Dining

When it comes to food and eating out, Kuala Lumpur has it all. Anytime, anywhere, there is always a place to sit and eat – from fancy restaurants to roadside stalls, bistros to fast food outlets and al-fresco to food courts, there is something for everyone, to suit any mood. Just pick one to suit your taste buds. Sample a wide array cuisine, such as authentic Malay, Chinese, Indian, Peranakan, Eurasian, Colonial, Western or fusion. Malaysians love their food and we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do. We have provided write-ups based on areas that may pique you interest.

Just remember a few basic tips and common sense, and your tasting ventures should be relatively safe. Look out for these words use

* Tips :
Malay = heavily seasoned (read as – chilly) and usually rich in coconut milk;
Indian = herbs and spices (picture this – curry, curry, curry);
Chinese = a milder choice compared to the previous two;
Peranakan = a cross of Malay and Chinese, unique to Malaysia and Singapore.

Hygiene & Utensils

When dining at road side stalls, you will not be served with fancy cutlery. Usually food will be served in melamine ware with basic utensils such as forks, spoons, chopsticks and serviettes. The food served though is usually delicious and prepared on order. Don’t expect sparkling cleanliness, but the operators are generally expected to practice basic standard hygiene and local stomachs are quite used to it. However, if something puts you off about the cleanliness of the stall, move on – it is not worth upsetting your tummy over it.

Jalan Alor

Jalan Alor
A haven for Chinese hawker food, Jalan Alor is well known among the locals. The choices here are simply mind boggling - from dainty steaming hot dim sums to tasty pau (steamed Chinese buns with sweet or savoury filling) to fiery char koay teow (stir fried flat rice noodles). There are also some stalls selling pretty souvenirs.

Jalan Doraisamy or Dorai Food Hawkers Area
A popular after-dark hangout for youngsters (and the young-at-heart). It is the place to enjoy the local favourites such as pre-packed nasi lemak (steamed rice laced with coconut milk and served with chilly paste) and teh tarik (a frothy Malaysian style tea) under the stars (or the glittering lights of the KL Tower). Though the choices may be limited, the casual and unpretentious ambience is worth the trip here. Ironically, this haunt shares the same address with the posh Asian Heritage Row at the one-way Jalan Doraisamy.

Pasar Chow Kit – A Truly Local Market
As the city’s oldest wet market, Pasar Chow Kit holds its own local charm to please the curious palate. Besides the adjoining rows of stalls, there are also clusters of stalls cramped between the shop blocks around the wet market. Typically, the choices are Malay food for breakfast, lunch or tea-time. There are also some Indonesian items on the menu. Plaza Safuan, located nearby, is a watering hole for everything Acehnese.

Kampung Baru and the Sunday Market
Kampung Baru is the only Malay village left in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Located about 10 minutes away from Pasar Chow Kit, its weekly Sunday Market is the best place to look for everything Malay, such as ready to munch savouries and sweetmeats and filling rice or noodle dishes. Although deceptively called the Sunday market, the main hive of activity starts at about 6 pm on Saturday evenings and ends in the wee hours of Sunday morning at about 1 am or more. Nonetheless Kampung Baru is actually a Malay food destination anytime, with some roadside outlets open even 24 hours.

Bintang Walk
You can experience al-fresco dining between the high-end shopping complexes at one of KL’s hottest shopping districts. Besides the exclusive Italian, ethnic or other speciality restaurants, there are also designer cafes for those who want to have their cuppa while enjoying the glittering neon lights. At the other side of the Bukit Bintang stretch, there are a number of Arab or Middle-Eastern restaurants set individually along the shop block. For a place less crowd and pretence, look for Chulan Square at the intersection of Jalan Raja Chulan and Jalan Bukit Bintang, which showcases a melting pot of local and international cuisine from Asian specialties to Argentinian steaks.

Visit http://www.chulansquare.com/

Chinatown (Petaling Street)
Spread throughout this street are Chinese specialities. Servings can start from breakfast and continue to the night. Some of the restaurants here have been operating for generations. Some of the these restaurants have pictures of the dishes served to give patrons an idea of what their meal will look like. You can even get pre-packed tidbits to munch on your journey. The observant will even find Burmese eateries and sundries, hidden between the busy shops and food outlets.

White Linen and Silver Spoon
For those prefer to dine in style, there are a number of exclusive dining spots which are located mostly in the heart of KL. The good food, ambience and impeccable service come at an expected price. However, food served with style, in a classy and posh ambience, creates a different dining experience and adds as a whole to the enjoyment of cuisine in Kuala Lumpur.

Generally, the five star hotels in Kuala Lumpur offer exclusive fine dining restaurants, while the high end shopping malls offer some chic contemporary eateries. There are also some individual restaurants that occupy pre-war shop buildings, huge colonial mansions or bungalows or purpose built edifices. The Asian Heritage Row of converted shophouses at Jalan Doraisamy offers a handful of speciality restaurants, set in their distinctive identities, which transform into entertainment hotspots as the night wanders on.

Bangsar
There are a variety of eateries in the more up-market Bangsar area, either by themselves or located within a number of shopping malls located here. Take a walk along Jalan Telawi and you find quite a few eating places offering a wide variety of food to tantalise your taste buds.

Visit http://www.bangsar.net.my/

Sri Hartamas & Mont Kiara
These areas are relatively new in comparison with Bangsar and Bukit Bintang. There are number of good restaurants serving a variety of food. You can find both local and international cuisine here. From Mamak mee goreng (spiced fried noodles) to Italian pasta, this is another place to visit. Just take a walk around and see for yourself the number of food outlets located here and the variety that is offered.