Rasa Ria really doesn't need yet another five-star review, but that's all I can give them. Kalamazoo is lucky to have a restaurant this interesting in town. I'm not ashamed to say that almost all exposure I've had to Malaysian and Indonesian cuisines has been through Rasa Ria, but if their food is any example, those cuisines can claim me as a fan. Yes, it's a bit of a dive, and that suits me just fine. On weekdays at lunch the dining room is full of local professionals. During dinner it's full of college students. The Beef Rendang here is, for my money, the best beef dish in down. Full of spices (you'll find whole cloves, cardamom pods, star anise, and chunks of stick cinnamon) and packing a moderately peppery punch, this dish is magnificent. I've only had their fish curry (only available as a special) once, but I keep hoping I'll find it again. Their Chicken Curry and Curry Puffs are great. And the Fried Kway Teow. And the Tofu Rendang. Oh, and the Chili Chicken Thursday special! Hot as blazes, and outrageously good. If you've never eaten here or never had Malaysian food, start today. Start now. read more

Rasa Ria - Sayur Lodeh - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I have only visited Rasa Ria one time thus far, but I am so glad that it was recommended to me by a friend - I will definitely be back! First of all, I drove by this place so many times and didn't notice it. It's located on W. Main Street and the sign is quite faded. There is a private parking lot. Rasa Ria offers authentic Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine. It's a little family owned and operated hole-in-the-wall kind of place. It is tiny, though - there are only a few tables inside. We were lucky that a table for 4 opened up just as my friends and I arrived, so we had a place to sit and enjoy our dinner. They have low prices for a good amount of food. The employees were definitely efficient - not overly friendly, though. I ordered the Tofu Rendang and OMIGOODNESS - AMAZING! So, so, so, SO good! I recommend giving it a try. It's one of my new favorites! :-D read more

Rasa Ria - Tofu Rendang - delicious! - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I love this place. The only takeout I can eat an entire serving of their large fried rice and not feel like crap afterward. I personally enjoy the staff and continue to order here without any regrets read more

This kind of hidden gem has been one of my favorite restaurants in Kalamazoo for about 10 years. The food here is unique to the area and consistently fantastic. Always clean and has friendly, fast service. Good prices and portions as well! My favorites here are the nasi goreng and ayam rendung. So many amazing flavors in this place! I can't go to Kalamazoo without grabbing a to go order to eat for the next few days! read more

We've all got THAT friend. You know, THAT friend, that's always talking about how there's this hole-in-the-wall restaurant and how they felt like they were at home and the food was so amazing and there was just no way you could even imagine the food being so good in a place that can so easily be passed on your respective way downtown. Folx, I'm that friend and YOU KNOW that I wouldn't lie to you. This place is too low-key to be as good as it is. It's almost rude, you feel like you've been lied to the instant the food touches your lips. I needed dinner, millenial life can be taxing, so if it's good AND inexpensive, it's a win-win. The win-win dining experience happened on a summer evening, my K-Zoo bestie and I trooped in. I decided on Beef Rendang, she had the butter fried chicken and we topped off our meals with the curry puffs. We sat in chairs that were worn from the many patrons who knew the secrets of this place much longer than we had, but they were still comfy. Tap water filled - cups to the sides of our table, while we waited. It didn't take long for the food to arrive and goodness, was it worth it. The beef was flavorful, well-seasoned, cut in perfect edible-sized chunks next to a bed of aromatic steamed white rice. Her chicken (because of course I tried it) was an awesome and complex combination of a bit of crunch-munch, but simultaneously succulent. The curry puffs, chicken edition, were tasty morsels and would appease anyone pre or post-entree. We didn't spend more than $25 combined, and as for me my leftovers lasted through the next day , which was hard when you think about how delicious it was. As for the service, it IS a small operation, which means everyone may have multiple tasks. For the best experience, you'll maybe want to do your research before arriving, because this isn't the kind of place you dwell before or after your meal, but that's okay. You'll get in and you'll get out with a smile on your face and a happy belly. For what you might pay per plate at other places, as opposed to an entire dining experience for two - what more could you ask for, really? read more

