5 hours
Kuala Lumpur: Market Visit & Cooking Class with Lunch
Explore a bustling morning market and discover the secrets of Malaysian cuisine. Cook a three-course meal in a local chef’s home and enjoy a shared lunch.
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Kuala Lumpur eats Malay, Chinese and Indian food at the same table, often on the same plate, and it does so nearly around the clock. The city's food map is a set of strips rather than a centre: Jalan Alor for the evening hawker crawl, Madras Lane off Petaling Street for curry mee and yong tau foo, Kampung Baru for nasi lemak in a Malay village that the skyline grew around, Brickfields for banana leaf rice, Chow Kit for the wet market. Mamak counters run by Indian Muslim families stay open past midnight and in some cases never shut, which is why supper here is a real meal rather than a leftover. Prices stay low at street level, so a visitor can eat four times a day without thinking about it, then book one modern Malaysian tasting menu and feel the same ingredients again, plated.
Peak seasonDurian season peaks roughly June to August with a smaller second run around November
Dining hoursBreakfast 07:00-10:30 at kopitiams and stalls
TippingTipping is not expected
Food festivals coming up in Kuala Lumpur
All Kuala Lumpur food festivalsBook food experiences in Kuala Lumpur
Private tour · 12 hours
Taman Negara Tour with Lunch
Explore Taman Negara, one of the world’s oldest rainforests, with jungle walks, river activities, and nature experiences on a full-day adventure.
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6 hours
Kuala Lumpur: Cooking Class with Free Batik DIY Experience
Discover Malaysian culture with a Peranakan cooking experience and 5-course lunch, followed by a free Batik DIY where you draw and color your own tote bag. Hotel trans...
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Signature dishes in Kuala Lumpur
The plates that define eating in Kuala Lumpur.
Nasi lemak
Rice steamed in coconut milk with pandan, served with sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and egg. In Kuala Lumpur it is breakfast, lunch and a 2am supper, often wrapped in banana leaf.
Where Nasi Lemak Wanjo, Nasi Lemak Tanglin, Nasi Lemak Famous, Ali, Muthu & Ah Hock
Where to eat Nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur →KL Hokkien mee
Thick yellow noodles fried over a fierce flame in dark soy sauce with pork, prawns, squid and cabbage, finished with crisp pork lard. Kuala Lumpur's version is black and glossy, unlike the Penang prawn soup.
Where Kim Lian Kee, Ming Hoe Hokkien Mee
Where to eat KL Hokkien mee in Kuala Lumpur →Bak kut teh
Pork ribs simmered for hours in a broth of dang gui, star anise, cinnamon and garlic, served with rice, you tiao and tea. Kuala Lumpur also eats the dry version, reduced with dried chilli and cuttlefish.
Where Sun Fong Bak Kut Teh, Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh, Hing Kee Bakuteh, Chuan Kee Bak Kut Teh
Where to eat Bak kut teh in Kuala Lumpur →Nasi kandar
Steamed rice flooded with several curries, poured together over fried chicken, squid, fish roe or okra. Kuala Lumpur's Indian Muslim nasi kandar counters stay open late, some around the clock.
Where Original Kayu Nasi Kandar, Restoran Kudu Bin Abdul, Nasi Kandar Pelita, Restoran Yusoof Dan Zakhir
Where to eat Nasi kandar in Kuala Lumpur →Banana leaf rice
White rice on a banana leaf with three vegetable dishes, papadum, pickle and a choice of curries, refilled until you fold the leaf. Brickfields and Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur serve it from morning to night.
Where Sri Paandi, Devi's Corner, Sri Nirwana Maju
Where to eat Banana leaf rice in Kuala Lumpur →
Roti canai
Flaky, pan-fried flatbread stretched paper thin, folded and griddled with ghee, then served with dhal and curry. Kuala Lumpur mamak stalls sell it from early morning into the night.
