15 Malaysian Foods You Have to Try in Kuala Lumpur
New to Kuala Lumpur and not sure what to eat? Discover 15 Malaysian favourites to try, from nasi lemak and roti canai to cendol, tropical fruits and durian.
SPEAK BRIGHT BLOG · STUDENT LIFE · 8 MIN READ
15 Malaysian Foods You Have to Try in Kuala Lumpur
A first timer’s food guide to eating your way around KL
New to Kuala Lumpur and staring at a menu wondering what on earth to order?
Start here.
KL is the kind of city where food is never just food. Breakfast can turn into a two hour catch up, tea time somehow involves fried bananas, and even instant noodles can become something you genuinely miss when you go home.
If you are new to Kuala Lumpur and not quite sure where to begin, this list is for you. We have mixed familiar flavours with local favourites, sweet treats and a few things that might sound a little unusual until you taste them.
There is a simple spice guide too, because finding out how strong Malaysian chilli can be should not happen by accident.
You can find most of these around central Kuala Lumpur, including KLCC, Kampung Baru, Jalan Alor, Petaling Street, Masjid Jamek and Ampang. Come hungry. You have 15 things to try.
1. Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah
Spice level: 3/5, mainly from the sambal
If there is one dish you should try in Malaysia, make it nasi lemak.
Nasi lemak starts with fragrant coconut rice that is soft, fluffy and aromatic. It comes with sambal, crunchy anchovies, peanuts, boiled egg and fresh cucumber. Add ayam berempah, a well seasoned fried chicken with just enough crispy rempah, and you have one of Malaysia’s most loved meals.
The sambal can have a real kick, so start with a little if you are unsure. You can also add other dishes to your plate, from rendang and squid to vegetables and extra eggs.
For many Malaysians, nasi lemak is breakfast. For others, it works just as well for lunch, dinner or a late night meal. There really is no wrong time for it.
Where to try it:
• Nasi Lemak Wanjo, Kampung Baru
• Nasi Lemak Uncle Bob, Jalan Alor
• Village Park Restaurant, Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya. It is farther from central KL, but its famous nasi lemak ayam goreng makes it a worthwhile food trip.
2. Nasi Goreng
Spice level: 1/5 to 5/5, depending on what you order
Malaysians are very creative with rice.
Nasi goreng simply means fried rice, but in Malaysia that can mean almost anything. Local restaurants, mamak restaurants and hawker stalls all seem to have their own versions.
If chilli is not your thing, start with Chinese fried rice. It is usually simple, savoury and mild. From there, try chicken, beef or seafood fried rice. Sardines? Yes. Extra chicken? Of course. Malaysians can get very creative with rice.
Want to make it even better? Add a sunny side up egg or an omelette. Break the yolk into the rice and let it do its job.
Some versions are mild. Others are seriously spicy. If you are unsure, ask before ordering.
Where to try it:
Nasi goreng is everywhere. Around Speak Bright, Yap Kwan Seng and Kampung Baru are easy places to start. Hafila Maju at Megan Avenue 2 is one of our local picks for nasi goreng ayam.
3. Banana Leaf Rice
Spice level: 3/5, but you control the curries
Your plate is a banana leaf. That is already a good start.
Banana leaf rice has South Indian roots and is a much loved part of Kuala Lumpur’s food scene. Rice is served directly on a banana leaf with vegetables, dhal, curries, pickles and crispy sides.
You can keep it vegetarian or add chicken, fish, mutton and other side dishes. The best part is trying different curries over the rice until you discover your favourite combination.
It can get spicy, but you are in control. Start with dhal if you want something gentler, then add the stronger curries as you go.
And yes, somehow a full meal served on a banana leaf makes the whole thing even more enjoyable.
Where to try it:
Masjid Jamek and Lebuh Ampang, Brickfields and Bangsar are good areas to explore. Sri Nirwana Maju in Bangsar is one of the well-known names, and there are plenty of choices around Masjid Jamek too.
4. Naan and Chicken Tandoori
Spice level: 1 to 2/5
This is the kind of comfort food that hits the spot after a long day in Kuala Lumpur.
Naan is soft, fluffy bread cooked in a hot tandoor. Keep it simple, or go for cheese naan with melted cheese tucked inside and that very satisfying cheese pull. Garlic and onion naan is another favourite.