My sis and bro in law's fav place so I had to try this while I was in town visiting. I've never had Malaysian food before so I was looking forward to trying their eats. Since there were 7 of us, it was best to grab take out since I guess there's only 3 or 4 tiny tables here? One of them always occupied by their family... I don't remember the names of what my sis ordered but I do remember the butter chicken and house noodles because I kept getting seconds and thirds of it. Amazing. There was a chicken curry dish and a marinated beef dish up in there, which were deelish too. My brother loved the curry samosa looking things but they were a bit too curryish for me. I def. recommend trying this place and if you have a party bigger than say 3, you'll probably just want to get take out. read more

The sign at the road is so faded, that I drove right by it on the first attempt. Place is fairly small, limited seating, and they were completely out of desserts. Surprisingly, there were several large groups enjoying their meals, not quite sure how they managed to fit them in. The food was good, inexpensive, and seemed authentic. Decent portion sizes. read more

Rasa Ria - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Love their food, great flavors too!! Three stars for the costumer service experience.

Food is really amazing but they're not friendly people. Even the place is too tiny. Menu is amazing in one word. Favorite place to get food from. read more

Rasa Ria - Beef and chicken rendang Roti canai Rasaria special fried rice - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I wished I could give more stars. The food was edible but mediocre at best. The char kuey tiaw (fried flat noodles) was totally missing the mark. The salted fish fried rice was passable. The fried butter chicken were kind of nice as it was served hot and complimentary rice was a nice touch. The upside though, all the portions were generous. I crave Malaysian food but I won't be returning. All the reviews on the subpar service were spot on. One can't be grumpy all the time. It's not a "Ria" (happy) place after all. read more

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I tried Rasa Ria for the first time today. Overall, I was pretty pleased with my experience. However, it's clear that this restaurant relies on the food (not the service) to keep customers coming back, which is fine with me. My food was ready in a timely manner, but the staff just wasn't particularly friendly. I ordered the Sup Asam Pedas and the Chicken Nasi Goreng to-go. I'm not well-versed in Indonesian food, but I enjoyed both of the items I ordered, especially the Sup. It was a fantastic combination of sweet and spicy, unlike anything I've had before. The Nasi Goreng was good, but it wasn't much different from any fried rice I've had before. Food: 8/10 Service: 4/10 Atmosphere: 5/10 Value: 9/10 The bottom line: Unique, tasty food for cheap. You won't easily find anything else like this in West Michigan. read more

Rasa Ria - Chicken Nasi Goreng - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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Small hole in the wall type of place that serves authentic Malaysian and Indonesian food. I ordered the spicy & sour soup, which was very authentic but too spicy for me to handle. The chicken curry was a little plain but the green vegetable curry was excellent. Price is very reasonable too. Glad to have come. read more

Rasa Ria - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

This is a Kalamazoo hidden gem. They have been around so long I suppose it shouldn't be hidden anymore. The chicken rendeng and beef rendeng are absolutely to die for. The family that owns the restaurant are just wonderful people. You can tell this food is made with love. The value is outstanding. I could eat curry puffs for my next 12 meals in a row and be happy. For those brave of heart who want to find out if they have the heart of a dragon, on Thursday she makes "pepper chicken" Usually just on Thursdays. It is a spicy vindiloo like tomato based sauce so hot and so flavorful it makes you happy cry. Don't step into the ring if you aren't ready to dance though. The restaurant itself is very small, a few tables. I usually get take out. read more

This is the only place to get real Indonesian food for a very long way. I always look forward to making the drive to K-zoo to stop here for a bite to eat. At Rasa Ria, Saturday is "Satay Day"; the only day when you can get satay with fresh peanut sauce - delicious! read more

Rasa Ria - Ayam Goreng with steamed rice in the foreground and Bakmi Goreng in the background. - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Great spot for Indonesian or Malay bites. Small inside. Efficient take out if called ahead.

