Kuala Lumpur food guide: what to eat and where

On this page

Kuala Lumpur is a city that loves to eat. It has food from every corner of Malaysia, plus its own local specialities, and some of the best meals in the city cost very little. Here’s where to start.

KL’s signature dishes

Dish	What it is
KL Hokkien mee	Thick yellow noodles braised in dark soy sauce with pork, prawns and crispy lard. A late-night favourite
Nasi lemak	Coconut rice with sambal, anchovies, peanuts and egg. Every Malaysian has their favourite stall
Pan mee	Hand-torn or hand-cut noodles in a clear soup, or the “chilli pan mee” version with a fried chilli topping
Bak kut teh	Herbal pork rib soup, a speciality of nearby Klang
Yong tau foo	Tofu and vegetables stuffed with fish paste, from the Ampang area
Banana leaf rice	Rice, vegetables and curries served on a banana leaf
Claypot chicken rice	Rice cooked in a claypot with chicken and salted fish, with a crispy bottom
Satay	Grilled skewers. Nearby Kajang is famous for it
Roti canai and teh tarik	The classic mamak combination, available any time of day or night

Where to eat

Jalan Alor (Bukit Bintang)

KL’s most famous food street. Restaurants and stalls set out tables on the road in the evening, serving grilled seafood, satay, noodles and tropical fruit. It’s touristy and lively, and a good first stop.

Chinatown

The area around Petaling Street has old kopitiams, hawker stalls and dessert shops. Look for the narrow lanes with morning hawker stalls, and the restored Kwai Chai Hong lane.

Kampung Baru

A traditional Malay village in the middle of the city, surrounded by skyscrapers. Come in the evening for nasi lemak, satay, and Malay dishes from different states.

Brickfields (Little India)

The place for banana leaf rice, Indian sweets, and South Indian breakfasts like thosai and idli.

Pudu, Imbi and the old Chinese neighbourhoods

Busy local coffee shops serving noodles, chicken rice and dim sum. Less touristy and great for breakfast.

Petaling Jaya (PJ)

Just outside KL, neighbourhoods like SS2 have popular food streets, hawker centres and night markets loved by locals.

Night markets

KL’s pasar malam (night markets) move around the city on different nights of the week, with stalls of snacks, drinks, cooked food and fresh produce. Taman Connaught in Cheras is known for being one of the longest. Ask locals which market is on near you that night.

Mamak culture

Mamak restaurants, run by Indian-Muslim families, are a big part of KL life. Many are open 24 hours and are where friends meet for late-night roti canai, teh tarik, mee goreng mamak and football on the big screen.

Practical tips

Halal food is easy to find. Chinese restaurants may serve pork, so look for halal signs if you need them.
Drinks lingo: Order teh or kopi, then add O (no milk), ais (iced) or kurang manis (less sweet). See our Malaysian food guide for more.
Cash or e-wallet: Many stalls now take e-wallets, but carry some cash.
Tipping isn’t expected at hawker stalls.

Browse KL food tours

More KL: Kuala Lumpur guide and KL on a budget.