When we talk of young chefs making waves on London’s restaurant scene, Abby Lee’s name won’t be far from in-the-know foodie's lips.
Levelling up from her tiny outpost in Peckham, Lee recently brought her exciting modern Malaysian concept to a sweet spot in Lower Clapton. The new space still only has 20 indoor covers, making securing a table here a little like a game of musical chairs.
But boy is it worth it when you do get your foot in the door. We started things off with the 100+ Sour, an innovative take on the classic Pisco Sour featuring coconut liquor, miso syrup and blackberry. Next up, small plates that ranged from my favourite lor bak – a spicy crispy pork bite that I’ve been dreaming about since – to a nutty grilled banana blossom and prawn toast that was unlike any I’ve tasted before.
We finished things off with pandang pancakes filled with a sweet toffee-like coconut filling and a coffee ice cream to cut through the sugar. Despite Mambow's size, Abby Lee and her modern Malaysian restaurant will be stamping a big footprint on the London dining scene.