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The food scene in Kuala Lumpur is a fantastic representation of both the city and Malaysia. It is heavily influenced by the ethnic groups that have come here in the past that live together making the city what it is. Indian, Chinese and Malay are the three main groups that have influenced each other’s cuisine whilst keeping their own traditions. Kuala Lumpur is quite possibly the most underrated food destination in south-east Asia. Delicious food seems to be everywhere and below are my personal recommendations for where to eat in Kuala Lumpur.
Currency Converter – 10 Malaysian Ringgit = €2.10/£1.90/$2.40
Cu Cha Restaurant
Jalan Alor is the food hub of the city. Every evening restaurants and vendors open their doors to the masses of tourists and locals who come here looking for good, local food in an atmospheric setting. I tried a few places there and Cu Cha stands out as one of my favourites. Their menu is big and I am not sure if everything there is great, the reviews seem to suggest it can be hit or miss. However, for me, I loved their fried noodle dishes, Char Kuay Teow and Hokkien Mee. Their chicken wings were excellent as well.
Price – RM12
Opening Hours – 16:30 – 02:15
Address – Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Aunty Helens Hokkien Mee
Aunty Helen has been cooking up delicious Hokkien Mee on the corner of Jalan Alor for over 40 years. Her thick black soy sauce base is super savoury and the best I have tasted. Hokkien Mee never looks the most appealing because of its colour but it is a very addictive dish that once you try it, you will love it.
Price – RM10
Opening Hours – 11:00 – 22:00, Closed on Monday
Address – Jalan Jejaka 3, Taman Maluri, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Nasi Ayam Chee Meng
Chicken Rice is possibly the region’s most famous dish. You will find it everywhere in all Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Boiled chicken, rice and soup. Sounds ok, tastes amazing. Nasi Ayam Chee Meng is considered to be one of, if not the best in Kuala Lumpur. They have even been recognised with a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2023.
Price – RM10
Opening Hours – 11:00 – 20:30
Address – 50, Bukit Bintang St, Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Plaza Sentral Food Court
Most shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur have food courts. Many of them are pretty average, Lot 10 and Central Market have very good ones but for me, the best is Plaza Sentral. Pretty much all of the options here are of good quality and fair price. Food courts make for a good, cheap meal in Kuala Lumpur.
Price – Prices vary depending on where you eat
Opening Hours – 07:00 – 15:00, Monday to Friday
Address – 5, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral
Nasi Kandar Pelita
Nasi Kandar is a unique dish and should be top of your list when deciding where to eat in Kuala Lumpur. Curries, Sauces, Fried Meats, Vegetable Dishes and more are cooked in big batches. You then choose what you want and it is piled high on the plate. It generally looks like a mess but somehow the flavours combine together and always work. Pelita has locations all over the country and is one of the very best at the dish.
Price – Prices vary depending on how much you order
Opening Hours – 07:30 – 00:00
Address – 149, Jln Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee Beef Noodles
Beef noodles are one of Asia’s best dishes. Each country does them a little differently but often they have many similarities. The rich smell, the thin tender pieces of beef, the gelatinous, addictive meatballs. I tend to eat them often and Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee was the best that I had in KL. The bowls are cheap and filling and the location, just off Petaling Street makes them such a convenient option,
Price – RM10
Opening Hours – 10:30 – 19:00, Closed on Wednesday
Address – 7a, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Al-Baik Di Bistro Restaurant
From the outside, this Muslim restaurant doesn’t look like much but they serve some of the best Muslim food in Kuala Lumpur. They have an extensive menu, selling food from India, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and more but what you really want to try here is their Roti. The bread is fresh and flaky, the accompanying curries are delicious. I found Al-Baik to be a great option for an inexpensive lunch near the Chinatown area.
Price – Roti Canai costs just RM1.50, Dishes range up to RM10
Opening Hours – Open 24 Hours
Address – 3, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur
Nasi Lemak Alor Corner
Nasi Lemak translated to Rich or Tasty Rice is the national dish of Malaysia. Rice boiled in coconut milk, served with sambal (a spicy chilli sauce), fried anchovies, roasted peanuts and an egg. Often you find Nasi Lemak coupled with some sort of fried meat or fish. Alor Corner is known to have one of the best Nasi Lemak in the city and the queue of people waiting to get their regular breakfast, a dish that can be found everywhere is a testament to that.
Price – RM8
Opening Hours – 07:30 – 11:30, Closed on Monday
Address – Changkat Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Sarang Cookery
This bright and colourful restaurant and its ever-changing menu make for one of KL’s nicest meals. They specialise in Peranakan food, an ethnic group of Chinese settlers. This type of cooking is not found as regularly as others but Sarang keeps it alive and has brought it into the modern day with many interesting adaptions of traditional dishes.
Price – RM25
Opening Hours – 12:00 – 20:00, Wednesday to Sunday
Address – 8, Jalan Galloway, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
TARMA Iraqi Street Food
Kuala Lumpur is a very international city. It feels like you can find food from every country in the world there. One of the best I found was an Iraqi restaurant, Tarma. They sell tasty kebabs, their bread is fresh and delicious and their chai is amazing. Tarma itself is a lovely, clean and comfortable place to eat. The Bukit Bintang area has so much great food, including Jalan Alor but TARMA is a must-try.
Price – A Meal for one will cost approx RM40
Opening Hours – 12:00 – 23:00
Address – 83, Jalan Berangan, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Havana Bar and Grill
Havana is my favourite bar in Kuala Lumpur. The food here is decent but I tend to eat someplace else and come here for a drink and to enjoy the live music and great cocktails. Food options include steak, ribs and pizza but they are a little pricey. You will find cheaper food elsewhere. They have a courtyard and balcony for outdoor seating, happy hour until 9 pm each day and good music every night. Havana is just a really cool bar to relax and have a drink.
Price – Approx RM35 per cocktail, Prices vary
Opening Hours – 16:00 – 03:00
Address – 2 & 4, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
SkyBar
SkyBar is an expensive place to eat and drink. When I was deciding where to eat in Kuala Lumpur this place was not one of them. SkyBar is a place to have a drink. The reason why I feel this bar is a must is the amazing view it offers of the Petronas Towers and the surrounding city. It’s a great setting to have a cocktail and take in the amazing city you are in. Cocktails are pricey but they do have happy hour until 9 pm every day with one cocktail per day being sold for half price.
Price – Cocktails are approx RM80 each
Opening Hours – 17:00 – 23:00
Address – Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Stall 7, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Enjoyed reading about where to eat in Kuala Lumpur and want to read about the best things to do in Kuala Lumpur, check out my city guide here!
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