Hot spot for me and my Malaysian friends. A taste of home for them, and something new for me. I don't know to much about Malay food, but they really enjoy it and so do I. Tuesday's their fish curry is a hit! I also have a soft spot for their yellow vegetable curry. The service is sufficient. read more

The food is outstanding. Fair priced. It's everything you could want from an Indonesian food restaurant in Michigan. The only downside is exactly as said in other reviews: The service is severely lacking and the actual venue is very shabby and run down. The inconvenient part is also that they're randomly shut down on days, I know they're close down one day a week but sometimes I stop by and they're close a second day that week - but it's very random when, so you might drive all the way out and find that it's not even open. However, when it is, they have a lot of good foods, like their seafood soups and their curries. I just might recommend to get it to go. read more

Brother and I stopped by here from Chicago to Detroit. We were looking for Thai food but couldn't find any. The places listed on yelp were closed for the time being. We stumbled on this and decided to give it a shot. We were suggested the beef rendang or chicken rendang. We took his suggestion since the place was closing soon. Was not disappointed. The dish was very similar to southern Indian food that I'm familiar with. There are a lot of southern Indians in Malaysia so I can understand the influence. And I can tell quality food from those parts, and this was definitely quality. Spices were on point and portions were good. read more

Rasa Ria - Beef and chicken rendang. So good. - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

They've earned that last star! We ordered dinner here recently and it was just as good as it always has been. They earned that last star by *gasp* actually being friendly - and it wasn't a fluke or "good day" because the time before our most recent trip, friendly then too! No longer "Rude Malaysia" but "Friendly Malaysia"! It seems the place is catching on too because I drove by on my way home and the parking lot was packed! Glad to see places like this are getting noticed and gaining business - the food definitely warrants it! read more

Cheap, delicious, filling. One could easily make a meal out of the curry puffs alone. The chicken rendang is tender and flavorful, with lovely chunks of soft potatoes and a soupy coconut milk sauce that is fantastic poured on rice for the next day's lunch. The Sup Asam Pedas is on my death row last meal menu: a seafood soup that is spicy, sour, perfectly greasy, and absolutely nourishing. I highly recommend this hidden gem. read more

Wow this place really impressed me! I was hesitant considering I wasn't expecting great ethnic food in Kalamazoo, but this is a winner! I ordered take-out: nasi goreng kampung (Indonesian fried rice with chicken, anchovies, and fried egg), roti canai (flaky thin bread and chicken curry -- but you could get vegetarian curry instead), and the sup asam pedas (spicy and sour soup with chicken and seafood). They were all fantastic! Best part? It cost under $13! Just the roti and soup would have been enough for a meal, around $5-6 and the rice is enough for 2-3 people. The sup asam pedas is similar to a Thai tom yum soup (note not tom kha). It's definitely spicy! It's brothy, with bean sprouts and greens, chunks of chicken and seafood. Nasi goreng is a sweeter version of fried rice, with lots of mixed vegetables and little anchovies. The little fish totally make the dish -- don't order without it! It's flavorful and really adds to the authenticity of the dish. Also the fact that they have grass jelly is awesome, which is one of my favorites. That's more of an acquired taste (think black, herby flavorless jello topped with sugar syrup). The person taking my order was a bit nasty, perhaps it contributes to the authentic feel to it. My advice is to do your research and be prepared to order before you call. It's a fairly small place, not that many tables inside and definitely not the most comfortable restaurant setting. But food's the important thing, right? read more

Rasa Ria - Nasi goreng kampung, roti canai, and sup asam pedas to go! All under $13 - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I love this joint. The owners are real quality humans. This place would be right at home in NYC. That Sambal with the little dried anchovies in it... ayyooo! read more

This is hands down the most flavorful food I have found in the area. Whenever I visit my family Kalamazoo, I make a point of ordering food from here. The portions are large. The dishes fresh. And the prices low. The quality is consistent with the better Malaysian restaurants in Chinatown back home in New York, which is better than I can say for the handful of Chinese restaurants I have tried in K-town. Notes: The tofu rendang is outstanding, and the curries all have a healthy bite of spice. The seating options are limited and the interior of Rasa has the aesthetic of a DMV. read more

