Staines Food Court Review: Malaysian Food, Roast Duck & Asian Street Food Under One Roof

Finding good Malaysian food outside London can take a bit of planning. On our way back from an airport pick up, we decided to stop at Staines Food Court, having done some research beforehand to see where we could get our Malaysian food fix.

It turned out to be an interesting stop. Under one roof, we found stalls serving Malaysian, Chinese, Hong Kong-style roast meats with rice or noodles, dim sum, Japanese food, Korean fried chicken and Thai dishes. We could order from different vendors, mix and match our meals, and share everything at a communal table.

We visited early on a Monday, so the food court was relatively quiet. That made ordering and finding seats easy, and our food was ready promptly. Between the three of us, we ordered roast duck and crispy roast pork with rice for one, Japanese soba noodles with tempura prawns, stir-fried beef with onion and pepper from Taste of Sichuan, and a dozen spiced fried chicken wings (Ayam Goreng Berempah) from Onde Onde Malaysian Street Food. It was quite a spread.

The food was hot, tasty and generously portioned. We enjoyed everything we ordered, although the beef dish had considerably more onion than beef. The setting, however, was a different story. Staines Food Court has the variety and casual atmosphere of an Asian hawker centre, but the communal space could do with some attention and a general refresh. Still, for anyone who enjoys Asian food and wants plenty of choice in one place, it is worth knowing about.

Finding Staines Food Court

Staines Food Court is located at 141–147 High Street, Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, TW18 4PA. It brings together independently operated food stalls around a shared dining area, allowing customers to choose dishes from different cuisines rather than committing to a single restaurant.

The food court’s official website⁠ describes it as an Asian food court with around ten individual food stands, each specialising in a particular cuisine. It is a format more familiar in Southeast Asia than in many parts of the UK.

We had visited Bang Bang Oriental Foodhall before, so we knew roughly what to expect from this kind of arrangement. Staines Food Court follows a similar concept, although on a considerably smaller scale.

The main attraction is the choice. You can have Malaysian curry, Hong Kong roast duck, Dim Sum, Sichuan Cuisines, Thai Fod, Japanese noodles and Korean fried chicken at the same table. Everyone can order according to their own tastes, which makes it particularly useful when dining with family or friends who don’t necessarily want the same thing.

For us, the Malaysian stall was the main reason for stopping. Once we were there, though, it was difficult to ignore everything else on offer.

A Self-Service Food Court With Plenty of Choice

The ordering system is straightforward. You approach whichever food stall takes your fancy, place your order and pay there. The staff give you a buzzer, which alerts you when your food is ready for collection. You then return to the relevant stall to collect your dishes and bring them back to the communal seating area.

This means you can order from several different vendors during the same visit. There is no need for everyone in your group to choose from one menu, and you can build a meal around a mixture of dishes.

The communal seating consists mainly of long tables and benches, giving the place a canteen-style atmosphere. There are plenty of seats, and the layout works well for groups ordering food from different counters.

On our Monday visit, the food court was quiet, so we had no difficulty finding a place to sit. I imagine the experience is rather different at peak times, when customers are arriving for lunch or dinner and people are moving between the stalls and tables.

The facilities themselves are fairly basic. The lighting is on the dark side, and the communal area could do with a thorough refresh. A little more attention to cleaning and upkeep, along with some renovation, would make the environment considerably more inviting.

It is a shame because the food offering deserves a setting that feels as well looked after as the idea behind it. The stalls are the main attraction, but the shared dining area is part of the overall experience too.

The Food Stalls Worth Exploring

There are several vendors worth knowing about before you visit. During our research and visit, a few names stood out for their range of food and the dishes that caught our attention.

Onde Onde Malaysian Street Food

This was our main reason for visiting. Onde Onde serves Malaysian favourites, from roti canai and curries to satay, rice dishes, noodles and snacks. Its Staines branch is listed on the official Onde Onde website⁠.

If you are familiar with Malaysian food, there is plenty to explore. If you are less familiar with it, the menu provides a useful introduction to the variety of dishes found in Malaysian hawker centres and everyday eateries.

I’ll come back to the menu in more detail below, as there is far more to it than the fried chicken we ordered.

