CACTI MALAY & INDIAN FOOD 22-1, Tswen Chung (Tsuen Jung) Street (04) 2378-3710; Hours: 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm (closed Tuesdays)

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       This spacious, attractive-looking place may resemble a Southwestern American adobe building but features an unrivalled selection of good Malay and Indian cooking. As the result of between two Indian-Chinese Calcutta natives--Spice Shop owner Fred Lin and Robin Hsu--there is a hearty menu that includes main courses and appetizers like Satay Chicken (NT$130), Sambal Ikan Iblis (anchovies with peanuts and chilli), Samosa vegetable curry puffs, Tofu Goreng (deep-fried tofu with vegetable filling), Gado-Gado (assorted vegetables and tofu salad with peanut sauce), Chicken Tandoori (NT$140), Mutton Kebab, Chilli Crab (NT$260), Malay-style Belachan Vegetables stir-fried in shrimp-paste sauce, and Indian-style Mixed Vegetables Bhazi. There are also many Malay noodle dishes like Seafood Laksa Mee, Vegetarian Mee Goreng, and Seafood Kwai Teow, plus Roti Chennai bread, Coconut Rice, Banana and Pineapple Fritters, and Sago Pudding. Beers and spirits are NT$90 and other drinks include Lassi Indian yogurt drink and Indian milk tea. Daily NT$180 business lunch specials are provided, with a choice of an appetizer and main course, plus a soup, dessert and coffee or tea. Cacti is located along the Tswen Chung Street parkway, right next to Papa Mio restaurant. -- By Douglas Habecker (Tr. Vanessa Wu)