{"id":17826,"date":"2022-04-13T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/?p=17826"},"modified":"2023-06-28T20:10:06","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T19:10:06","slug":"guidewhere-to-eat-in-kl-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlaroundtheworld.co.uk\/guidewhere-to-eat-in-kl-malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Foodie Guide: Where to Eat in KL, Malaysia + Foods to Try"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Before my trip to Kuala Lumpur, I asked my friends from Malaysia what I needed to do with my time in the city. Every one of them gave me the same answer \u2013 eat, shop, EAT, repeat! And because the local food is such a popular subject here, I decided to put together this comprehensive foodies guide with everything you need to know about where to eat in KL, as well as which dishes to try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With some of the best shopping malls in the world and insanely mouth-watering local food, it\u2019s easy to see how I got this answer from my friends. From the famous nasi lemak to satay, fried chicken, rendang chicken \u202fand\u202fmee goreng, food in Kuala Lumpur is just too good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, I\u2019ve run you through a few of my favourite local dishes that you need to sample during your trip to Malaysia to make sure you don\u2019t miss out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just the local food that will have you happily stuffing your faces. As a buzzing metropolis, Kuala Lumpur\u2019s food seems to have the best of everything. Hipster cafes, coffee shops, brunch bars, you\u2019re completely spoiled for choice – that\u2019s why I prepared a special section with some of the best restaurants in KL sorted by topics: street food stalls, breakfast, lunch, dinner and fine dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get started with this Kuala Lumpur food guide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>What to eat in KL – 17 Unmissable dishes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You will find all sorts of amazing Asian dishes in Kuala Lumpur – from curries, fried meats, noodle soups, veggie-filled rolls and more, all coming with their own dipping sauce, side dishes, rice and other yummy additions. Seriously, I\u2019m telling you, eating is some sort of art in Kuala Lumpur and I\u2019m all for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below\u00a0I have\u00a0listed my 17 favourite\u00a0dishes from the Malaysian cuisine<\/strong> that I had while I was in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1 – NASI LEMAK<\/h3>\n\n\n

This dish (literally meaning \u2018fat rice\u2019) is so simple yet so good! It\u2019s fluffy rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf accompanied by fried chicken or fish and it\u2019s usually served with fried peanuts, egg, sliced cucumber and spicy sambal. Some of the best nasi lemak in the city is found at Nasi Lemak Tanglin (multiple spots around the city).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2 – SATAY<\/h3>\n\n\n

A satay dish is straightforward and delicious: sizzling chunks of meat on a skewer, coated in different kinds of marinades and cooked over a chargrill fire. This type of Malay food is usually served with different kinds of sauces and you can find it all around Kuala Lumpur, especially if you\u2019re asking at a food court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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3 – LAKSA<\/h3>\n\n\n

In case you\u2019re wondering what to eat in Kuala Lumpur for the first time, an authentic laksa dish is probably one of the most common answers. It\u2019s made of rice noodles in a delicious spicy soup, made with coconut \u2013 I love this dish! Creamy yet sour, with hints of lemongrass, laksa is usually served with chicken, prawns or fish. And a cold beer on the side, why not?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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4 – ROTI CANAI<\/h3>\n\n\n

Roti canai is basically a Malaysian adaptation of a classic Indian bread. You can also find it in Singapore as well<\/a> and it\u2019s basically a pan-fried flatbread, usually served as a side dish. It\u2019s soft, flavourful and you can rip it in pieces and mix it with a curry whenever you\u2019re having a saucy dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to try it out, I recommend checking out Mansion Tea Stall where they have a special roti canai.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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5 – BAK KUT TEH<\/h3>\n\n\n

Bak kut teh is a traditional broth made with pork ribs, mushrooms, tofu, garlic and fresh herbs (cinnamon, star anise etc). This dish can be translated to \u201cpork bone tea\u201d and, as simple as it may sound, it\u2019s super delicious! You can find it in lots of places, from a food stall to a fine dining restaurant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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6 – CHILI PAN MEE<\/h3>\n\n\n

This is a type of delicious noodle soup. Aside from the noodles, this dish has minced pork, a soft boiled egg, fried onions, fried anchovies cut into small pieces and, to top it off, a spicy chili sauce. I recommend trying it at Kin Kin –  the chili pan mee is actually their signature dish!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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7 – AYAM PERCIK<\/h3>\n\n\n

Ayam percik is barbecued chicken marinated in a spicy sauce made of chili, garlic, ginger and coconut milk. Think spicy, crispy skin and tender, juicy insides. I just love this coconut spiced chicken!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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8 – HOKKIEN MEE<\/h3>\n\n\n

Hokkien mee or Hokkien char mee is a dish that can be found in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and some of the surrounding regions. It\u2019s made of thick noodles with lots of dark soy sauce, as well as cabbage, pork, fresh fish cakes and squid. It may sound like an odd combination, but it\u2019s so good, especially if you eat it from a food court where they make it over a charcoal fire.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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9 – RENDANG<\/h3>\n\n\n

There is debate whether Rendang is from Malaysia or Indonesia. What\u2019s not for debate? The fact that it is friggen delicious! This is literally my favourite dish in the world – a rich, spicy dry curry usually made with tender chunks of beef.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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10 – JUMPING CHICKEN<\/h3>\n\n\n

This one is a little more out there, but if you\u2019re an adventurous eater it\u2019s one for you to try! Jumping chicken isn\u2019t actually chicken\u2026 but grilled frog! You\u2019re in Malaysia, might as well give it a try!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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11 – FRIED NOODLES<\/h3>\n\n\n

You will find two main types of noodles in your local Malay dishes. Mee (the yellow ones) and Koay Teow (fat, flat white ones). Fried noodles of all kinds are some of the most delicious dishes out there!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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12 – CHAR KUAY TEOW<\/h3>\n\n\n

Char Kuay Teow is directly translated to \u201cstir-fried rice noodles” and it is a national favourite. Served with prawns or chicken and cooked in pork belly fat and dark soy sauce (plus some bean sprouts), it\u2019s delicious\u2026 but known for its high-calorie count!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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13 – MEE GORENG<\/h3>\n\n\n

Mee Goreng is a savoury noodle dish including a mix of ingredients, usually fish cakes, chicken and prawns. The flavours are a mix of garlic, spices and sweet soy sauce and the dish is served topped with red chillies, lime and crispy fried onions. This is actually a traditional Indonesian dish, but it\u2019s just as good in Kuala Lumpur as well!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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14 – PISANG GORENG<\/h3>\n\n\n

After all these fried noodles, savoury soups and grilled meats, it\u2019s time for a snack! Pisang goreng is deep fried banana. It\u2019s crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, absolutely delicious! You can find them all around Kuala Lumpur, especially at the hawker stalls. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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15 – DURIAN<\/h3>\n\n\n

Known throughout Asia as the King of Fruits, its spiky shell is filled with a creamy core that so many tourists find\u2026 disgusting. Most can\u2019t even stomach the smell, let alone attempt to taste it. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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16 – KOPI<\/h3>\n\n\n

Kopi is Malaysia\u2019s local version of coffee. You\u2019ll need to know the lingo to get your order right, as there are different terms of what is included in your kopi. Some popular ones are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n