At first glance, Secret Recipe appears to be just another Pei Wei-esque Americanized Pan-Asian eatery with fast counter service, fitting for an efficient but over-sauced workday lunch or dinner takeout. Though the “pick your own protein” side of the menu offers better-than-average versions of orange beef (with real orange zest) and pan-fried udon noodles, a few choices at the bottom of the regular menu offers a sneak peek into what Secret Recipe is all about—southeast Asian cuisine. The Singapore curry laksa noodle soup with a curry-coconut milk base with bean sprouts, fried tofu puffs, fish cake slices, egg noodles, and slices of hard boiled eggs is a vibrant bowl of comfort, a pleasant surprise in an otherwise all-too-familiar restaurant concept.

Poke a little deeper and you will find a separate Malaysian menu with a long list of traditional offerings (no English translation offered so use the photos on the menu as your guide). Superbly flavorful Hainanese chicken and rice and crunchy garlic-sautéed water spinach are trusty standbys on the Malaysian menu. When in season, order the chilli crab covered in thick sweet and savory gloppy goodness and roll up your sleeves for a messy but delightful experience. Don’t forget to sop up the leftover sauce with steamed rice.