Malaysia’s capital city has something for every foodie.
There are countries that are known for their food as much as they are for their iconic sights and landmarks. In Asia, we have quite a number of foodie destinations. There’s Japan, of course. Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and even China also come to mind. Then there’s Malaysia.
Our Southeast Asian neighbor boasts an enviable gastronomic landscape that is a confluence of different cultures, among which are Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Middle Eastern. It’s also cosmopolitan, a favorite among expats and tourists, hence, the bevy of establishments that serve excellent food from the other side of the world. Its street food scene is also a wonder and can give those in Thailand and Taiwan a run for their money.
So renowned is Malaysia as a culinary destination that it gets not one but two Michelin Guides, one for its capital Kuala Lumpur, and the other for the northwestern state of Penang. Both places boast eats that run the gamut from fine dining to cheap holes-in-the-wall. I was in KL recently, and being a food lover myself, I resolved to discover as much as I could about Malaysia’s—specifically its capital’s—vibrant cuisine.
Here are five dining spots which satisfied my inner glutton, from a posh Michelin-listed resto to a humble shawarma stand.
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Malai Thai
If you’re going to splurge on one restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, I suggest you do so here at Malai Thai. The food is amazing and the interiors with their ornate and elegant furnishings are gorgeous. Its team of mostly Thai chefs cooks up traditional Thai dishes with just the slightest modern twist. The food here is so good it’s almost always packed. It was also recently included in the Michelin Selected restaurants in the capital.
The portions are generous and good for sharing—which I didn’t share, by the way, because the dishes I ordered were too good to be shared *cue evil laugh*. I had the Shrimp Pad Thai which was a delightful melange of sour, sweet, salty, spicy, and nutty, truly a most pleasant burst of flavors. The shrimp were fresh, plump, and lent the dish a taste of the ocean.
I also had the Geang Keaw Waan (Thai Green Chicken Curry) and the coconut sauce was so indulgent, the chicken so tender, and the rice so fragrant I almost cried from joy after the first bite. The appetizers were just as mouthwatering. Make sure to order the Por Pieer Tod (Thai Spring Rolls) and Gai (Chicken) Satay with (to-die-for) Peanut Sauce.
Don’t skip on the desserts! I had both the Mango Sticky Rice—which was one of the best I’ve had—and the Coconut Ice Cream, which had just the right balance of creamy and sweet you won’t notice you’ve already downed three scoops.
Address: Ground Floor, Menara Ample West, 6, Jalan P. Ramlee. Business hours: 12 to 10 pm daily
Nipah
If you’re feeling ravenous and want to check out the buffet scene in Kuala Lumpur, then this swanky restaurant is the place to go. Nipah’s buffet options seem endless—from Western favorites such as steaks and ribs to Asian flavors, including Malaysian, Thai, and Indian. I had a little bit of most of the dishes and though the American and Italian fares were delicious, the Indian and Malaysian dishes were the standouts.
I love Indian food, so you can imagine my elation after seeing the dizzying number of curry dishes waiting for me. I could eat the house-made Roti Canai every day; it was that good! The Chicken and Beef Satay and Nasi Goreng begged for second, even third, helpings. Don’t even get me started on Nipah’s desserts! Its Mango Mousse, traditional Malaysian rice cakes, and Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce were something I wished I could order on Foodpanda back home.
Address: Ground Floor, EQ, Equatorial Plaza, Jln Sultan Ismail. Business hours: 6:30 am to 11 pm daily
Pik Wah Bar & Cafe
Brunch at this rather humble bar-slash-coffee shop in KL’s Chinatown is hands down my favorite foodie experience in the city. Established in 1971, Pik Wah Bar & Cafe (not to be confused with the buffet-style resto of the same name in the same area) is well loved for its traditional roasts and claypot coffee.
I went for the Claypot Kopi (with evaporated and condensed milk), which tasted as fabulous as it looks, and the BBQ Pork Noodle, which was just sensational. The coffee was rich, creamy, and with a subtle nuttiness, just the way I wanted my coffee to be.
The BBQ pork was every bit the perfect piece of barbecued meat I hoped it would be. Charred to perfection on the outside, while unbelievably succulent and flavorful on the inside, I still regret not ordering an entire slab. Also ordered Youtiao or Chinese doughnut sticks, which would have made me happier if I had a cup of soya milk to go with it.
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The place is popular and tends to be packed round the clock. I suggest swinging by at brunch time, when the breakfast people are leaving and the lunch crowd still hasn’t descended yet. On a pleasant morning or evening, you can dine outside with some lovely murals as a backdrop.
Address: No134, Jalan Petaling, City Centre. Business hours: 7:30 am to 12 am, daily; until 1 am on Fridays
Halab Gate Shawarma
Kuala Lumpur is much more of a melting pot than Metro Manila is, and it’s not so different from neighboring Singapore. Aside from locals who have Malay, Chinese, or Indian heritage, the city has a lot of Middle Eastern residents, which explains the smattering of dining establishments serving cuisines from the region (which is widely varied).
As someone who has a deep love for shawarma and kebabs, I knew I had to get my fix in KL at least once. Just a few meters away from the first hotel I stayed in is Halab Gate Shawarma, a popular shawarma shop known for its big servings and friendly price tags. I ordered its best-selling Beef Shawarma and it did not disappoint. The portion was indeed huge and packed with juicy and flavorsome meat, while the pita bread was fresh and chewy.
It comes with a free small tub of Tahini, too, which perfectly complements the beef’s smoky flavor and the medley of spices (I tasted hints of cumin, paprika, garlic, and turmeric). Bought a soda at the next-door convenience store and I was the happiest girl in the world for a few moments.
Address: 51, Jln Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang. Business hours: 10:30 am to 5 am daily
Maria’s Signature
For my last dinner in Kuala Lumpur I opted to go for some comfort food—which in my universe is pasta of whatever form. Did a quick search online for recommendations and Maria’s Signature came up on top of a few lists. Lucky me, there was a branch just 5-7 minutes away on foot from where I was booked, which was at Suria KLCC, the mall at the base of the Petronas Towers.
Maria’s Signature is considered one of KL’s best steakhouses—but I wasn’t there for the steak. At the time I think I already had too much beef—I ate an insane amount of beef satay and roast beef at Nipah the night before, plus the beef shawarma at Halab Gate just a few hours earlier.
I read that it serves great Italian dishes, too, and I have to agree. Ordered Pasta Bolognese (I know it has beef, but ground, at least) and Chicken Parmigiana, which, though not mind-blowing, were both delicious and comforting—exactly what I was looking for that evening.
The best part of my Maria’s Signature experience was chatting up the friendly floor staff which were all Pinoys! They were too kind to treat me to a most decadent order of Moist Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream—on the house! I’m a sucker for moist chocolate cakes and I have to say the one by Maria’s is one of the most decadent I’ve had.
I guess I’ll see you again Kuala Lumpur; there’s still so much of your food I want to try.
Address: Lot 157, First Floor, Suria KLCC Shopping Center, Jln Ampang. Business hours: 11 am to 9 pm
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