From weekend brunches at Crow's Nest to weekday stops at Shawarma King, Kalamazoo is home to many cuisines, but its Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine is tucked in West Main Street's corner. Nestled in an unassuming location beneath a weathered sign, Rasa Ria may not be a fancy sit down establishment. In fact, during dinner hours a patron is lucky to dine in. Nonetheless, Rasa Ria compensates by serving hot and tasty Malaysian cuisine. Rasa Ria isn't always about eating out with your friends, often not about its relaxed atmosphere, and never about being greeted at the door. It's about enjoying the culture through coconut-soaked rice and spicy curry. The service, while not engaging, can be overlooked as the menu options and captivating aromas lure in customers for more. With traditional menu offerings available in either dine-in or carry-out, from Rendang and Nasi Lemak to Butter Fried Chicken and Curry Puffs, there is no shortage of experiences for your tastebuds. Exciting and not-too-spicy, Rasa Ria will be any food fan's new favorite restaurant. read more

This is da bomb. Run by a lovely family who serve basic indonesian food. In a strip mall in Kalamazoo! The spice level is perfect, and can go hotter if you ask. Your waiter takes a break to go skateboarding around the parking lot in good weather. The food is served on styrofoam or plastic plates, I think. The furnishings are spare: Picture of royal family? Yes. Standard issue Chinese restaurant chairs? Got em. Help yourself to a coke from the see-through fridge. the place is so small, from two tables you can just reach over and get one. But don't bother. they have other odd beverages you should try. Can't remember the name of the hot tea drink, but it's yummy. Here are the caveats. Presentation is nil. No refills on drinks. Skateboarding. Here's why you should go. the food is prepared with love, and if you're feeling REALLY casual, this place is like a slice of LA in Kalamazoo. Thank you for being here! The Main Street Strip in Kalamazoo Township is so loopy. read more

This will be one of our new favorites! The curries were flavorful, and the service was great. Found the prices to be lower than expected. We ordered extra food to supplement our leftovers. read more

I found out about this place about 4 years ago, through a friend, and I am still amazed at the number of people in Kalamazoo who never had any idea this restaurant even existed. Every time I introduce a new person to Rasa Ria, they leave the restaurant quite pleased. My favorites tend to be on the Indonesian menu (Bakmi Goreng Java, Ayam Goreng Mantega, Tofu Rendang, Stuffed Tofu), but there's plenty of other good stuff (Mi Sup Asam Pedas, Tofu Curry are a couple). Every time I go, I have an incredibly hard time figuring out what I want to get. The atmosphere is quite relaxed, and the owners even recognize me when I come in. Maybe not so great for groups, but if it's empty, it's not too bad. Last time I was there was with a group of 6, and we had no problems. If you live in Kalamazoo, or maybe you're just visiting, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check this place out! You won't be disappointed!! read more

Total hole-in-the-wall, great food. Don't let the sketchy exterior and sticky tables dissuade you, the Malaysian food here is worth a visit. Several visits. In particular, the curries, mee goreng, and beef rendang were flavorful and satisfying. The curry puffs are fantastic appetizers. Portions are decent and prices are reasonable. Definitely a Mom & Pop operation, I think our server was a son of the family and was doing homework when not taking our order or working the register. Service was friendly and prompt. Who would've thought there'd be a place for great Malaysian food in Kalamazoo? read more

