The canonical version and where to order it.
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.
Hainanese chicken rice came to the Malay Peninsula with migrants from Hainan Island, who found work as cooks in colonial households, coffee shops and ships and adapted the Wenchang chicken of home. The chicken is poached gently and plunged into cold water to set the skin, and the rice is fried in chicken fat with garlic and ginger before being cooked in the poaching stock. Kuala Lumpur serves it with a sharp chilli and ginger sauce and a bowl of soup, often with a choice of roasted chicken as well. Nam Heong on Jalan Sultan in Chinatown has sold it since 1938 and now holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
1 editor pick for Hainanese chicken rice in Kuala Lumpur, ranked by editorial score. All Kuala Lumpur signature dishes · Hainanese chicken rice across every city.
Also in: Singapore.
Nam Heong Chicken Rice has boiled Hainanese chicken on Jalan Sultan in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown since 1938, and the Michelin Guide still lists it today.
OrderHainanese chicken rice with roast pork belly on the side.
TipAdd the assam fish or the siu yuk from the side dishes; the village chicken comes with a thick chilli garlic dip.
Hainanese chicken rice makes more sense with someone from Kuala Lumpur explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Immerse yourself in Malaysian culture with a cooking class in a local home. Visit a market, learn to cook classic dishes, and enjoy the meal you've prepared with your host.
5 hours
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.
Private tour · 12 hours
Explore Taman Negara, one of the world’s oldest rainforests, with jungle walks, river activities, and nature experiences on a full-day adventure.