Duck King

Duck King specialises in Hong Kong-style roast meats, including roast duck and crispy roast pork served with rice. These are familiar sights in Hong Kong roast meat shops, where customers choose their preferred meat and have it served over rice, often with sauce.

We ordered from Duck King, and the roast meats made up two of our dishes. It is a good option if you want a straightforward rice meal rather than noodles or something fried.

Dim Sum Inn

Dim Sum Inn is the stall to look out for if you fancy dim sum. This is one of the vendors that has attracted positive comments from diners, particularly for its selection of traditional Chinese dishes.

Dim sum is an appealing option for anyone who prefers smaller plates, steamed dumplings and other bites to share. It would be high on our list for a return visit.

Taste of Sichuan

Taste of Sichuan offers Chinese dishes with a focus on Sichuan-style cooking. We ordered a stir-fried beef dish with onion and pepper from this stall, which I’ll cover below.

Eat Japan

Eat Japan provides another option for those who prefer Japanese food. With Japanese noodles and other dishes available, it adds to the variety that makes the food court useful for mixed groups.

ChicKing Korean Food

ChicKing serves Korean fried chicken and other Korean-style food. Korean fried chicken is an easy choice for sharing, and it was one cuisine we wanted to keep in mind for another visit.

Other Options

The food court’s wider selection includes Thai food, Hong Kong street food, drinks and bubble tea. Its official menu lists vendors including Taste of Sichuan, Chicking, Dim Sum Inn, Duck King, Eat Japan and Nisa’s Thai Kitchen, alongside other options. There is enough variety to make this a place you can revisit without repeating the same meal. Its worth noting that when we were there, the Thai stall was shut and there was another noodle tall offering what we can only guess are Taiwanese dishes.

What We Ordered

We were only stopping for a meal, but with so many options available, our order grew into a collection of dishes from several stalls.

Hong Kong-Style Two Roasts (Duck and Crispy Roast Pork) With Rice

Roast duck with rice is one of those reliable choices when visiting a Hong Kong-style roast meat shop. The appeal is the combination of roasted meat, rice and the accompanying sauce, making a filling meal without too much fuss. At Staines Food Court, it also gave us a chance to try Duck King’s offering rather than sticking entirely to Malaysian food.

We also ordered crispy roast pork with the same rice. The contrast between the crisp skin and the meat is what makes this dish appealing, particularly for anyone who enjoys Hong Kong-style roast meats.

Having both the duck and roast pork together gave us two different takes on a familiar rice meal. Both are worth considering if you want something substantial and straightforward.

Japanese Soba Noodles in Soup With Tempura Prawns

Our Japanese order was soba noodles in soup, accompanied by tempura prawns served on the side. This was a useful change from the rice dishes and fried food. Soba noodles have a distinctive buckwheat flavour, while tempura provides a crisp coating around the prawns.

It was also an example of why the food court format works. We could order a Japanese dish without giving up the chance to try roast meats or Malaysian food at the same meal.

Stir-Fried Beef With Onion and Pepper From Taste of Sichuan

From Taste of Sichuan, we ordered stir-fried beef with onion and pepper. The dish was tasty, but the balance between the ingredients was a little off for our liking. There was considerably more onion than beef, so the name promised a little more meat than we felt we received.

It was still an enjoyable dish, but if you are ordering for a group and want to make the most of your meal, it is something to bear in mind when deciding how many dishes to order.

Spiced Fried Chicken Wings (Ayam Goreng Berempah) From Onde Onde

Our Malaysian order was a portion of spiced fried chicken wings from Onde Onde. I have been thinking about this for days. The serving contained 12 chicken wings, marinated in spices before frying. These were hot, flavourful and generous in quantity. They were also more substantial than we needed alongside the other dishes we had ordered.

Between the three of us, we couldn’t finish all the wings and ended up taking some home. That gives you an idea of the portions, especially when ordering from several stalls. The wings were a good choice for sharing, although on a future visit I would be tempted to leave more room for Onde Onde’s Malaysian curries, noodles and rice dishes.

Onde Onde: A Malaysian Menu Worth Exploring

If you are specifically looking for Malaysian food at Staines Food Court, Onde Onde deserves your attention. Its menu extends well beyond fried chicken, covering familiar Malaysian street food, curries, rice dishes, noodles, salads and snacks. It is the sort of menu that rewards a little planning before you reach the counter.

