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New Malaysian Restaurant in Women's Street

awana, the first ever contemporary Malaysian restaurant in Beijing, was opened at the entrance of Women’s Street in Beijing on June 22. Coinciding with “Visit Malaysia Year 2007,” and partly owned by the Malaysian Tourism Board, awana promises to be a (cuisine) cultural ambassador by offering a fine dining environment where lovers of Malaysian food and culture in Beijing can enjoy authentic Malaysian cuisine and explore Malaysian life by way of the kitchen.

The restaurant is a large, modern space where the décor draws its inspiration from the traditional Malay teak house, incorporating lush silk panels, delicate glass and softened with burgundy leather chairs and smart lighting, a décor overall simple, non-pretentious and very authentically Malaysian.

It is divided comfortably into a medium-sized dining area with comfortable banquettes, a funky cocktail bar and cushion-scattered lounge which offers a selection of Asian-influenced drinks.

The waitresses uniform have been specially designed with a modern fusion look recall the diverse cultural background of Malaysia, with Malay and Chinese-inspired belts using hand-woven gold thread, and Indian Nehru shirts.

The menu opts for seasonal modern interpretations of traditional Malaysian dishes and offers the best of typical street food, with bestsellers including butterfish wrapped in banana leaf, beef rendang and the fashionable satay made of the best ingredients from succulent corn-fed chickens to diver-caught scallops and served with a house-made spicy peanut sauce.

Eddie Lim, the Malaysian-born director of awana, who created the concept of discovering authentic Malaysian traditional street food in a fine dining environment said: “We have been exploring the opportunity to participate in the growing Chinese market since a long time, especially in Beijing, a historic capital, a modern metropolis and an Olympic city.”