Where to even start…some of our favourite food experiences to date were in KL and a month later, I’m still being asked ‘so was it as good as Chinatown Pork Bao?’
These are some of the awesome food and drink options we found/were recommended. We also suggest you try some other Malaysia specialties- Char Kway Teow, Marmite Pork and Salted Egg Squid.
PS150
Still not far into our South East Asian trip, there was some budget for a sneaky cocktail or two, and once we heard about this place we just had to find it. Described to us as a ‘secret cocktail bar in Chinatown’, we set off to find it. While there’s a small sign outside, the opening to the bar is disguised as a traditional toy shop, one of the cooler bar fronts we’ve seen.
Inside is a pretty sweet set up too, with low lighting, brick walls and a well stocked bar. The bar staff are obvious cocktail enthusiasts, pouring some unique but tasty tipples. While we were easily seated on a Thursday evening, we hear it’s a little harder to get in on the weekend and a dress code is strictly adhered to on Friday and Saturday. We prefer to drink our cocktails in jandals, so were happy.
150 Jalan Petaling, Ground Floor, KL
Chinatown Dim Sum
I couldn’t tell you the name of this hawker stall at Chinatown, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find. It’s down the street to the left off Petaling St, and pretty sure the only set up in Chinatown with bao and dumplings steaming right on the pavement.
The first time we enjoyed food from this stall, we sat and ate and enjoyed every mouthful, while we opted for take away the second time, given we were in a rush back to the airport. Given my love of Dim Sum, I like to think of myself as somewhat of a connoisseur (others would disagree of course), but I happen to think this is up there and worth a trip.
Jalan Hang Lekr, Chinatown, KL
S.Wine
If someone was to tell me that there’s a mighty fine dining option in the middle of a grocery store in a mall, I’d probably look at them slightly strangely, but we tried this one for ourselves and can honestly say, one of the best meals of our trip. Republika is one of the flashier malls in the city, and far enough away that an Uber was required to get there (we stopped off on our way back from Batu caves).
Inside a pretty swanky grocery store within the mall, called B.I.G, we found S.Wine café, which was what you might call a dedicated pork restaurant and lucky for us, we love us some pork. We’d already been recommended the Momofuku inspired pork buns so were quick to order those, as well as some satay skewers and the garlic roasted potatoes. Probably not the classiest combination, but the tastiest. The pork buns were amaze and the potatoes were genius.
Sri Hartamas UG-1A, Level UG, B.I.G. Ben’s Independent Grocer, Publika Shopping Gallery, No.1, Jalan Dutamas1, Solaris Dutamas, KL
W.A.W Restaurant, Jalon Alor (Wong Ah Wah)
You know when you’re recommend a place more than once, it’s probably worth a visit. Everyone speaks so highly of the chicken wings at Wong Ah Wah, we thought we better check them out. It’s the last place on the left on a street of restaurants and vendors, a little hard to find, but the guy cooking the chicken wings out the front should give it away. I can’t say the chicken wings blew our mind, but the food was pretty good and the atmosphere pretty good too. Just expect a bit of a wait if you order the wings. I suggest grabbing some pre dinner snacks from one of the many hawkers to tie you over.
9 Jalan Alor, Bukit Bintang, 50200 KL
Restoran Sri Nirwana Maju Bangsar
It seems the banana leaf curry is a bit of a specialty in Bangsar, an area of KL chocka with so many dinner offerings. We opted for this place, as the line outside suggested it was a good choice, and well, we’d never had dinner served on a Banana leaf before. Pretty darn good for our first Banana leaf experience – a quick, uncomplicated dinner, but super tasty and super filling.
43, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, 59100, KL
Heli Lounge Bar
Judging by how busy this place was when we visited, it’s obviously a ‘must go’ for tourists and locals alike. At night the heli pad on the roof of this building morphs into a rooftop bar, with some of the more decent views you’ll probably find in KL.
The building doesn’t look much from the outside, but make your way up to the top, buy yourself a slightly over-priced drink at the slightly dodgy bar, then walk the stairs to the top. We aimed to get here for sunset, but due to a few technical issues with Uber we missed it, but the evening skyline views were pretty awesome on their own.
Bukit Bintang, 34th Floor, Menara KH, Jalan Sultan Ismal, KL
Central Market
While we wouldn’t rave about the markets, if you’re looking for some cheap eats and a quick sit down for lunch, check out the food court upstairs at Central Market. Several options, all look pretty tasty, and they won’t blow the budget.
Jalan Hang, Kasturi, City Centre 50050, KL
Old China Café
We ate here on our first night in KL at the recommendation of some kiwis we met in PS150, as it’s very nearby and a favourite amongst the expats. Boasting a decent menu of Chinese Malay dishes, we enjoyed our dinner here, helped by the simple, yet traditional décor. Not our favourite meal in KL, but definitely recommended for a dinner in the Chinatown area.
11 Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000, KL
Bar Lai
This bar is a little hidden and out of the way, you might need GPS to find it. We turned up on a late Friday afternoon expecting the place to be busy, but found out it doesn’t get busier until later in the evening. Nice place for a chilled out drink if you’re in the area.
3 Jalan Sin Chew Kee, Bukit Bintang, 50150, KL
Coffee Amo
On the hunt for a decent coffee near our hotel, we found this place. Nestled above street level near Chinatown, you could probably quite easily walk past the entrance without noticing this little café, but we’re glad we stepped inside.
Hardly bustling when we visited and slightly lacking in atmosphere, we were kept entertained by the chalk drawings on the wall and the slightly sparse decor. While waffles are the only food offering (not necessarily a bad thing), we enjoyed the coffee in an area of town, which seemed to lack in the coffee stakes. Maybe check it out.
1st Floor, 54 Jalan Sultan City Centre, 50000, KL
