NP]

Wild Elephant
21 Newington Road 
0131 662 8822

Wild Elephant is another strong contender in the Edinburgh Thai restaurant scene. The quirky elephant stylings which are to be found on almost every surface lend the place an amiable charm, and the secluded atmosphere makes it a pleasant getaway from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh. Its pricing is more modest than its nearby contender Celadon, though the food is perhaps not quite as exquisite. However it offers a more low-key experience in an informal setting, and is still a very high quality restaurant. [NP]

(Kampong Ah Lee) Malaysia Delight
28 Clerk Street
0131 662 9050

Malayasian food isn't particularly familiar in this part of the world, and Malaysia Delight serves as a brilliant introduction. Expect plenty of noodles, soup and seafood, often mixed together and drizzled in spicy, tangy sauces. The tapioca tea is a charming addition to the drinks menu. Unlike your standard cup of builders', it is served chilled and contains small balls of tapioca which are sucked through a wide-barrelled straw. Prices are very reasonable here, making Malaysia Delight an interesting and worthwhile diversion from the usual East Asian fare. [NP]

Noor
56 South Clerk Street
0131 667 0404

Though technically a takeaway rather than a restaurant, Noor deserves a mention for being the Indian takeaway of choice in the south of Edinburgh. Prices are very cheap and deliver food of an unexpectedly good quality. A good sized meal for two will only set you back about £10. Noor’s website makes ordering online easy, though picking food up in person lets you have a chat with the friendly staff. All the basic Indian dishes are available, and have a colour and vibrancy to them that most takeaways lack. Portions are generous and are bound to leave you full. [NP]

Namaste
17-19 Forrest Road
0131 220 2273

Though branded as Nepalese, Kathmandu Namaste’s offerings have much in common with those of Indian restaurants. A familiar batch of curries and naan breads can be found here, though usually served with a Nepalese twist that sets them slightly apart from other Indian meals in the city. The lunchtime Thaali menu, which contains various platters of small, mixed dishes, is a good option with plenty of variety. If you’ve got a pressing afternoon show to attend its central location makes getting to venues around Old Town fairly easy, though beware of long waiting times when it gets busy. [NP]

Red Fort
10 Drummond Street
0131 557 1999

Three minutes walk from the Pleasance, the Red Fort is a firm student favourite and one of the best value Indian restaurants in Edinburgh. Plain and unassuming from both the outside and inside, they make and serve consistently good, old-fashioned food, along with a series of Red Fort specialities you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Dodgy music and décor make for a traditionally British Indian dining experience. Get there at lunchtime to get the all-you-can-eat (including a drink and desert) deal for £7.50 or strike up a conversation with the friendly staff which usually results in an unofficial discount. [DH]

Kalpna
2-3 Saint Patrick Square
0131 667 9890

Kalpna is a long-established Indian restaurant marked out by its all-vegetarian menu. Meat-eaters need not fear being stuck with unappetising options, as everything is cooked and presented to a fantastic standard. It’s worthwhile getting a diverse selection of dishes, as there are some very interesting and unique meals you’ll struggle to find anywhere else. For the less adventurous, the range of rice and daals will satisfy the most demanding of pallets. Able to cater for parties large and small, Kalpna is an essential visit for vegetarian foodies. [NP]

Dusit
49a Thistle Street
0131 220 6846

Dusit's sophisticated take on Thai staples and elegant surroundings mean that this charming Thai eatery—the pick of bustling Thistle Street—is usually full, so book ahead. The restaurant is known for its use of Scottish ingredients on the traditional Thai wok and grill, so you can try out a Phat Phet Prig Tai Ong with venison if you don't fancy the standard duck. Dusit offers guaranteed quality, so it's not cheap, although the recent addition of a fixed-price lunchtime menu is a fantastic bargain. [NP]