If you’re wondering where to eat in Kuala Lumpur, the short answer is: everywhere. The city is one of the best places in Malaysia to experience the full mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisine that makes this one of my favorite foodie stops in the world! I grew up eating smoky and tender satay on a stick, fragrant nasi lemak, and rich bowls of creamy curry laksa. Strong flavors like the belacan, a fermented shrimp paste, and floral and perfumed sweets are the norm here.
Now, let’s talk about the food scene in Kuala Lumpur—a true foodie’s paradise that should not be missed! You can find every style and kind of food in Kuala Lumpur, whether it’s a humble street stall or an upscale restaurant overlooking the city. Some of the best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur aren’t fancy at all—they’re open-air stalls and hawker centers where the food speaks for itself. That said, Kuala Lumpur also has no shortage of stylish cafes and upscale dining. What stood out to me most was the balance: one night I’d be sitting on a plastic stool at a street stall, the next night at a restaurant overlooking the Petronas Towers—and both meals felt unforgettable.
I am Chinese-Indonesian, and Indonesian food shares a lot of similarities with Malaysian cuisine. I am so excited to share these spots with you so you can have a taste of some of the best food that Kuala Lumpur has to offer!
🍜 By the way: if you thought Kuala Lumpur’s food scene was incredible, you’ll love the culinary capital of Penang in northern Malaysia. Take a look at what cities you absolutely should visit in Malaysia in my article here.
De.Wan 1958
De.Wan 1958 is located inside the LINC KL mall and is a delicious and beautiful place to eat. The flavors are distinctively Southeast Asian, featuring items like refreshing pomelo salad, rich and saucy beef rendang, and several kinds of steamed fish. For what appears to be a higher-end restaurant, the prices are quite reasonable, and the food is nothing short of delectable.
Plus, it might be one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve seen in Kuala Lumpur: vibrant and colorful patterns abound, along with vintage furniture and plants bursting in every corner. I definitely consider this one of the best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur and also quite a hidden gem!
Sao Nam
Sao Nam is a wonderful Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning establishment near the popular Jalan Alor and one of the best places to eat in Kuala Lumpur. Even though the restaurant is nondescript and tucked away in a corner, it can be hard to get a table due to its massive popularity!
The flavors here land somewhere between Malaysian and Vietnamese—they’re famous for their beef pho, which is light, flavorful, and soothing. The mangosteen salad is also a well-known house specialty, but make sure to go during mangosteen season! We were just a week or two early (the beginning of the season usually falls closer to March) so we tried their pomelo and prawn salad instead, and I’m still dreaming of it to this day.
Lai Foong Lala Noodles
If you’re looking for an affordable place to eat delicious vermicelli with more clams than you could ever want, go to Lai Foong. “Lala” refers to the cute Malaysian-Chinese word for clams, and Lai Foong has tons of them. Order a hefty bowl of the classic noodle soup and you’ll be stuffing your face with a light and faintly spicy ginger broth that’ll make you feel healthier than you’ve ever been in your life.
The amount of clams that each bowl comes with is almost laughably large. Even though I love clams, I couldn’t even finish them all! Just beware of sand—the food was delicious, but even a specialty establishment like Lai Foong has trouble getting all the grit out. Plunk down at this nondescript establishment and be ready to slurp up all the flavors of the sea.
Wong Ah Wah
I couldn’t have a list of the best restaurants in Malaysia without including Wong Ah Wah! Wong Ah Wah is one of the most famous restaurants on Jalan Alor, which is saying something. I mean, here you have a street full of the most delectable street food carts and restaurants known to man, and Wong Ah Wah has managed to come out on top.
The food here is very classic Malaysian, so order from their frankly massive menu and dig in. I recommend getting their famous BBQ chicken wings, the spicy lala clams, a classic kang kung belacan (morning glory stems stir-fried in a strong shrimp-based sauce), and the fermented stingray. The last one might sound scary, but it’s a must-try dish in Malaysia and it’s not intimidating at all!
📰 Jalan Alor is such a wonderful street that absolutely cannot be missed on your visit to Kuala Lumpur! For more information and exciting spots to go, check out my Kuala Lumpur guide.
Urban Daybreak
For your modern, western break from all the strong flavors of Malaysian food, head to Urban Daybreak. This brunch-style cafe is inspired by Australian cuisine but naturally puts its own tasty spin on everything. We had the fried chicken and the shakshuka—one of my favorite dishes—and everything was so flavorful and delicious. And of course you can’t miss out on having a latte! Pro tip: don’t forget to stop by the bathroom: the ceiling, decorated with rainbow gypsophila, is way too cute to pass up.
Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh
Bak kut teh is a dish usually found primarily in Singapore and Malaysia. It is a warm and soothing meat soup with a tea-infused base and plenty of herbs and spices. Having a bowl full of this is like restoring your soul! Plus, you can’t help but feel cleansed afterwards.
Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh has managed to stand its ground as the bak kut teh place in the area, despite many copycats popping up next door. And for good reason! P.S. Bak kut teh places have free soup refills, so enjoy the flavor-infused rib meat falling off the bone and drink as much as you like. I’ve tried many bak kut teh shops, but this is one of the best places to eat in Kuala Lumpur if you’re looking to have a good bowl.
Karim Roti Canai Chow Kit
Now this is a local food experience in Kuala Lumpur. We stumbled upon Karim Roti Canai while looking for a last-minute place to eat and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Hidden way in the back of a local food hall is this tiny stall that sells one thing: roti canai. If you haven’t had it before, I grew up eating this—flaky, super-thin roti with tons of butter, often served with curry or gooey eggs. And Karim Roti Canai does roti canai justice!
I recommend getting the roti tsunami, which is light and fluffy roti served with runny eggs, as well as a teh tarik (a “pulled” milk tea) to wash all that butter down. And did I mention that both of those together cost less than $2? The staff there, which is just a small Malaysian family, doesn’t speak any English, but they are super kind, friendly, and happy to help. Send them some love!
That’s all for my dive into the wonderful and tasty world of Malaysian food in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur. This list should give you a great starter guide for what to expect—traditional Malay flavors, Singaporean, Chinese, western, and Indian influences all mixed together in one place. Which one of these best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur are you looking forward to the most?
Make sure to check out my Kuala Lumpur guide, my Kuala Lumpur FAQ, and consider stopping by some other cities in the incredible country known as Malaysia!
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