Restaurants: SIDE ORDERS ASIAN FUSION

Cafe Mao

"There's a good bit of everything in there." That's the nasi goreng as described by the enthusiastic staff at this stylish restaurant that pulls off pan-Asian with refreshingly good cooking.

84 Brunswick Street, Glasgow

(0141 564 5161)

Pan Asia

The spacious basement is elegant and bright. Same goes for dishes from China (dim sum), Malaysia (chilli beef), Indonesia (seafood curry) and Thailand (chicken).

Faulkner Street, Manchester (0161 236 6868)

Java

Proof that you can do justice to more than one country's cuisine, Java's kitchen fires on all cylinders, turning out fiery Indonesian, Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese dishes like prawn laksa, gada gado and fishcakes.

39 Gay Street, Bath (01225 427919)

Zen Satori

The smart eatery for the Asian and Oriental School of Cookery offers great value tom yum soup, Kerala lamb shank, duck and mango and ricotta crepes cooked in view by almost-qualified chefs.

40 Hoxton Street, London N1

(020-7613 9292)