Where Hamdan's Roti Canai, Mansion Tea Stall, Sami's Corner, Restoran Yusoof Dan Zakhir
Where to eat Roti canai in Kuala Lumpur →
Chee cheong fun
Steamed rice noodle rolls cut into pieces and dressed with sweet sauce, chilli and sesame, or in Kuala Lumpur with curry gravy and yong tau foo. A breakfast staple of Pudu and the ICC Pudu hawker hall.
Where Ah Fook Chee Cheong Fun, Imbi Market
Where to eat Chee cheong fun in Kuala Lumpur →
Claypot chicken rice
Rice cooked to order in a clay pot over charcoal with marinated chicken, Chinese sausage and salted fish, finished with dark soy. The prize in Kuala Lumpur is the crisp crust at the bottom.
Where Jalan Ipoh Claypot Chicken Rice, Foong Lian Claypot Foods Cafe
Where to eat Claypot chicken rice in Kuala Lumpur →
Yong tau foo
Tofu, chillies, bitter gourd, okra and eggplant stuffed with fish and pork paste, then boiled or fried and served in broth or with sauce. In Kuala Lumpur diners pick pieces one by one from the stall.
Where Madras Lane Yong Tau Foo, Ah Fook Chee Cheong Fun, Segambut Yong Tau Foo
Where to eat Yong tau foo in Kuala Lumpur →
Curry laksa
Yellow noodles and rice vermicelli in a coconut curry broth with tofu puffs, long beans, cockles or chicken and a spoon of sambal. Kuala Lumpur's curry mee is a cousin, the version its kopitiams serve at breakfast.
Where Madras Lane Curry Mee, Yi Feng Restaurant
Where to eat Curry laksa in Kuala Lumpur →
Hainanese chicken rice
Poached or roasted chicken over rice cooked in chicken stock with ginger and garlic, served with chilli sauce and a light soup. Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown has served it since the 1930s.
Where Nam Heong Chicken Rice
Where to eat Hainanese chicken rice in Kuala Lumpur →
Kaya toast
Charcoal or grill toasted bread spread with kaya, a coconut and egg jam, and a slab of cold butter, eaten with soft-boiled eggs and coffee. The Hainanese kopitiam breakfast of Kuala Lumpur.
Where Ah Weng Koh Hainan Tea & Coffee, Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam, Old KL Kopitiam
Where to eat Kaya toast in Kuala Lumpur →
Beef noodles
Wheat noodles tossed dry with minced beef sauce, or served in a deep beef broth with tripe, tendon and hand-made beef balls. A Chinatown speciality in Kuala Lumpur, with stalls dating from the 1940s and 1950s.
Where Soong Kee Beef Noodle, Lai Foong Beef Noodles, Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee Beef Noodles
Where to eat Beef noodles in Kuala Lumpur →
Apam balik
A thick griddle pancake folded over crushed peanuts, sugar and creamed corn, or a thin crisp version snapped like a wafer. Kuala Lumpur eats it from street stalls off Petaling Street and at night markets.
Where Ah Loh's Apom Balik
Where to eat Apam balik in Kuala Lumpur →
Satay
Skewers of turmeric and lemongrass marinated chicken, beef or mutton grilled over charcoal and eaten with a sweet, chunky peanut sauce, cucumber, onion and ketupat rice cakes. An evening food in Kuala Lumpur.
Where Kasim Satay, Jalan Alor Food Street
Taste itKajang Night Market and Satay Dinner Tour$74Where to eat Satay in Kuala Lumpur →Restaurants to know in Kuala Lumpur
A handful of the places we send friends to when they are in Kuala Lumpur.
Kim Lian Kee
Kim Lian Kee has fried Kuala Lumpur Hokkien mee at the Jalan Hang Lekir corner of Petaling Street since the 1930s, and is now in its fourth generation.
OrderDark, wok-charred Hokkien mee with pork lard and prawns.
Yut Kee
Yut Kee, founded in 1928 on Jalan Dang Wangi and now on nearby Jalan Kamunting, cooks Hainanese chicken chop and roast pork roll in Kuala Lumpur.
OrderHainanese chicken chop and the roast pork roll with apple sauce.
Sri Nirwana Maju
Sri Nirwana Maju's banana leaf rice, ladled with fish curry and rasam, draws lunchtime queues on Jalan Telawi in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, most weekdays.