Pair it with chicken tandoori. The chicken is marinated with spices and cooked until smoky, fragrant and juicy.
The flavours are bold and fragrant without necessarily being very hot, so this is a good choice if you want plenty of flavour without too much chilli.
Best enjoyed in the evening when you are tired, hungry and ready for a proper sit down meal.
Where to try it:
Ampang has plenty of Indian Muslim restaurants serving naan and tandoori chicken. Q Bistro Jalan Tun Razak and Tandoori Hut are two places to look at.
5. Roti Canai and Roti Tissue
Spice level: 0/5 for the bread, 1 to 3/5 for the curry
Roti canai is one of Malaysia’s favourite breakfast foods, although eating it at midnight is completely normal too.
It is a flaky flatbread with crispy edges and a soft, buttery centre, usually served with dhal or curry.
Plain roti canai is only the beginning. Add egg. Add cheese. Add banana. It might sound odd now, but try it first.
Then there is roti tissue.
Roti tissue is extremely thin, crispy and sweet, often arriving at the table as a tall cone. Break it apart with your hands and share it with friends.
Pair either one with teh tarik and you have a proper Malaysian mamak experience.
Where to try it:
Mamak restaurants across Kuala Lumpur, including NZ Curry House, Pelita and Hafila Maju.
6. Teh Tarik
Meet Malaysia’s pulled tea.
Teh tarik is strong tea mixed with milk, then poured back and forth between two containers. That pulling gives it the frothy top and helps cool it down.
It is creamy, slightly sweet and very easy to like.
You will see it at breakfast, over afternoon conversations and late at night at mamak restaurants.
No special destination needed. Teh tarik is almost everywhere.
If you do not like very sweet drinks, ask for less sweet.
Where to try it:
Almost any mamak restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.
7. Maggi Goreng with a Sunny Side Up Egg
Spice level: 2 to 3/5
We take instant noodles very seriously here.
Maggi goreng takes familiar instant noodles and stir fries them with vegetables, seasoning, sauces and usually a little chilli. Then comes the sunny side up egg.
Break the yolk.
Mix it through the noodles.
You will understand.
It is cheap, filling and full of flavour, especially good in the evening or late at night. Somehow, something as simple as instant noodles turns into a meal you start craving.
Where to try it:
Almost every mamak restaurant. Yap Kwan Seng, KLCC and Kampung Baru are easy areas to find it.
8. Apam Balik, the Malaysian Pancake
Time for something sweet.
Apam balik is a Malaysian pancake commonly found at night markets and street stalls. The classic filling is generous: crushed peanuts, sugar and sweet corn tucked into a warm, buttery pancake.
Some are thick, fluffy and soft. Others are thin and crispy.
Thick or crispy, the combination of warm pancake, crunchy peanuts and sweet filling is hard to dislike.
Perfect for tea time, or for that moment when you have already eaten dinner but somehow still have room for dessert.
Where to try it:
Look for it at night markets around Kuala Lumpur, including Kampung Baru and the Saturday market around Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Pasar Malam Kampung Baru / Kampung Baru Night Market
Pasar Malam Masjid Jamek / Masjid Jamek Night Market
Pasar Malam Jelatek / Jelatek Night Market
9. Pisang Goreng and Cekodok
Yes, we fry our fruit.
Pisang goreng is banana coated in batter and fried until golden and crisp on the outside, while the banana stays soft and sweet inside.
Cekodok is made with mashed banana, shaped into little balls and fried until deep golden brown.
Sounds like a lot?
Wait until you taste them.
These are classic Malaysian tea time snacks and they are best when freshly fried and still hot. Add a cup of hot tea or an iced Milo and you are sorted.
Where to try it:
Kampung Baru is a good place to look for traditional fried snacks. Pisang Goreng Burn on Jalan Raja Muda Musa is one place to start.
10. Iced Milo
Malaysia is hot. Iced Milo helps.
It is a cold chocolate malt drink and you will find it almost everywhere.
Order it with plenty of ice. If you want it richer, ask for Milo ais kaw. And if you see Milo powder piled generously on top, even better.
Cold, chocolatey and very easy to finish.
For many Malaysians, Milo is one of those drinks we grew up with.
