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JapaneseBukit Bintang
Ippudo's Pavilion counter serves the Hakata chain's tonkotsu ramen inside Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur's busiest shopping and dining strip, daily.
OrderAkamaru Modern tonkotsu ramen with a soft-boiled egg.
TipIppudo was the first ramen house to name its broths by colour: Shiromaru is the white bowl, Akamaru the red one.
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CantonesePudu
Foong Lian has cooked charcoal claypot chicken rice on Jalan Yew in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, since 1986, and the Michelin Guide now lists it as Bib Gourmand.
OrderCharcoal claypot chicken rice with Chinese sausage.
TipGo before 13:00 on weekdays; the small dining room in Pudu turns tables quickly but fills fast at noon.
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HakkaSegambut
Hor Poh Cuisine is Segambut's lone Hakka restaurant, ladling lui cha rice soup in Kuala Lumpur since 1999, and it carries a Michelin Bib Gourmand today.
OrderLui cha green tea rice soup with ground peanuts and mint.
TipOrder the dried tofu dumplings alongside the lui cha; the soup alone can taste thin without them.
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Bak kut tehPudu
Ah Hei Bak Kut Teh starts its sixteen-herb pork rib broth at 05:00, before opening on Medan Imbi in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, and holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
OrderClaypot bak kut teh with pork ribs and a 16-herb broth.
TipAsk for extra beancurd skin in the claypot; it soaks up the herbal broth better than the mushrooms.
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CantonesePudu
Sek Yuen, founded in 1948 by three brothers selling wantan mee from a push cart, has cooked pipa duck in its Jalan Pudu dining room since 1953.
OrderPipa duck and cold jelly chicken, two of the old Cantonese dishes.
TipCall two days ahead for the eight-treasure duck or the roast suckling pig; both must be ordered in advance.
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HainaneseChinatown
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.