As Kuala Lumpur is home to Malays, Chinese, Indians and even British expats, Malaysian cuisine is awash with a diversity of flavours and cultural influences. As you visit a different part of the city, the cuisine offer changes, from delectable seafood dishes to barbecued skewers to friend rice and pipping hot bowls of noodles. Other Asian cuisines, particularly Japanese, are also popular in this city.
With some of the best fine dining establishments in Southeast Asia, a varied cuisine, and extremely cheap yet delicious dishes, Kuala Lumpur is a foodie's paradise.
Klang seafood
Get a taste of the local flavour and try delicious seafood in Klang - a nearby port that encompasses some of the best and budget-friendly seafood.
Chilli pan mee at Restoran Super Kitchen
With an explosion of textures and flavours, this Chinese-Malaysian noodle dish is an unmissable local delicacy. It consists of soft noodles topped with fried anchovy, deep fried onions, fresh scallions, crushed peanuts, shredded pork and a poached egg.
Restoran Super Kitchen is the place to try this dish. There you can add as much dry chilli as you like. Then you break the egg yolk and make a sauce that coats the noodles with spices, peanuts and onions.
Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle is known as Kuala Lumpur's commercial, shopping and entertainment hub. There you can find Laksa Shack, a shopping mall, famous for its Malaysian laksa noodles. Go up to the second floor and get your noodles from the famous Assam Laksa.
Curry Laksa at Kam Fatt
Another unmissable place to taste the traditional Malaysian coconut noodle soup is Kam Fatt, which is only open for breakfast and lunch.
Upon choosing either egg noodles, flat rice noodles, vermicelli or a combination of those, the noodles get smothered in a think gravy and served with boiled Hainan-style chicken, fried tofu puffs, bean sprouts, cockles and green beans. As final touch, the noodles get seasoned with a squeeze of fresh lime and extra chilli sauce.
Brickfields
Alternatively, if you are eager to get your hands dirty and ditch plates and utensils altogether, head to Bricksfields - also known as Little India. The area is famous for its banana leaf food - a set meal which consists of rice, a crispy papadum and a choice of curries and chutney that are served on a banana leaf. You can also add chicken, beef, fish or vegetable curry to the meal. The best way to end the meal is with a traditional banana or mango lassi - a yogurt-based drink that originates in the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. This sweet and cooling drink, somewhat similar to a smoothie, tempers down the heat of the spicy curry.
Head to Keveri, an open fronted restaurant, to try all things South Indian, which include meat and vegetarian dishes. Most dishes are served on the famous banana leaf, which makes it feel more authentic.
If you are curious to see Little India but not eager to try curries, the area also has a western fast food chain and it is famous for its Chinese coffee shops.
Afternoon tea
If you have a sweet tooth, head to Merdaka Square - famous for the predominance of colonial buildings - where you can indulge in a traditional English afternoon tea. One place to try it would be the Carcosa Seri Negara Hotel in the Lake Gardens. Surrounded by lush greenery, the colonial hotel is perfect for relaxing. If you go there between 3pm and 6pm, you will be able to try their special afternoon tea, which includes finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries, serve in white china and cakes on a large cake stand.
Japanese food
You might be in Malaysia, but might not stop you from craving some succulent Japanese good. If that happens, you should head to Wasabi Bistro in KLCC. Although their inventive sushi rolls are to die-for, don't miss out on their Udon - hot thick wheat flour noodles with soy sauce and Ugani sets - dishes with fresh water eel. Their lunches are very popular during the week, so be sure to book ahead of time.
Chinese food in Bunkit Bintang
If you are lusting after some Chinese food, instead, opt for Bunkit Bintang, one of the best Chinese restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Despite being a reputable restaurant, Bukit Bintang is relatively cheap, although its speciality dishes are a bit more expensive. Make sure you book in advance if you want to try their speciality dishes, which include the ‘Har Lok' - prawns cooked in soy sauce - or the beef brisket in clay pot.