The one time we ordered from Rasa Ria, which was probably about a year ago now, I enjoyed the food. From what I recall, we ordered a combination of Indonesian and Malaysian dishes. They were tasty and much more flavorful and interesting than food at most Asian restaurants in Kalamazoo, which I tend to find terribly disappointing as someone from the West Coast. But what's the deal with having no menus for patrons to take away? It's a tiny place without much atmosphere, and we prefer to eat at home most of the time anyway, since my partner has a disability and finds it more comfortable to rest in the comfort of our home than try to sit at tables that are geared toward differently abled folks. The failure to cater to different customers makes me significantly less enthusiastic about this business. I stopped by there today to ask for a menu to take away, and the young man at the counter told me they had none. No apologies and no attempt at explanation.I had gone in there with the same request many months before, and got the same response, but I figured at the time that they were all out of their supply. No, I guess not. I asked if they had a menu online, and he said no. I said that it was unfortunate, because I had wanted to look at a menu at home and come back later to pick up. They lost my business tonight and they'll continue to do so until they can accommodate takeaway and treat would-be customers with more care and courtesy. It's a shame, because I'd like to eat their food sometimes. read more

We tried this place for lunch, based on reviews off Yelp. Reviewers are correct: the tofu rendang is delicious, especially the sauce which has coconut milk and shreds, and several spices we couldn't identify. Indonesian food is interesting, because they use a lot of potatoes. We also sampled an Indo noodle dish, bakmi goreng, that came with a fried egg on top. The Malaysian dish, a type of curry, was also delicious. It tasted very hearty, almost like a European dish (cabbage, carrot, potatoes, broccoli) but with coconut milk. And sadly, they were out of curry puffs. All three dishes nicely complemented each other: hearty, salty, and savory flavors. We actually mixed the sauces of all three together, which tasted wonderful. All that was missing was some light acidity which would have balanced them nicely. Bottom line: Gem of a place in Kalamazoo, Asian fusion is definitely our favorite cuisine. Always remember: Mind over matter, food over mind. UPDATE 6/18/13: We went back for the second time last week around 5 PM. I wasn't too hungry, so figured I'd get a few appetizers. However, service was awful. I wanted a curry puff. Guy says, We're out. / Okay, can I have a spring roll? Guy says, Nope, we don't make them in the summer. / Oh, how come? Guy says, Well, because we don't get a lot of business in the summer. What........ was it sarcasm? I couldn't tell. So I change my review from 4 to 3 stars, simply because WHY WOULDN'T YOU SERVE YOUR MOST POPULAR APPETIZER AT DINNER TIME? SIGH. read more

Small place and not super ornate, but you come for the food. It's always good. Very consistent. A hidden gem in Kalamazoo. Try the beef rendang or the Indonesian fried rice. read more

Great little family-run restaurant with an unusual offering--Indonesian and Malaysian food in a small midwestern city! I've lived in Chicago and a handful of other medium-sized cities (Grand-Rapids size or larger, for local comparison) and none of them had an Indonesian or Malaysian restaurant, so this is a pretty special thing to have in a town like Kzoo. The food is quite good, though if you're a vegan like I am, the menu is fairly repetitive and most of the dishes seem like slight variations of each other--usually tofu and vegetables swimming in some kind of yellow curry sauce. The Malaysian Sayur Lodeh was a standout dish, as was the Fried Kway Teow (substituting tofu for seafood), which reminded me of a Thai Pad Kee Mao or Pad See Ew. Another standout was the Sticky Rice and Roasted Coconut dessert, very rich and satisfying. The Tofu Rendang has a texture like the tofu has been frozen and I found it good but just slightly lacking in flavor. The Grass Jelly Tea dessert was also interesting and worth sampling. The Gingered Broccoli is exactly that, and the "Vegetarian Delight" is your standard Chinese-place mixed veg stir fry in a brown sauce--I'd skip both. Service is generally gruff and minimal and the place is tiny with the atmosphere of a strip-mall take out joint, so don't come with a large group or to impress a first date. Best to call ahead to make sure they're open, as they're often not during the expected hours (many weekends off, etc). Definitely worth a visit (or several) with those caveats. read more

---- Food made w/ Fresh Ingredients DAILY! ---- Friendly Owner ---- Great Service ---- Low Prices I've tried Indonesian elsewhere and, I have to say, FRESH ingredients make all the difference. One of the reasons you don't find many Indonesian/Malaysian restaurants around is because the food requires a lot of prep... especially the spices which should be ground fresh daily. Rasa Ria is a simple family owned restaurant where everything is prepared fresh each day. If you want a fancy atmosphere this place may disappoint.... If you're looking for food made the way it should be eaten look no further. Some of the best tasting Indonesian/Malaysian I've tried. Try the Rendang or the Nasi Lemak... two of my favorites. read more