After an afternoon walking around KL, that first icy sip hits differently.
Where to try it:
Almost everywhere, especially mamak restaurants and casual local eateries.
11. Cendol
KL is hot, so naturally we found a way to turn dessert into something icy.
Cendol is made with shaved ice, coconut milk, fragrant palm sugar syrup and soft green pandan jelly. Depending on where you order it, you might also get red beans, sweet corn and other extras.
It is sweet, creamy and exactly the kind of thing you want after walking around in the KL heat.
The green jelly may look unfamiliar at first. Get a little of everything on the spoon, especially the coconut milk and palm sugar.
Then it all makes sense.
Where to try it:
Kampung Baru is an easy place to start, with several cendol spots around the area.
12. Mee Tarik
Spice level: 1/5 for a clear broth, much hotter with chilli oil
Mee tarik has become a favourite in Kuala Lumpur, with roots in Chinese Muslim noodle traditions.
The noodles are the star. Fresh dough is stretched and pulled after you order, giving the noodles that lovely springy bite you simply do not get from packet noodles.
If you are new to it, start with a clear beef or chicken broth. Add the chilli oil slowly if you want more heat.
Warm, filling and comforting, it is also a good choice if spicy food is not really your thing.
Petaling Street and Jalan Sultan are great places to try it, and mee tarik shops can now be found across Kuala Lumpur.
Where to try it:
Mee Tarik Jalan Sultan, 36 Jalan Sultan, near Petaling Street.
13. Fried Ice Cream
Fried. Ice. Cream.
It sounds wrong. It works.
The outside is fried quickly until warm and crisp while the ice cream inside stays cold. Hot, cold, crunchy and creamy all at once.
It is messy, it melts fast and eating it neatly is probably not the point.
That is half the fun.
It is harder to find than most things on this list, so if you come across a good one, order it.
Where to try it:
Keep an eye out around Jalan Alor and central KL. This one is a little harder to find, which makes it even more fun when you do.
14. Tropical Fruits
Malaysia is a very good place to love fruit.
Start with mango, then try mangosteen, rambutan, dokong, pomelo and whatever happens to be in season.
Some look a little wild if you have never seen them before. Rambutan looks like it came from another planet. Mangosteen hides soft white segments inside a thick purple shell. Dokong is small, juicy and very easy to keep eating.
Jalan Alor is an easy place to see a good selection, but local night markets are often cheaper and much more fun to explore.
The selection changes with the season, so ask the seller what is good that day.
Where to try it:
Jalan Alor is the easiest central option. For a more local experience, Kuala Lumpur has neighbourhood night markets. Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman has an official Saturday night market from around 5 PM to 10 PM. Kampung Baru is also known for a Saturday evening market. Wangsa Maju has several neighbourhood night markets on different days, so check the current location and day before travelling.
15. Durian, the King of Fruits
Flavour intensity: definitely 5/5
We saved this one for last.
Durian is the king of fruits, and it does not do subtle.
Depending on the variety, the flesh can be sweet, creamy, rich and slightly bitter. The texture is almost like custard.
And then there is the smell.
Some people love it. Some people keep their distance.
But if you have come all the way to Malaysia, you should at least find out which side you are on.
For your first try, share with friends instead of buying too much. Tell the seller you are a beginner and ask for a recommendation. Musang King, Black Thorn, D24 and Udang Merah are just some of the names you may come across.
No trip to Malaysia is complete without at least one durian story.
Where to try it:
Choose a proper durian stall where the fruit is opened fresh in front of you. Ask the seller what is in season and what they recommend for a first timer.
A Little Advice Before You Start
Malaysian food can be bold, sweet, spicy, smoky and creamy, sometimes all in the same meal. You do not need to love chilli to enjoy eating in Kuala Lumpur. Ask for less spicy, keep the sambal on the side and work your way up.
And please do not try to finish all 15 in one weekend. KL is much better when you eat your way through it slowly.
At Speak Bright Language Center, we believe English becomes more useful when you take it outside the classroom. Ordering your own meal, asking what is in a dish, chatting with a stall owner and exploring a new neighbourhood are all part of using English in real life.
Pick something from the list, bring a friend and go explore.
Your next favourite Malaysian food could be one order away.
Lina Ismail
English Teacher, Speak Bright
