West New Malaysia
About This Spot
West New Malaysia is a welcoming corner of Malaysian heritage nestled amid the bustling streets of New York’s Chinatown. From the moment you step inside, there’s an inviting and unpretentious warmth—a soft buzz of conversation and the steady rhythm of dishes brought out, weaving together a sense of comfort and discovery. It’s the kind of place where the pace slows just enough to savor familiar flavors, reimagined with a freshness that feels both approachable and true to its roots.
The atmosphere here reflects a quiet but lively dedication to the rich cultural tapestry that Malaysian cuisine embodies. The melding of Malay, Chinese, and Indian influences is not only in the food but also found in the rhythms of the service and the welcoming nature of the staff. Whether sharing a meal at a cozy table or catching up with friends over something refreshing like a creamy cold milk tea or a rich Milo coffee, the experience holds a genuine human connection.
West New Malaysia doesn’t rush you through its menu — each dish carries layers of tradition worth unwrapping slowly. Imagine the gentle crunch of roti canai, crafted with care and perfect for dipping into fragrant curry sauces, or the satisfying heartiness of Hainanese chicken rice, its simple flavors made extraordinary by attentive preparation. Vibrant plates like spicy fish head cassoulet, satay beef, or the crisp baby oyster omelet invite conversation and shareable moments, encouraging guests to lean in and talk with those around them.
The pace suits a meal meant to be savored, not rushed. Diners find themselves returning to familiar comforts or eager to explore new tastes, knowing that each visit is an opportunity to deepen a connection to a cuisine shaped by generations of culture and community. In this way, West New Malaysia feels less like a restaurant and more like a small gathering of stories served on a plate.
What’s Available Here
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Identifies as Asian-owned
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No-contact delivery
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Delivery
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Takeaway
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Dine-in
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Fast service
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Serves local specialty
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Solo dining
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Wheelchair-accessible car park
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Alcohol
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Beer
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Comfort food
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Quick bite
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Small plates
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Wine
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Catering
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Dessert
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Seating
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Table service
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Toilet
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Casual
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Trendy
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Family friendly
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Groups
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LGBTQ+ friendly
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Locals
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Tourists
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Accepts reservations
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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Good for kids
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Paid street parking
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Parking
Location & Hours
| Monday | 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM | |
| Friday | 11:00 AM - 09:30 PM | |
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| Saturday | 11:00 AM - 09:30 PM | |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM - 08:30 PM |
Mandy 11 Dec 2025
Mee Siam and Sarang burung were delicious! I loved cashew, shrimps and other vegetables along with fried taro. It was a very unique dish. The portion size was really big. I would love to try other dishes like curry sometime.
Kimberly Lim Legaspi 01 Nov 2025
West New Malaysia delivered a deeply satisfying dining experience with each dish highlighting the layered influences that define Malaysian cuisine, shaped by Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures over centuries of trade and migration. My boyfriend and I truly loved the experience, and every course reflected both technical skill and cultural understanding. We began with Roti Canai, a staple with origins tied to South Indian flatbreads introduced to Malaysia through Indian Muslim communities. The roti was expertly prepared, flaky and layered with a light crisp on the outside and soft, elastic texture within. It was served with a curry sauce rich in aromatics such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, curry leaves, and onion. The sauce had depth without heaviness, allowing the spices to bloom while remaining balanced and approachable. Alongside it, the beef satay showcased