Discover Kuala Lumpur’s diverse culinary delights, from the national dish, nasi lemak, to the popular satay skewers. The city offers a rich food culture influenced by its multicultural population, featuring dishes like chee cheong fun, rojak, cendol, and bak kut teh. Explore the vibrant street food scene and upscale dining options for an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
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Nasi Lemak
Starting off with easily the most popular food in Kuala Lumpur, and also its national dish, nasi lemak is a dish that can be served in a few different ways based on your preference. It’s made with coconut rice, sambal, anchovies, cucumber, peanuts and a hard-boiled egg – a pretty traditional style of Malaysian food.
Normally, you can order nasi lemak with a choice of side dishes, which often include things like fried chicken, sambal squid or beef rendang which are all absolutely delicious.
Chee Cheong Fun
This one may not necessarily be a traditional food in Kuala Lumpur, as such, because it’s actually Cantonese originally, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t commonly served – and for good reason. Commonly referred to as a simple rice noodle roll, chee cheong fun is made by steaming sheets of batter of rice noodle and simply rolling them up with an array of fillings, kind of like a spring roll, except the roll is then sliced into bite-sized pieces.
Fillings include things like shrimp, beef or char siu, all of which are really tasty But if you’re looking for something meatless, chee cheong fun is actually a great option if you have vegetables as a filling. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that this is one of the best things to have if you’re looking for vegan food in Kuala Lumpur.
While it certainly can be served plain, rice noodle rolls are also often served with dipping sauces, including soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chilli sauce or sesame sauce. They’re all tasty, but my personal favourite is a good old beef rice noodle roll with a hoisin dipping sauce – my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Rojak
Rojak is basically a big mixture of vegetables, fruits and sauce – an unusual jumble of absolute deliciousness. Typically, it’s made with bean sprouts, mango, pineapple, cucumber and jicama all mixed together in a bowl – often, tofu or friend dough fritters are added on the side for an extra dose of crunch.
The ingredients are then dressed with a super delicious sauce made from a combination of shrimp paste, lime juice, chilli, sugar and tamarind paste. Rojak in Kuala Lumpur is normally also made with crushed peanuts which we think is the perfect way to finish off the dish!
Cendol
If you’re looking for good food in Kuala Lumpur that’ll satisfy your sweet tooth, you’ll have to give cendol a try. It’s not technically a food, it’s a kind of a drink, but man, it certainly is delicious, whatever you want to call it. It’s made using coconut milk, palm sugar syrup and pandan-flavoured jelly noodles that are made from rice flour. It’s finished with shaved ice on top.
Normally served in a bowl or a cup, cendol is super refreshing and tasty, and it’s accompanied by sweet corn, sliced jackfruit or red beans. This is a street food in Kuala Lumpur that you’re not going to be able to get enough of!
Nasi Kandar
Nasi kandar is a type of steamed rice dish that is often served as a side to curries and other saucy dishes. It’s pretty mildly flavoured which makes it ideal for accentuating the awesome spices you’re bound to enjoy in the curry you’re eating it with. Nasi kandar isn’t necessarily something you’re likely to eat on its own, but it is a common food in Kuala Lumpur, so you’re bound to come across it a lot while you’re visiting the city.
Bak Kut Teh
Another typical food in Kuala Lumpur that you’re bound to find at most restaurants and eateries is bak kut the, a pork-based soup that is sure to blow your mind. This dish is made with simmering pork ribs (drool) along with a few other cuts of meat, depending on the chef, in a rich broth, made with a combination of herbs and spices. This normally includes cinnamon, cloves, lots of garlic, pepper and star anise. The finish it off, vegetables like mushrooms and bok choy are normally added, along with tofu puffs on the side.
Served with a side of rice and often other little dishes (veggies or fritters, most commonly), I’d say that bak kut teh is the ultimate comfort food, offering hearty and delicious goodness that’ll fill your belly and put a smile on your face.
Satay
A popular Malaysian dish that you’ve almost definitely heard of before, satay is always an absolute winner. Now, trust us when we say that even if you’ve tried satay elsewhere, you haven’t truly had satay until you’ve tried it at a street market in Kuala Lumpur.
