Sean Wai Keung on Asian Cuisine

So let's say, hypothetically, you've just been part of an immersive short-form performance revolving around fortune cookies, and that you've left this performance with a fortune cookie of your own. Naturally, you'd want to find somewhere to eat a tasty meal before you crack that bad boy open, wouldn't you? Well, here are a few of my personal top picks guaranteed to not let you down.

First we have Macau Kitchen on St Leonard's Street. Macanese food is severely under-represented in my opinion so Edinburgh is lucky to have this spot! Influenced by both Southern Chinese and Portuguese cuisine, I can't think of anywhere else around you'd be able to get dishes like minchee (seasoned minced meat and veg) and crispy coconut duck.

Or, if you're looking for something less heavy and more snacky then you can't go wrong with Korean Munchies on Nicolson Street. Despite its current trendiness, it can be surprisingly difficult to find good Korean food that isn't just KBBQ. Korean Munchies offers a wide range of snacks and instant ramyun alongside dishes like youbookimbap (rice-filled tofu pockets), corn dogs and my personal favourite, garaetteok (gooey fried rice-cake skewers). The best thing to do is to get yourself a selection and then have a picnic somewhere on a nice sunny day.

Dangerously close by and also on Nicolson Street is Noodles Home, which does fantastic hand-pulled noodles to order. The portions are big, reasonably priced and offer a great variety of Lanzhou style (beefy and with clear-broth) dishes along with a few other options. Best of all you get to choose the thickness of your noodles as you order them, as well as side-dishes including grilled skewers, marinated eggs and cold salads. Perfect for those less-warm days, and a great way to fill your belly up quickly and heartily if you're low on time.

A little further out, but very much worth it, we have Vietnam House, on Grove Street, near Haymarket Station. Vietnamese food is so often reduced down to phở and bánh mì yet what stands out to me most about Vietnam House are their other dishes. Gỏi cuốn (summer rolls) are a weakness of mine, especially on a hot summer day, and their thịt Kho (pork in caramel sauce) is incredible. They also make a proper Vietnamese coffee and have a rainbow drink dessert which I would probably eat every day if I could.

Speaking of coffee, no Edinburgh food-guide should exist which doesn't mention Singapore Coffee House on Canonmills. A true kopitiam (South-East Asian style coffee shop), the drinks are the stand-out here. However, the range of bites and snacks to go with the drinks is a great testament to the diversity of Singaporean cuisine, featuring roti, laksa, Hong Kong toast and, of course, curry puffs. I love it there.

Wherever you choose, make sure you end your meal with an inauthentic and freshly baked fortune cookie. Now where in Edinburgh over August would you get one of those, I wonder?