In the middle of the Arboretum, surrounded by Chili's, Wal-Mart, and the Gap, this place is a nice and unexpected Asian restaurant. It's received some pretty great reviews. Creative Loafing gave a nod and recently the Charlotte Observer included it in a map of ethnic eats (just a side note: the map's a fun little resource for finding foods of every background). The digs are nice, and while the accolades are good, I didn't find it to be something to write home about.
We got Char Kway Teow (pan-fried flat noodles) with vegetables, which had a deep pork flavor, topped off with grilled vegetables and bean sprouts. I'd love to find out how to make it. Thai food fans will like the mee goreng, a spicy noodle dish with chicken. It's topped with chopped peanuts, has a nice crisp taste from garlic and bean sprouts, and leaves your lips buzzing with spice. I liked a few bites, but it was kind of oily, and my eating subconscious kicked in: "Mr. Werner, there is too much oil here."
The service was the best part: the staff were very friendly and chatted with regulars who stopped in to say hi. I also really liked this giant painting of a Malay town on the wall to the left of the entrance.
I'd like to try out Cuisine Malaya, the other Malaysian restaurant on the list. I liked what I tried, but I want to seek out an even better option.