London -- Fitzrovia for a week -- looking for Indian, Chinese, Iranian, Lebanese, Malaysian

[NWPeter]

We'll be staying just up from Charlotte Street and look forward to sampling some good London ethnic restos. We would like to keep food expenses reasonable. Short trips on the tube OK. Also, a recommendation for a good local pub would be great. Thanks in advance.

[juneavrile]

Put Istanbul Meze on your list. It's in Cleveland St, like the much recommended Ragam. And, like Ragam, doesn't look like much. Has excellent charcoal grilled meats and the most delicious home made thick chilli sauce. I never make it to the sweet stuff, but they give you terrific lokum with your bill.

[greedygirl]

I second the recs for Yalla Yalla and Sedap. You might also consider Rasa Samudra on Charlotte Street (Indian fish restaurant) and Busabai Eathai on Store Street which is offers reasonable Thai/SouthEast Asian.

In Chinatown, I like Haozhan, Leong's Legend and YMing (actually on Greek St). Others like Ba Shan, but I wasn't hugely impressed when I went.

[pj26]

Also try Ragam on Cleveland St in Fitzrovia - great Indian.For pubs the Carpenters Arms is ok (there's not that great pubs in the immediate vicinity) or the Newman Arms on Rathbone St - feels like a proper old boozer but has great pies upstairs.

[helen b]

Second the pub recommendations. Pies are ace. I actually really like the Carpenters and because it's multi-floored you can usually get a seat. Their fish finger sandwiches are a naughty treat.

[oonth]

If you do some searches, you'll get board favourites for each of these cuisines. A couple of alternative suggestions for you: Iranian - Tandis on Chalk Farm Road (Northern line tube from Goodge St to either Chalk Farm or Belsize Park); [South] Indian - Vijays on Willesden Lane (Bakerloo line tube from Oxford Circus to Kilburn Park), stick to South Indian dishes (dosas, rasam, dry masala fried lamb, fish mollee, chicken ginger, biryani); Lebanese - Yalla Yalla (walking distance, 10-15 mins).

[zuriga1]

Many of us here like Ishbilia for Lebanese food. You can keep the tab down by telling them you don't want the salad on the table (they charge for it) and just ordering a few dishes - it's very nice for lunch. Mohsen for Iranian... and do check the search box for other suggestions from the past postings.

[limster]

Sedap for Penang-style Nyona cooking -- stick to the Malaysian curries section and you'll do fine.