Rasarumah

Step into Rasarumah and you’ll immediately sense something special. Tucked into Historic Filipinotown, this Chinese Malaysian restaurant has the kind of effortless energy that most places spend years trying to cultivate. Birthday celebrations get shoutouts on the letterboard above the bar, couples share natural wine at the counter, and groups of friends cheer for their favorite teams in the corner. It feels like a neighborhood spot that’s been around forever, even though it hasn’t.

The menu draws from Chinese Malaysian traditions with dishes that are both approachable and deeply flavorful. Start with the shrimp chips and sambal trio—they work double duty as a snack and as condiments that enhance everything else you order. The char kway teow delivers the ideal balance of chewy noodles, savory Chinese sausage, and umami-rich soy sauce. And if there’s one dish you absolutely cannot skip, it’s the wagyu beef cheek rendang: tender meat swimming in coconut curry brightened with makrut lime, best scooped up with an order of roti (get one per person, trust us).

The kitchen clearly knows how to balance comfort and creativity. The gado gado reimagines a simple salad through the lens of Indonesian flavors, while the mushroom curry clay pot offers warming cardamom spice over impossibly crispy rice. For dessert, the cendol sundae layers coconut ice cream with pandan jelly and red beans—a fitting end that keeps you reaching for one more bite even when you’re convinced you’re full.

Rasarumah nails what so many restaurants chase: it’s genuinely fun, the food delivers, and you leave already thinking about when you can come back. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, having a first date at the bar, or just craving excellent noodles on a Tuesday, this place has you covered.