another iconic Malaysian dish, traditionally grilled over charcoal after being marinated in spices such as lemongrass, garlic, turmeric, and sugar. The beef was tender with a subtle smokiness, and the peanut sauce was smooth and well emulsified, made with ground peanuts, coconut milk, palm sugar, and chili. Fresh cucumber and onion added a clean, cooling contrast that rounded out the dish. As a small note, the satay was served with the peanut sauce already on top serving the sauce on the side would help minimize cross contamination and make the dish more accommodating for guests with peanut allergies, while also allowing diners to control the amount of sauce to their preference. For my main, I ordered the Penang Asam Laksa, a dish that reflects the bold identity of Penang’s street food culture. Unlike coconut based laksa, Asam Laksa is defined by its sour and savory profile. The broth was built on a fish base traditionally made with mackerel, combined with tamarind for acidity, chili for heat, lemongrass for fragrance, and fermented shrimp paste for depth. Thick rice noodles formed the foundation, while toppings of shredded fish, cucumber, onion, fresh herbs, and pineapple added texture and brightness. The interplay of sour, spicy, savory, and lightly sweet flavors was vibrant and complex, staying true to the dish’s origins and intent. My boyfriend chose the seafood pan fried crispy noodles, a dish influenced by Chinese Malaysian cooking techniques. The noodles were pan fried until golden and crisp, then topped with a savory seafood gravy made from stock, soy sauce, garlic, and vegetables. The dish featured a generous mix of squid, shrimp, fish cakes, bok choy, and egg, each element cooked properly and contributing its own texture and flavor. As the sauce soaked into the noodles, the texture shifted from crisp to tender, creating a layered eating experience. The seafood remained the focal point, enhanced rather than masked by the sauce, which was rich yet restrained. My boyfriend ordered a Malaysian iced coffee, traditionally brewed strong and sweetened with condensed milk, a reflection of colonial era coffee culture adapted to local tastes. For dessert, I chose the red bean ice, a shaved ice dessert commonly found across Southeast Asia. It was served with tender red beans and topped with coconut milk and gula Melaka, a deeply aromatic palm sugar with caramel notes. Although cendol was unavailable that day, the combination of coconut milk and gula Melaka still delivered the dessert’s signature balance of richness and sweetness, making it a refreshing and satisfying way to end the meal. West New Malaysia offers a well executed representation of Malaysian cuisine. The food is balanced, confident, and deeply satisfying, making it a place that leaves you wanting to return not for novelty, but for authenticity and consistency done with care.
Jeremy Quek 29 Oct 2025
Our go to Malaysian restaurant in the city. Their Hainanese Chicken rice is really great. Chow Kuey Teow is pretty good. The Kangkung Belacan could be a bit spicier. Service always excellent .. attentive and prompt. Drinks are great too ...and saw that they started doing Kuih Talam and Kuih Lapis but we were too full to try this this time. Next time...
Nicole Ng 27 Oct 2025
Went with a party of 6 without reservation and got seated within 15 minutes! The service was fast. We got a bunch of dishes, but the highlight was the stingray. SO DELICIOUS. I've never had stingray before, so I was a little intimidated going into it, but it was incredible. Please try it!
Jeffrey Lam 17 Oct 2025
Was recommended by a friend. First time eating Malaysian food in Manhattan. Picked out dishes that I recognized from previous Malaysian restaurants. Had the curry combo for myself and shared the sarang burung (fried taro dish) and roti canai. Food had great flavor, was filling, and a great atmosphere for friends/family.
Julien Weber 12 Oct 2025
When I am craving Singaporean/Malaysian I am thinking of this place. It is slightly easier to get here than Sunset Park. The curry is really amazing. We also tried some noodles that were ok, but not as good.
Cultured Wanderer 29 Sep 2025
Let’s start with the positives. The service was genuinely friendly and very accommodating, especially when it comes to vegetarian options. The space is modern and clean, though it doesn’t particularly evoke that distinctively Malaysian feel in its decor. The menu is broad, with a wide selection of classic Malaysian dishes — which is great to see. The food we had tasted good and was nicely presented. But if you’re coming in search of authenticity, you’ll likely be quite disappointed. Take the Nasi Lemak, for example. It was decent, but came with raw peanuts — which is a big miss when it comes to authenticity. The satay tofu was overly oily, the fried chicken wings looked more like modern bar fare with a pandan leaf added as a bow tie, rather than the traditional pandan-wrapped Ayam Goreng, and the Mee Siam leaned completely Thai-style (wet), instead of the dry, tangy Malaysian version that’s typical. Overall, the dishes are okay, but they definitely don’t capture the true essence of Malaysian cuisine — that rich Peranakan influence and the deeply layered flavors built over centuries.
y.w 17 Sep 2025
Sooo good! Best curry beef ever and very good hainanese chicken. Best meal in New York. And not expensive at all, comparing to normal New York restaurants. --from a Chinese tourist living in Indiana.