The Malaya Classic has opened in the heart of Birmingham's Chinatown, promising an exciting menu of authentic Malaysian dishes. 

Featuring Halal Malaysian cuisine, the new venue has set up home in the upper parts of the Arcadian, in the old Ten IChi. The restaurant has 44 seats on one level and 20 on the upstairs mezzanine and two private dining rooms which can serve up to 25 people. 

Eye-catching ‘Malaysian batik’ – a traditional fabric that Malay used to make traditional dresses, are displayed on the walls alongside traditional headwear and tea pots as a nod to the restaurant’s cultural heritage.

Menu highlights include Char Kway Teow, wok-fried flat rice noodles with succulent prawns, fish cakes and beansprouts; rendang - a rich and flavourful coconut beef stew with aromatic spices; and roti canai, flaky and crispy flatbread served with curry dipping sauce. 

Diners can enjoy traditional items like Nasi Goreng, curry laska noodles, and Hainanese chicken rice and the fusion Malaysian dishes such as rendang beef spring roll and crispy fried soft-shell crab with salted egg yolk. Set menus and banquet menus are also available, as well as a selection of street food favourites such as bao buns, noodles and soups.

The restaurant will serve a selection of speciality Malaysian drinks including Teh Tarik – the national tea drink, Pulled Tea, Milo and white coffee as well as Sirap Bandung - a wonderful concoction made with grass jelly, pink milk and rose syrup. They also have their homemade fruity drinks such as lychee and grapefruit fizz, pineapple and coconut fizz, and rose and longan fizz.

The Malaya Classic is open seven days a week from 12noon to 10pm. To book a table, visit: themalayaclassic.co.uk