OrderBanana leaf rice with fish curry, rasam and fried chicken.
Nasi Lemak Wanjo
Nasi Lemak Wanjo has sold coconut rice, fried chicken and sambal from a Kampung Baru cafeteria counter in Kuala Lumpur since 1963, open until midnight.
OrderNasi lemak with fried chicken, sambal and boiled egg.
Original Kayu Nasi Kandar
Original Kayu Nasi Kandar's Bangsar branch banks curries over rice around the clock, one of Kuala Lumpur's busiest nasi kandar counters after midnight.
OrderMixed rice with fried chicken, squid sambal and mutton curry gravy.
MTR 1924
MTR 1924 serves the same Bangalore-style dosas and filter coffee in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, that earned its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.
OrderMasala dosa and filter coffee at the walk-in counter.
Where to eat by neighborhood
Bukit Bintang
KL's shopping and hotel district, where Jalan Alor turns into a grill-and-wok street after dark and Changkat and Jalan Mesui carry the bars.
Best for: Hawker supper, Cocktail bars, Bak kut teh, Modern Malaysian
Also: Imbi, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Ceylon
Chinatown
The old Chinese quarter around Petaling Street, with Hokkien mee at Kim Lian Kee, Madras Lane curry mee and kopitiams along Jalan Balai Polis.
Best for: Hokkien mee, Kopitiam breakfast, Street food, Cocktail bars
Also: Petaling Street, City Centre, Bukit Aman
Pudu
A market district east of Bukit Bintang: Imbi Market's breakfast stalls moved into ICC Pudu, and Jalan Sayur fries char kway teow and chicken.
Best for: Breakfast, Chee cheong fun, Claypot rice, Street food
KLCC
The Petronas Towers district, home to Dewakan and the tasting-menu rooms of the big hotels, plus sky bars and Jalan Ampang nasi kandar.
Best for: Fine dining, Sky bars, Hotel dining, Nasi kandar
Also: Ampang, Taman U Thant
Bangsar
A residential district with two faces: Jalan Telawi banana leaf rooms and brunch cafes, and the Lucky Garden hawker lane for appam and fish head curry.
Best for: Brunch, Banana leaf rice, Wine bars, Street food
Also: Bangsar South, Mid Valley
Chow Kit
KL's biggest wet market and the streets around it, with roti canai on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, chilli pan mee and Jalan Doraisamy bars.
Best for: Wet market, Roti canai, Pan mee, Kopitiam
Also: Dang Wangi, Titiwangsa
Eat your way through Kuala Lumpur
Browse by price
Where to eat in Kuala Lumpur: editor-picked starting points
5 institutional venues to anchor a Kuala Lumpur food trip
- Dewakan · Modern Malaysian, chef Darren Teoh
- Akar · Modern Malaysian, chef Aidan Low
- Beta · Modern Malaysian, chef Raymond Tham
- DC. by Darren Chin · French Contemporary, chef Darren Chin
- Molina · European, chef Sidney Schutte
Signature Kuala Lumpur dishes
-
Nasi lemak
Rice steamed in coconut milk with pandan, served with sambal, fried anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and egg
-
KL Hokkien mee
Thick yellow noodles fried over a fierce flame in dark soy sauce with pork, prawns, squid and cabbage, finished with crisp pork lard
-
Bak kut teh
Pork ribs simmered for hours in a broth of dang gui, star anise, cinnamon and garlic, served with rice, you tiao and tea
-
Nasi kandar
Steamed rice flooded with several curries, poured together over fried chicken, squid, fish roe or okra
-
Banana leaf rice
White rice on a banana leaf with three vegetable dishes, papadum, pickle and a choice of curries, refilled until you fold the leaf
Best Kuala Lumpur neighborhoods for food
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Bukit Bintang
KL's shopping and hotel district, where Jalan Alor turns into a grill-and-wok street after dark and Changkat and Jalan Mesui carry the bars
-
Chinatown
The old Chinese quarter around Petaling Street, with Hokkien mee at Kim Lian Kee, Madras Lane curry mee and kopitiams along Jalan Balai Polis
-
Pudu
A market district east of Bukit Bintang: Imbi Market's breakfast stalls moved into ICC Pudu, and Jalan Sayur fries char kway teow and chicken
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KLCC
The Petronas Towers district, home to Dewakan and the tasting-menu rooms of the big hotels, plus sky bars and Jalan Ampang nasi kandar
Where to stay in Kuala Lumpur
A sample of Kuala Lumpur hotels from our booking partner, who list 1,707 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
i-Hotel Kuala Lumpur
With a stay at i-Hotel Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur (Golden Triangle), you'll be within a 15-minute walk of...
