Food · Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia
What to eat in Kuala Lumpur
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Kuala Lumpur, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Nasi lemak, Roti canai and Char kway teow. Graze from stall to stall on satay, grilled chicken wings, char kway teow and fresh fruit on KL's best-known food street. Most Malay and mamak restaurants are halal and do not serve pork or alcohol; Chinese coffee shops usually serve both.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Nasi lemak
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Breakfast
1.Nasi lemak
Malaysia's national dish: rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan, served with spicy sambal, crispy anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and a boiled or fried egg, often with fried chicken or beef rendang.
Where: Roadside stalls in the morning, often wrapped in banana leaf and paper, and Malay restaurants and mamak shops all day.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
2.Roti canai
Flaky, stretched flatbread griddled with ghee and served with dhal and curry for dipping. Variations include roti telur with egg and roti tisu, a tall cone of crisp bread.
Where: Mamak (Indian-Muslim) restaurants across the city, many open late or around the clock.
Dish
3.Char kway teow
Flat rice noodles stir-fried over a fierce flame with prawns, cockles, Chinese sausage, bean sprouts, egg and dark soy sauce, prized for its smoky 'wok hei'.
Where: Hawker stalls in Chinatown, Jalan Alor and food courts; the best stalls cook each plate to order.
Dish
4.KL Hokkien mee
Thick yellow noodles braised in dark soy sauce with pork, prawns, squid and cabbage, finished with crispy pork lard. Kuala Lumpur's own style, quite different from Penang's soupy version.
Where: Late-night Chinese hawker stalls in Chinatown and around Jalan Alor.
Street food
5.Satay
Skewers of marinated chicken, beef or lamb grilled over charcoal and served with peanut sauce, compressed rice cakes (ketupat), cucumber and onion.
Where: Jalan Alor, Malay night markets and Kampung Baru stalls in the evening.
Dish · Vegetarian
6.Banana leaf rice
A South Indian meal of rice served on a banana leaf with several vegetable curries, pickles and papadum, with fried chicken, fish or mutton as optional extras. Fold the leaf towards you when you finish.
Where: Restaurants in Brickfields and Bangsar; eating with your right hand is traditional but cutlery is available.
Dish
7.Bak kut teh
Pork ribs simmered in a broth of herbs, garlic and spices, served with rice, fried dough sticks and Chinese tea. It originated in nearby Klang and is eaten mostly at breakfast.
Where: Specialist Chinese restaurants in Chinatown and the suburbs, mostly in the morning.
Dish
8.Curry laksa
Noodles in a rich coconut curry broth with tofu puffs, bean sprouts, chicken and cockles, topped with sambal; also called curry mee.
Where: Hawker stalls and coffee shops across the city, including the Madras Lane hawkers in Chinatown.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Teh tarik
Strong black tea with condensed milk, 'pulled' between two jugs held far apart to cool it and create a frothy top.
Where: Every mamak restaurant; order it 'kurang manis' if you want less sugar.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Cendol
Shaved ice with green rice-flour jelly, coconut milk and dark palm sugar syrup (gula melaka), sometimes with red beans.
Where: Street carts and dessert stalls, especially around Chinatown and in food courts.
Snack · Vegetarian
11.Durian
The spiky, pungent 'king of fruits', with creamy, custard-like flesh that people either love or hate. Different varieties such as Musang King are priced very differently.
Where: Roadside durian stalls in the main season, roughly mid-year; it is banned in many hotels and on public transport because of the smell.
Food experiences
Jalan Alor night crawl
Graze from stall to stall on satay, grilled chicken wings, char kway teow and fresh fruit on KL's best-known food street.
Mamak supper
Join locals late at night at an open-fronted mamak restaurant for roti canai, Maggi goreng and teh tarik, often with football on a big screen.
Chinatown hawker breakfast
Eat curry laksa, yong tau foo and coffee at old hawker stalls around Madras Lane and Jalan Sultan in the morning.
Ramadan bazaar
During Ramadan, evening bazaars across the city sell Malay dishes and sweets for breaking the fast; dates move about 11 days earlier each year.
Quick bites and street food
- Nasi lemak — Roadside stalls in the morning, often wrapped in banana leaf and paper, and Malay restaurants and mamak shops all day.
- Roti canai — Mamak (Indian-Muslim) restaurants across the city, many open late or around the clock.
- Satay — Jalan Alor, Malay night markets and Kampung Baru stalls in the evening.
- Durian — Roadside durian stalls in the main season, roughly mid-year; it is banned in many hotels and on public transport because of the smell.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Roti canai, Banana leaf rice, Teh tarik, Cendol and Durian. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Most Malay and mamak restaurants are halal and do not serve pork or alcohol; Chinese coffee shops usually serve both.
- Restaurants in hotels and malls often add a service charge and government tax to the bill.
- Ask for 'air kosong' for plain water; drinks are often served very sweet unless you ask otherwise.
- At banana leaf restaurants, eat with your right hand only, or ask for cutlery.
- Hawker centres usually expect you to order from each stall and pay on delivery; drinks are ordered separately from a drinks stall.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary. Many restaurants and hotels add a service charge, and rounding up taxi fares or leaving small change for good service is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Terima kasih | Thank you |
| Selamat pagi | Good morning |
| Berapa harga? | How much is it? |
| Tak pedas | Not spicy |
| Tapau | Takeaway |
| Air kosong | Plain water |
| Boleh | Can / OK |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Kuala Lumpur famous for?
Nasi lemak, Roti canai, Char kway teow and KL Hokkien mee. Malaysia's national dish: rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan, served with spicy sambal, crispy anchovies, peanuts, cucumber and a boiled or fried egg, often with fried chicken or beef rendang.
+Is Kuala Lumpur good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Roti canai, Banana leaf rice and Teh tarik.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Kuala Lumpur?
Tipping is not customary. Many restaurants and hotels add a service charge, and rounding up taxi fares or leaving small change for good service is appreciated but optional.