For those who don’t know what satay is, satay is basically seasoned meat on a skewer that’s cooked over a grill or something similar. It may sound pretty simple, but in my opinion, satay is the top food in Kuala Lumpur, and I’m not changing my mind.
What’s special about really good authentically Malaysian satay is the variety of spices that are used to season the meat. Lots of different spices are involved, but it’s the turmeric that really makes it what it is. The meat is then grilled on charcoal, giving it the smoky flavour we all know and love.
Finally, it’s served with an array of dipping sauces, but my favourite – and arguably the most common – is a tangy peanut chutney. So if you’re going to visit night markets in Kuala Lumpur, which you absolutely have to, you’re bound to try satay and I’d bet on money on the fact that it’s probably going to end up being your favourite street food in Kuala Lumpur.
Char Kuey Teow
Char Kuey Teow isn’t actually from Malaysia originally, it’s Chinese, but it’s become so popular in the country, that nowadays, it’s actually considered a typical dish in Kuala Lumpur. Made with flat rice noodles, char kuey teow combines a mixture of prawns, sprouts, eggs and cockles in a stir fry, along with some yummy Chinese sausage (but not always).
This noodle dish is served all over the city, in restaurants or from street stalls, and it’s flavourful and delicious.
Pork Noodles
If you’re on the hunt for a traditional breakfast dish during your time in Kuala Lumpur, surprisingly enough, pork noodles are a fairly common option. But this dish is made in a slightly different way from what you may expect when your first hear what it’s called.
Pork noodles are normally made with minced work with dried noodles and pieces of sausage in a black sauce. Often, you get a third pork component with your dish in the form of a pork meatball, and the entire dish is served in a tasty clear broth with a few veggies. As always, the broth is full of flavour, especially soy sauce, ginger and garlic. So, if you’re looking for good food in Kuala Lumpur, this is one dish that ought to be right at the top of your list.
Wantan Mee
Although it’s originally a Cantonese dish, wantan mee has become a famous food in Kuala Lumpur and it’s served pretty much all over because it’s a pretty simple one. Wantan mee is basically a mixture of noodles and a soy-based sauce, with your choice of meat on top – you can normally choose from pork, prawn or squid. This one may be simple, but it sure is tasty.
Lok Lok
At first glance, lok lok might make you think of satay, and it certainly is quite similar, but it’s definitely not the same thing. Far from any form of fast food in Kuala Lumpur, lok lok can include an array of different things, but what they have in common is that they’re all skewered.
You’ll find vegetables, sausages, different types of meat and combinations of the three – they may be grilled, pan-fried or deep-fried, and although lok lok is often served – or ordered – as a snack, it can get pretty filling, so you’ll probably find that you won’t even need a main course when you’re done!
Final Thoughts on the Best Food in Kuala Lumpur
If you came here wondering, what is the most popular food in Kuala Lumpur? Then I’ll be bold and assert that you’ve probably got an answer to that. Not only have we told you the most common and typical foods that you’ll find in Kuala Lumpur, but we’ve filled you in on insider tips and interesting facts about Kuala Lumpur cuisine more generally.
We bet you’re just itching to get there and hit those night markets, and now, as you wander the streets, you’ll know exactly what you’re looking at from stall to stall – well, more or less.
Whether you’re looking forward to trying the city’s famous pork noodles or the satay that pops into my mind at least once a week, you’re bound to have an epic experience just while eating – never mind exploring the city and seeing all its fascinating sights and attractions!
So, what are you waiting for? Better book your flights, pack your bags and be on your way – the street vendors of Kuala Lumpur are calling!
Sources
https://www.holidify.com/pages/street-food-in-kuala-lumpur-3788.html
https://www.mytravelbuzzg.com/kuala-lumpur-food-guide/
https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/top-7-list-best-cendol-044553906.html
Penny is a sought-after wedding and party planner, known primarily for her exquisite culinary knowledge, sharp palette and inventive pairings of wine and drink.
She has traveled the world hunting for the best food and drink to share with her clients on their special day.