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Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur
With a stay at Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur, you'll be centrally located in Kuala Lumpur, just a 2-minute wal...
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D'Garden Boutique Hotel Kuala Lumpur
When you stay at D'Garden Boutique Hotel Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, you'll be in the business district, ...
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EDC Hotel Kuala Lumpur
With a stay at EDC Hotel Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur City Centre), you'll be a 3-minute walk...
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Hotel Pudu Plaza Kuala Lumpur
A stay at Hotel Pudu Plaza Kuala Lumpur places you in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, within a 15-minute walk of...
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Hotel 99 Pudu Kuala Lumpur
A stay at Hotel 99 Pudu Kuala Lumpur places you in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, within a 5-minute walk of Kot...
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Sunbow Suites @ Times Square Kuala Lumpur
With a stay at Sunbow Suites Times Square Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur (Bukit Bintang), you'll be within a...
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V'la Heritage Hotel Kuala Lumpur
With a stay at V'la Heritage Hotel Kuala Lumpur, you'll be centrally located in Kuala Lumpur, a 9-minute wa...
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ACES Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Located in Kuala Lumpur, ACES Hotel Kuala Lumpur is connected to a shopping center, within a 10-minute driv...
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Adya Hotel Kuala Lumpur
A stay at Adya Hotel Kuala Lumpur places you in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, within a 5-minute walk of Merdek...
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Swiss Hotel Kuala Lumpur
A stay at Swiss Hotel Kuala Lumpur places you in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, within a 5-minute walk of Merde...
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Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur
Located in Kuala Lumpur, Dorsett Hartamas Kuala Lumpur is connected to a shopping center, within a 10-minut...
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Also compare: Booking.com in Kuala Lumpur · Expedia in Kuala Lumpur
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Map of Kuala Lumpur
Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Kuala Lumpur, pinned. Click a pin for the page.
When to come hungry in Kuala Lumpur
Peak food season: Durian season peaks roughly June to August with a smaller second run around November. Ramadan bazaars run for the fasting month, which shifts about eleven days earlier each year. Chinese New Year brings yee sang and reunion menus in January or February.
Local dining hours: Breakfast 07:00-10:30 at kopitiams and stalls. Lunch 12:00-14:30. Dinner 19:00-22:00, with hawker strips busiest 19:30-23:00. Mamak counters run to 03:00 and some never close.
Tipping: Tipping is not expected. Sit-down restaurants usually add a service charge plus government tax to the bill, so check the footer before adding anything. At hawker stalls and kopitiams the price on the board is the price you pay, and rounding up the change is plenty.
Kuala Lumpur food, FAQ
What food is Kuala Lumpur known for?
Kuala Lumpur's signature dishes include Nasi lemak, KL Hokkien mee, Bak kut teh, Nasi kandar, Banana leaf rice. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.
What are the best food neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur?
TableJourney editors map Kuala Lumpur by district. Bukit Bintang, Chinatown, Pudu, KLCC are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.
Where should I eat fine dining in Kuala Lumpur?
Editor picks in Kuala Lumpur include Dewakan, Akar, Beta, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.
Are there food tours in Kuala Lumpur?
TableJourney covers 5 editor-picked food tours in Kuala Lumpur, with what each shows you and how much to budget.
Does Kuala Lumpur have good vegetarian or vegan food?
TableJourney's Kuala Lumpur dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free, halal venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.