Bintang

Beach-side dining in Kentish Town seems improbable, but Bintang – its walls adorned with pictures of sunsets – is as close as you’ll get. This fun & frivolous family-run restaurant claims to focus on Malay cuisine, though the kitchen also provides plenty of Thai, Indonesian, Japanese & Chinese flavours. Prawn tempura, chicken satay or crispy duck & pancakes make ideal sharing plates for big groups. To follow, you could plump for beef Bintang in a coconut & lemongrass sauce, deep-fried squid in a garlicky black bean sauce, or a rich mutton rendang. Finish with deep-fried ice cream coated in sesame seeds. Unless you fancy a night of mocktails or tropical juices, stop at an off-licence en route. Bintang is BYO &, with no corkage charge, the whole experience is delightfully inexpensive.