You are literally spoilt for food in Kuala Lumpur. Whether you’re craving traditional Malay/Ngoyan, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Pakistani, Thai, Japanese or Vietnamese, your food needs will be catered for. Here are a few standout places we ate at that didn’t break the budget. Keep in mind, in Malaysia, if you’re dining in, ordering a drink per person is always expected. The prices below include our drink orders.
Limapulo: Baba Can Cook for classic Malaysian Nyonyan
We had two of our best meals in KL here. This cool little eatery serves up delicious Nyonyan cuisine in a really nice environment, for a really reasonable price. On Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, you can get their classic laksa on lunch special (which won best laksa in KL 2015) for only 10rs (3.5NZ/2.5US). Equally delicious was the whole fish with sambal, grilled eggplant with salted shrimp and fisherman’s net pancake with curry. Finish it with their brown sugar sago. Our meals here ranged from 35-85rs for two.
Jalan Alor, Food Street for a bit of everything
Every blog, guidebook and influencer tells you to go here. And they’re right – Jalan Alor is an entire street packed with food vendors big and small. Starting around 6.30pm and finishing late, we got dinner here on three separate occasions. Because it’s no secret though, the prices are considerably higher than typical street food prices. To make the most of your money, head to Wong Ah Wah, which you can find at the end of the street, heading downhill, on the left. The sambal squid, eggplant with pork mince and chicken satay from here are particularly 10/10. Our meals here ranged from 35-90rs for two.
Cafe Old Market Square for Nasi Lemak Asam (with a nice place to sit)
Nami Lemak Asam (chicken) is the classic Malaysia workers brekkie or lunch. Coconut rice, peanuts, fried anchovies, half a boiled egg, a little cucumber, a massive dollop of sambal and a leg of chicken. It’s sold in little triangular parcels on every second street corner. Unfortunately for us, it’s usually sold as a takeaway item – and we had nowhere to take it away to (not wanting to carry it back to our windowless hostel room). So head here for a mean Nasi Lemak Asam (seriously good sambal) for 12rs (drink not included). The eatery is located inside the old market square building, with plenty of tables and chairs.
TG’s for cheap Indian-Malay
This little eatery is one lane over from Jalan Alor, and is open almost around the clock. Here you can get delicious rendang and versions curries over biryani rice – either from their pay-per-scoop buffet, or off the menu. They have a full range of stir-fried noodles (we didn’t order any, but they looked good.) Best eat here was the chicken murtabak, for only 9rs (drink not included), it was fat and juicy.
Betel Leaf or Paradise for some great Indian
Betel leaf is order-off-the-menu, Paradise is a pay-per-scoop buffet. They’re both excellent. Best at Betel was definitely the Gobi Manchurian – fried cauliflower in a garlicy dry gravy (though the thali also looked epic), and at Paradise, you have to get a big scoop of the lamb curry. Both will set you back around 50rs for dinner for two.
Lot 10 Hutong for a great foodcourt/hawker centre fare
Lot 10 is a great cheap-eat spot in the middle of KL’s luxury shopping district. Located underneath the Lot 10 Mall, this food court is jam-packed with Malaysian and Chinese booths, and nearly everything is under 15rs. Definitely make time for the Char Kuey from ‘Penang Famous’, which comes in two flavours: original, and salted duck egg. The latter is only a few ringgits more, and is well worth it.
VCR or Merchant’s Lane for your caffeine fix
VCR has a simple fit-out but does excellent coffee, with no service charge. They have free wifi and plenty of seating. We ate off their breakfast menu once (scrambled eggs and salmon with Parmesan and sambal) – 10/10.
Merchant’s Lane is one of the most popular and photographed cafes in KL. The coffee is great, and with three different seating areas, all with slightly different decor, it’s a beautiful place to spend a few hours. We ate off the breakfast menu once here too – rotti with chickpea dahl – 10/10.