Ambiance/Decor: 3/5 It's a small restaurant with maybe six tables inside. Decor is simple. Not much more than what you need. Kitchen: 4/5 The food is tasty and the portions decent. We had the butter chicken which was sweet but not too sweet, fried perfectly, and overall a very nice but simple dish. We also had a vegetable curry. The veggies were cooked well and the sauce was tasty and not over-salted which was very pleasant. Service: 1/5 The young man who works here quite clearly could care less about his job. He spent the majority of the time on the computer or his phone, often neglecting very simple things like bringing us our drinks, clearing tables, bringing checks - anything really other than taking an order. And even that seemed like a great pain to him. All in all, this place is: Inexpensive Tasty Simple Just what I want in a restaurant, so I'm not going to average out my scores and give it a 2-3. It gets 4 stars for being solid but don't expect any service beyond having a fork and a plate brought to you. read more

This place is nestled in on West Main, it's totally easy to pass by. While the customer service isn't five stars, they were helpful. This was my first time ordering Malaysian Cuisine, so they helped me with the menu and offered their opinion. I ordered the Beef Curry, which was a perfect mix of delicious with a little kick of spicy. The Bakmi Goreng Java was also delicious, and something my kids would totally eat. Overall this place is a little hidden gem! I look forward to going back! read more

Stopped in to see how good the food is at this Maylasian restaurant. What a disappointment. I was a takeout customer and when I got home and the wife and I ate the food we ordred and we we both thew it out. The taste was alright but it had no depth, some carrots and lots of corn, some rice which was ok, but if you want GOOD food, go elswhere, this restaurant has three tables and is obviously a student take out place. never again will i go or order their food. read more

It's been more than a couple of years since we've been coming to Rasa Ria and the food has always been great. It's a small family owned business and the husband and wife are very nice. The food is always tasty, some days more than others. I always order the Rasa Ria special fried rice and make sure it's spicy :) the only thing that kinda disappoints me is the shrimps aren't deveined. .. Small thing but still disappointing. Other than that it's yummy food, that's why we keep going back :) read more

Rasa Ria - Rasa ria special fried rice with the side of sambal sauce - Indonesian Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

The place is a dingy hut with limited hygiene. I am not one who cares abt these aspects if food tastes good. However the food does not offset the setback from the lack of good ambience. I have been here a few times and refrained from writing reviews as I hope a mistake is always possible. However the observations are from my repeated visits. The guy who takes the orders is a fella who has no social skills or persona. For rudeness 5*. Food: most dishes are washed with soya sauce through and through. I have ordered 4 diff types and all of them tasted the same with an abundance of soysauce. 2* is just for the price. For the same price, i would pick chipotle anytime. read more

Ugh how I long for food from the motherland. There are only a handful of actual Malaysian restaurants in Michigan, this is one of them. A tiny, bare bones restaurant run by a surly yet efficient family, the food hits the spot. I wish they had some of my favorites like Assam laksa and Kari mee, but this will have to do. The frothy Tea tastes like home with a little milo in it, and the Assam pedas noodle soup was quite tasty. The curry for the roti canai was delicious but I suspect they don't make their own roti. Can't blame them though.. have you ever youtubed that?! It looks impossible. read more

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This is my favorite restaurant in town. In fact if you're looking for an authentic Malaysian restaurant, it's most likely the best in all of Midwest. Try their special for the day, if you're lucky or ordered early in the day you may get your order. Otherwise my all time favorites are: Nasi Lemak, MI Siam, Ayam Goreng Mentega, Nasi Goreng Kampung, Mi Sup Adam Pedas or Beef Rendang. For drinks, try Teh Tarik if you like a glass of warm milk tea. read more