7 of the Best dishes to eat in Kuala Lumpur

Alright, so you want to know what to eat in Kuala Lumpur. Well, first of all, let me tell you that Malaysian cuisine is probably the best cuisine (at least according to me) in the world. The city is not just one of the top attractions in Malaysia but also a popular food destination in the country.

Malaysia is truly a country of migrants. Over time with the influences of these migrant populations, the cuisine of Malaysia became exquisitely blended with the Indian, Thai and Chinese influences.

Nyonya is one style of Malaysian cuisine that fuses Chinese wok cooking styles with Malaysian ingredients and sauces when you add Indian and Middle Eastern herbs and spices into the mix you have a truly distinctive cuisine that simply explodes with flavour.

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The food culture in Kuala Lumpur is very diverse ranging from food courts, fine-dining restaurants to hawkers centres and posh resto-bars. Being a melting pot of all different Asian cultures, you can expect a range of delicacies from almost all the Asian countries. So, for all those who are looking to savour this unique side of Kuala Lumpur, here I have compiled a list of some of the best must-eats in Kuala Lumpur. Keep scrolling to know more!

By the way, 1 Malaysian Ringgit equals 0.25 in the US.

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What to eat in Kuala Lumpur the 7 best dishes

1 Char Kuey Teow

You can say Chay Kuey Teow is a national noodle dish in Malaysia after all such is the taste of this delicacy. Though the origin of this dish is from China, the best version of Char Kuey Teow is found in Kuala Lumpur. Char Kuey Teow is basically flat rice noodles that are stir-fried with eggs, prawns, sprouts, and cockles. At some vendors, you can also expect to get Chinese sausage topped on the noodles. Try the noodles with the chilli sauce (only if you are a spice lover) as it embraces the taste.

Approx Cost: anywhere between 4 RM and 5 RM about $1.23 US. Recommended Place to Eat: Malaya Char Kuey Teow

2. Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak is basically rice infused with coconut milk. Though by the description, the dish seems very simple it tastes delectably good. The dish is fluffy, light and the sambal is vibrant and flavourful with slight sweet in taste. What makes this entire dish a complete package is the chicken served in it. The chicken is marinated with a number of spices and then deep-fried until it turns golden brown and becomes crispy. At some places, you expect to get several add ons like rendang chicken, beef and sambal sotong (spicy squid). The best nasi lemak in Kuala Lumpur is found at Village Park Nasi Lamek.

Approx Cost: 6 RM. Recommended Place to Eat: Village Park Nasi Lamek

3. Prawn Mee

Prawn Mee is a Penang Noodle Soup which is prepared from spicy shrimp soup. The broth is boiled with shrimp head and shells for hours to give it strong shrimpy flavour. You can choose the type of noodle but according to me, the best version is half thin vermicelli rice noodles and half yellow noodles.

Approx Cost: 5 RM. Recommended Place to Eat: San Peng Prawn Mee and Prawn Noodle King.

4. Chicken Curry, Fish or Dal

Are you a fan of South Indian cuisine? If so, then head to Sri Nirwana Maju Banana Leaf. It is one of the best restaurants in Kuala Lumpur to eat South Indian delicacies. At this restaurant, you can pick anything from chicken curry to fish to dal to seafood.

But besides, the best thing to try here is the fried bitter gourd. You can also go for a complete meal at Sri Nirwana Maju Banana that includes fried squid, fried fish, and much more. The best thing about this place is that the main dishes are served on a banana leaf which is a part of the culture of South India.

Approx Cost: depends on what you order. Recommended Place to Eat: Sri Nirwana Maju Banan Leaf

5. Chili Pan Mee

Chili Pan Mee is a dry noodle dish which is prepared by thick round noodles and is topped with minced pork, fried anchovies, and a soft poached egg. It is then served with a dry chilli mix which you can ask and add as much as you want.

If you love spicy food, then it is one of the best dishes to eat in Kuala Lumpur. Mix everything and enjoy the delectable taste of Chilli Pan Mee. Doesn’t matter if you are not a spice fan, you can still have this dish as there is another variant of it. The soupy version of Pan Mee which consists of pork bone and anchovy broth.

Approx Cost: somewhere between 5 RM and 7 RM.. Recommended Place to Eat: Super Kitchen Chili Pan Mee

6. Roasted Pork Rice

A must-have delicacy for all the pork lovers. The dish is said to be originated from China. The rice is served with a roasted strip of pork belly. The meat is so tender that it instantly melts in your mouth (you know what I mean).

However, the best part about Roasted Pork is the chilli sauce which is topped on the rice. Roasted Pork Rice is a simple yet delectable dish to have either at lunch or dinner, hence don’t dare to miss it.

Approx Cost: somewhere between 12 RM to 14 RM. Recommended Place to Eat: Wong Kee Hai Lam Chicken Rice & Roast Pork.

7. Wantan Mee

Wantan Mee is yet another staple Chinese dish which is loved by not just the locals but ex-pats in Kuala Lumpur as well. Wantan Mee is basically thin yellow noodles that are prepared in black sauce. It’s your choice to select the type of meat on the side.

However, people love to have char siu pork alongside Wantan Mee. Not just this, the dish is served with soup with a few wontons. Since Wantan Mee is one of the most famous food in Kuala Lumpur, you cannot afford to miss particularly this dish.

Approx Cost: 7 RM. Recommended Place to Eat: Toong Kwoon Chye Wanton Mee

What to eat in Kuala Lumpur Food Tours

A food tour in Kuala Lumpur is not just restricted to these delectable dishes. You can also look to try other delicacies like Roti Canai, Bak Kut Teh, Chicken Rice, Hookie Mee, Fish Head Noodles, Pork Noodle, Satay, Cendol, and much more.

Book your private Half-Day Ultimate Kuala Lumpur Food Tour now

Book the Best Local Food Tour by Night in Kuala Lumpur now

Or what about a cooking tour?

Book your Malaysian Kitchen Cooking Class & Garden Tour now

Dining in the best and tallest restaurant in town. Kuala Lumpur’s Atmosphere 360 restaurant has a viewing deck of about 100m higher than the Petronas Twin Towers’ sky bridge and it revolves. The restaurant Atmosphere 360 offers both a modern and authentic take on Malaysian and International cuisine served buffet style. Serving everything from Nyonya dishes to Aam Tempoyak, and other specialities of Malaysia.

Book your dinner at Atmosphere 360 now

This guest post is brought to you by Jimmy & Tah, American and Thai Millennials who left our careers in the military and finance to become full-time travellers. They write on their travel blog DivertLiving

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