VIBE

Hip hutong hideout just north of the Drum Tower dishing up fresh Malaysian fare. In the evenings, low lighting creates a cozy, romantic feel in this remake of a traditional courtyard house, while lunchtimes have more of a mellow, neighborhood café vibe. The service is friendly and the food authentic, judging by the enthusiastic Malaysian expat crowds flocking in.

CROWD

In-the-know hipster expats; couples on a relaxed date.

WHAT WE WOULD WEAR

It’s fairly casual: jeans, a sharp top, and cool flats will work.

GO HERE WITH

A date; friends

WHY WE LIKE IT

The hutong location is pretty cool–it’s just far enough off the well-beaten Houhai track to give an authentic Beijing feel without being too hard to find. Also, the Malaysian cuisine is some of the best in Beijing (check out the armloads of awards that they rake in every year).

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The “romantic lighting” is at times a little too sparing on the “lighting”–it can be hard to see your hand in front of your face, let alone the food on your plate.

GOOD TO KNOW

You might want to take a look at their menu in advance: if you’re planning on ordering their traditional Malaysian Itik-golek stuffed duck, chili/curry crab, or double-braised Australian lobster in nyonya, you’ll need to let them know one day in advance. Also, Beijing’s mazelike hutongs can be tricky to navigate on foot, but Café Sambal is well sign-posted: walk one block north from the Drum Tower on Jiu Gu Lou Da Jie and keep your eyes peeled for the gray and red “Café Sambal” sign.

OTHER LOCATIONS

Sambal Urban, Chaoyang (Beijing)

CLOSEST COMPS

Nuage (Beijing)