Here are some of the dishes worth considering.

1. Roti Canai With Curry

Roti canai is a Malaysian flatbread, usually served with curry for dipping. It is a good choice for sharing or as a lighter meal, depending on what you order alongside it.

At Onde Onde, the accompanying curries include:

Chicken curry
Chicken rendang
Lamb curry
Beef rendang
Spinach and lentil curry

Rendang is a slow-cooked dish known for its rich, aromatic spice paste and concentrated sauce. If you enjoy deeply flavoured curries, beef or chicken rendang would be worth considering. The spinach and lentil curry also offers a vegetarian option for anyone who wants to avoid meat.

2. Satay Bakar

Satay Bakar consists of grilled chicken pieces on skewers, marinated with ingredients including lemongrass, onion, honey, garlic and ginger. It comes with cucumber, red onion, compacted rice and peanut sauce.

Satay is one of the most recognisable dishes associated with Malaysian food, and this version sounds like a good option for anyone who wants something grilled rather than fried.

The combination of marinated chicken, peanut sauce and fresh accompaniments makes it a natural choice for sharing.

3. Pecal Salad or Gado-Gado

Gado-gado is an Indonesian-influenced vegetable dish also enjoyed in the wider region. It typically combines vegetables and other ingredients with a peanut-based sauce.

For anyone looking for something lighter alongside a curry or rice dish, a vegetable-based option is worth considering. Onde Onde also lists other vegetable dishes and snacks, giving diners more choice beyond meat and rice.

4. Malaysian Snacks

The menu includes several familiar Malaysian snacks, including:

Karipap, or Malaysian-style curry puffs
Vegetable fritters
Cucur udang, a prawn fritter
Calamari

These would be worth exploring if you are visiting with friends and want to order a few things to share before moving on to the main dishes.

5. Malaysian Curries and Rice Sets

For a more substantial meal, Onde Onde offers curries as main dishes, including:

Asam pedas ikan, fish in a spicy and sour sauce
Sambal tumis udang, prawns cooked with sambal
Soup ekor, or oxtail soup
Sambal terung, aubergine cooked with sambal

Some of these dishes are also available as part of Malaysian rice sets.

Nasi Lemak is one of Malaysia’s best-known dishes. It centres on rice cooked with coconut milk and is commonly served with sambal, peanuts, anchovies, cucumber and egg, alongside additional dishes depending on the version ordered.
Nasi Kandar is another popular Malaysian meal, typically featuring steamed rice served with a selection of curries and accompaniments. Onde Onde’s version includes items such as fried cabbage, egg, okra, sambal belacan and prawn crackers alongside the chosen curry.

These are the dishes I would like to try on our next visit, particularly if we can arrive hungry enough to enjoy a proper Malaysian rice meal.

6. Malaysian Noodles

If rice isn’t what you fancy, there are also noodle dishes to consider, including:

Mee goreng
Char koay teow
Bihun goreng
Mee kari laksa
Asam laksa

These offer a different way to explore Malaysian cooking, from stir-fried noodles to rich, spicy noodle soups.

For anyone visiting specifically for Malaysian food, I would recommend looking through the Onde Onde menu before arriving. With so many choices across the food court, it helps to have a rough idea of what you want to order before the temptation to try everything takes over.

You can find more details on the Onde Onde website⁠.

Is Staines Food Court Good Value?

We found the food to be good value overall, with generous portions and enough variety to suit different appetites. It is easy to share several dishes, particularly if everyone in your group wants to try something from a different stall.

The value depends partly on how you order. One main per person may be enough, but ordering from several vendors can quickly turn a simple lunch into a feast. We experienced that first-hand: between the noodles, roast meats, stir-fry beef and chicken wings, we had more than we could finish

Other diners have also commented on the generous portions and range of cuisines. Reviews mention the convenience of mixing dishes from different stalls and the appeal of the food court for families and groups. Some visitors feel prices are higher than they would expect from a traditional street-food setting, so it is worth checking individual menus before ordering.

For us, the ability to try Malaysian food alongside Japanese noodles and Hong Kong roast meats was a major part of the attraction.

The Atmosphere: A Good Idea That Needs More Attention

The main criticism I have of Staines Food Court concerns the communal space rather than the food.

