It's long been accepted by the people who claim to know about these things that eating a hearty meal earlier in the day is better for you than filling your stomach before you go to bed.

All the more reason to enjoy a good lunch. Not everyone has the time, or money, to spend on a sit-down midday meal every day.

What's required is somewhere that provides tasty, wholesome food at reasonable prices, and you don't have to traipse miles to get there.

I think I've found just such a place - Makan La. It's actually the ground floor of The Nosebag, which is better known and shares the same owner, Jason Chia. It specialises in Malaysian food, being one of the few places in the city to do so.

What's it like?

Makan La (Makan means 'eat', by the way) has a simple cafe-style layout. My companion slipped into wooden chairs at a small table by the window. It was almost 2pm, and we were greeted warmly by the staff, who seemed pleased we wanted a full meal. While I wondered if the menu would be largely unfamiliar, I found plenty I recognised and what I didn't was well described. To start, I opted for eight small spring rolls, which were beautifully crispy and filled with succulent vegetables.

Across the table, the satay chicken was equally well received, the peanut sauce adding a delicate piquancy.

Nabbing a morsel to sample, I was reminded of a trip to Amsterdam some years ago, where every snack bar served satay chicken and Malaysian cooking was as common as Indian or Chinese here. The beauty of this style of cooking is that it's prepared and served quickly; no sooner had the first course been cleared, the main event arrived. I'd chosen the Makan La special noodles with an eclectic mix of squid, shrimp, chilli, peppers and a range of other things too numerous to mention.

It crossed my mind that this was an ideal way to get rid of the kitchen leftovers, but the dish tasted fresh, with a range of flavours and textures to savour.

My companion had opted for the Malaysian chicken curry, cooked in a tangy coconut sauce and served on a bed of plain boiled rice. Again there was no room for complaint.

The coconut offset the chilli heat and the generous portion was duly despatched. We enjoyed our meal with a dry Spanish house white, which although no great vintage, was robust enough to counter the spiciness of the food.

What about the other diners?

By this time, several tables were filled with students and shoppers, many of whom appeared to be regulars, judging by the chatter with the staff. Most were just enjoying a cup of tea or coffee, as Makan La is best described as a cafe with a Malaysian twist, a point reinforced by the dessert menu.

We chose the familiar options of cheesecake and a chocolate brownie. The cheesecake was just how it should be - rich and creamy, with the biscuit base just crunchy enough. Sadly, the brownie was dry and should have been heated, although the ice cream with it helped.

Verdict: It was an excellent meal at a bargain price - we double-checked the bill to see if the figures were right (they were). But whether a diet like this will allow me to shed weight is debatable.

The bill Spring rolls£3.50 Satay chicken £4.75 Special noodles £5.95 Chicken curry £4.95 Cheesecake £3.10 Choc brownie £1.95 Wine £9.25 Total: £33.45