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NoodlesChinatown
Sin Kiew Yee Shin Kee Beef Noodles has sold beef noodles in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur, since 1949 and now carries a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.
OrderOrder the dry beef noodles with tripe, tossed in a savory minced beef sauce.
TipIt closes on Wednesdays, so plan a Chinatown noodle stop for another weekday.
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Claypot ricePudu
Foong Lian Claypot Foods Cafe has cooked charcoal claypot chicken rice on Jalan Yew in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, since 1986, prized for its smoky rice crust.
OrderOrder the claypot chicken rice, cooked over charcoal for a smoky crust on the rice.
TipQueues form at peak hours, so arrive near the 11:30 opening; the owners run a list of dining rules to seat people fast.
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HakkaSegambut
Hor Poh Cuisine has served Hakka lui cha and dumplings in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, since 1999, and it now holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its Hakka cooking.
OrderOrder the lui cha, a green herbal soup poured over rice with ground peanuts and sesame.
TipIt is the only dedicated Hakka kitchen in this part of Segambut, worth the drive off the main road.
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CantonesePudu
Wong Mei Kee roasts pork over charcoal off Jalan Pudu in Kuala Lumpur, open only for a three hour lunch window, and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
OrderOrder the crispy pork belly, roasted over charcoal for a crackling skin.
TipIt sells out most days by 15:00, so arrive at opening if the pork belly is the point of the trip.
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JapaneseMid Valley
Tanba Japanese BBQ and Hotpot grills buffet-style yakiniku and bubbles a la carte hotpot on the first floor of Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur.
OrderOrder the buffet-style yakiniku for the table grill, then a highball from the Japanese liquor list.
TipLarger groups can book the private VIP room, which comes fitted with a karaoke system.
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MalaysianTaman U Thant
De Wan 1958 by Chef Wan cooks modern Malaysian food at The LINC KL in Taman U Thant, Kuala Lumpur, and now holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.
OrderOrder the ayam kampung soup, a home style Malay broth that reviewers single out.
TipThe dining room sits inside a mall, easy to combine with a Jalan Tun Razak errand.