The concept is excellent. Bringing several Asian food vendors together makes it easier to explore different cuisines without travelling between restaurants. The long tables and benches are practical, and the self-service system works well when customers are ordering from multiple counters.

However, the environment feels a little tired. The lighting is dark, the furnishings are basic; and the communal area could benefit from more consistent cleaning and a general refurbishment.

The individual stalls also vary in their presentation. Some look more inviting than others, and there is room for the food court’s management and individual vendors to make the whole place feel more cohesive and better maintained. Case in point, see how the way Duck King tape their menu on the counter above.

That matters because the food court is competing on more than the food alone. A clean, comfortable dining area makes people more inclined to stay, explore another stall and return with friends. It would be a shame for the setting to hold back what is otherwise a useful collection of Asian food options.

Staines Food Court vs Bang Bang Oriental

We found Staines Food Court similar in concept to Bang Bang Oriental Foodhall, which we have visited before. Both bring together different Asian food vendors in a shared dining environment.

The main difference is scale. Bang Bang Oriental is a much larger food hall, with a broader space to explore. Staines is smaller and easier to navigate, but it still offers an interesting spread of cuisines.

For anyone living around Surrey or travelling through Staines, the smaller scale can be an advantage. You can stop for a meal and try a few different dishes without making a trip into London.

The food court is also well suited to groups with different preferences. One person can have roast duck, another can choose Japanese noodles, and someone else can order Malaysian curry or Korean fried chicken. That flexibility is the reason the concept works, and it is what makes us keen to return.

Tips for Visiting Staines Food Court

Decide which cuisines interest you before arriving. There are enough stalls to make choosing difficult. If Malaysian food is your priority, look through Onde Onde’s menu first.
Order from more than one stall if you want to share. The food court is designed for this, and it is a good way to sample different cuisines in one visit.
Be mindful of portion sizes. We ordered more than we could finish. If you are visiting as a group, start with a few dishes and add more if needed.
Use the buzzer system. You can return to your table while your food is being prepared and collect it when the buzzer goes off.
Expect a casual canteen setting. The seating is communal, mostly benches and long tables. It is practical for groups, but the surroundings are basic.
Consider visiting outside peak times. Our early Monday visit was quiet, making it easy to order and find a seat. The food court can be busier at lunch, dinner and weekends.
Don’t overlook the smaller dishes. Dim sum, satay, curry puffs and other snacks give you a chance to try more of the menu without committing to several large mains.

Would We Return to Staines Food Court?

Yes. We enjoyed the food, and the range of cuisines gives us plenty of reasons to come back.

The roast duck and crispy roast pork with rice were good options for a straightforward meal. The Japanese soba noodles with tempura prawns gave us something different, and the stir-fried beef with onion and pepper from Taste of Sichuan was tasty, even if the beef-to-onion ratio could have been better. Onde Onde’s spiced fried chicken wings were flavourful and generous enough that we had leftovers to take home.

For a future visit, I would like to give Onde Onde’s Malaysian menu more attention. Roti canai with curry, beef rendang, satay, nasi lemak and the laksa options all sound tempting. I would also like to try dim sum from Dim Sum Inn and explore more of the dishes at Duck King and Eat Japan.

The communal dining area could certainly do with some investment and upkeep, but the choice of food remains the main attraction. If you enjoy Asian cuisines and like the idea of ordering several dishes from different vendors, Staines Food Court is worth considering.

For us, it was a convenient stop on the way back from the airport and a chance to enjoy a varied Asian meal without heading into central London. Next time, we will arrive with a clearer plan, order a little less, and leave more room for the Malaysian dishes that brought us here in the first place.

Location Information

Staines Food Court: At a Glance

Address: 141–147 High Street, Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, TW18 4PA
Food: Malaysian, Chinese, Hong Kong-style roast meats, dim sum, Japanese, Korean and Thai, among other options
Ordering: Order and pay at individual stalls; collect food using a buzzer
Seating: Communal benches and long tables
Best for: Groups, families, casual meals and anyone who enjoys sampling several Asian cuisines
Our highlight: The variety of food, generous portions and the chance to explore Onde Onde’s Malaysian menu
Official website: Staines Food Court⁠
Malaysian menu: Onde Onde Malaysian Street Food⁠