Best Food to Eat in Kuala Lumpur: My 8 Best Foodie Spots in KL 2025

Last Updated on June 22, 2025 by Oliver

Kuala Lumpur might be one of my favorite major cities in Southeast Asia. It’s a place I keep coming back to, either as a stopover or just because I genuinely enjoy the big city vibe.

I love the skyline, the energy, the mix of cultures, the food scene, and of course, how affordable it is. In my head, it’s basically a cheaper Singapore with arguably even better food.

I’ve been to KL quite a few times now (I always try to stretch out my stopovers here for at least a few nights), so I figured it’s time to put together a few articles about my experience, starting with the food.

This isn’t a Michelin star list, obviously. These are my personal picks, places I genuinely enjoyed eating at and some of the best food to eat in Kuala Lumpur IMO. So take it for what it is: a low-key, honest guide to where I think the food is worth your time. No crazy hype, no hour-long queues, just the places I have been to.

What is the Best Food to Eat in Kuala Lumpur ? I’ve Got the Answers Right Here

Alright, before we dive into this list, let me just say it up front that this is my personal opinion. I’m not pretending to be a local foodie, and I’m fully aware that some of the spots I went to are probably considered super mainstream by KL standards.

But also, this isn’t a list of “Malaysian must-eats” either. To me, Kuala Lumpur is like New York or London. I wouldn’t go to New York and only eat American food, or to London and only eat British pub grub. These are major cities with food influences from all over the world and KL is the same.

So no, I didn’t only go to traditional street food stalls. I wanted variety. I wanted sushi and pizza. I wanted ramen. I wanted dumplings and noodle soups and flat whites in the mornings, and KL delivers all of that, and it’s super affordable too.

This is basically your heads-up: this list isn’t just curry, laksa, and nasi lemak (though I do love those). But it’s also not a curated guide to hidden hipster spots, I’m not from KL, and I’m not going to pretend to know all the insider secrets. These are simply my favorite places I ate at and would recommend to other tourists visiting Kuala Lumpur.

My Kuala Lumpur Food Guide

1. Jalan Alor Food Street // Most Famous Food in Kuala Lumpur

Opening Hours: 4pm-2am
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Alright, I’m obviously starting with probably the most touristy food spot in all of Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Alor Food Street.

It’s right in the middle of Bukit Bintang, one of the coolest areas in the city and packed with great food options. The street itself is a mix of loud, colorful, and chaotic, lined with street food stalls on one side and sit-down restaurants on the other. Even if you’re not hungry, I’d still recommend coming here just for the atmosphere. It’s especially fun at night.

As for where I ate, I went to Restoran Sai Woo, but to be honest, most of the places here serve very similar menus: lots of Chinese-style dishes, plenty of seafood, and ice-cold beer. We had grilled chicken, fried squid, and even tried stingray which was surprisingly good.

Would I say it’s the best food you’ll find in KL? Probably not. It’s definitely a bit overpriced for what you get, but I still think it’s worth it for the vibe. Especially if you’re with friends or family, it’s just a fun place to hang out, eat good food, and enjoy the buzz of the city.

2. Pizza Mansion // My Top Pizza Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

Opening Hours: 12pm-11pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

When I got to Kuala Lumpur, I’d already been traveling around Southeast Asia for a while, so yes, the craving for something more familiar (Western comfort food) was real. I decided on pizza and ended up at Pizza Mansion.

The restaurant itself was super nicely designed with a cool interior, stylish without trying too hard and thankfully, the food lived up to the look. The pizza was exactly what I needed: perfectly crisp, light and fluffy dough, and really solid toppings. We also tried the garlic bread and lasagna, both of which were just so so good.

If I came back, this would definitely be the kind of place I’d sit for a while and enjoy pizza, lasagna, tiramisu, and a nice glass of red wine. It’s got that cozy, date-night feel without being pretentious.

2. Mee Tarik Restoran // Amazing Street Food in Kuala Lumpur

Opening Hours: 6am-12am
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I love a good, down-to-earth local restaurant, you know, plastic chairs, wooden chopsticks, just simple and good food. Mee Tarik Restoran in Chinatown is exactly that. It’s a simple little noodle and dumpling spot, and it’s so good.

“Mee tarik” means hand-pulled noodles, and that’s the star of the show here. The menu is short, but everything we had was yummy. We tried the noodle soup, pork dumplings, and wontons, and everything was fresh, flavorful, and super cheap.

This is definitely one of those great hidden gems for a cheap and satisfying meal. And even though it’s Chinese food, I’d still call it local since Chinese influence is massive in Malaysia, so this totally counts.

3. Feeka Coffee Roasters

Opening Hours: 8am-10pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Feeka Coffee Roasters is one of our go-to brunch and coffee spots in Kuala Lumpur and pretty much every time we visit, we end up here. For starters, they make one of the best flat whites in KL, and I’m definitely a bit of a coffee snob.

But the food’s just as good. We had the shakshuka and the eggs benedict with salmon, and both were exactly what I wanted. After weeks of traveling through Southeast Asia and having fried rice for breakfast, I was seriously craving a proper Western-style brunch. This place delivers that whole Aussie café vibe with good coffee, great food, and a nice little patio to hang out on.

4. Menya Sishido

Opening Hours: 11am-9:30pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Menya Shishido is definitely one of the best ramen spots in Kuala Lumpur, at least from what I’ve tried so far. The ramen is made fresh with homemade noodles, and the broth was super flavorful.

It’s located inside a shopping mall, which might sound random, but that’s actually totally normal in KL. Some of the best restaurants are hidden in malls, and honestly, with how hot the city gets, I kind of love it. I don’t fully remember which ramen I ordered, I think I just picked something that looked good in the photo but whatever it was, it was really tasty.

Maybe not the place for a romantic date night, but perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch.

5. Sushi Zanmai

Opening Hours: 11am-10pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I know Kuala Lumpur has plenty of fancy sushi spots, but when it comes to value for money, I think Sushi Zanmai is hard to beat. It’s a cozy little place near the Petronas Towers, and the quality of the sushi is actually really good, especially for the price.

We tried a few different rolls with tuna, salmon, and even eel, plus some nigiri and edamame. Everything was fresh and tasty. You also get unlimited green tea, which is always a bonus. We finished with a slice of chocolate cake which was not a must-try, but a nice extra.

All in all, we paid around $19 USD between us for everything, which is amazing for what we got. Definitely a great spot if you’re after good sushi without the fancy price tag.

6. Bean Brothers KL

Opening Hours: 8:30am-8pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Since we’re both working remotely, we’re always on the lookout for a good café to work from and Bean Brothers is definitely one of the best in Kuala Lumpur. The space is huge, with a downstairs area, an outdoor section, and an upstairs level that’s basically set up for remote workers. There were at least 20 people on laptops when we were there, so we never felt out of place.

The coffee was excellent (flat whites were on point), and the breakfast was yummy too. We had the Turkish eggs and a ham and cheese bagel, both were tasty. It’s a little pricier than some other spots, but for the vibe, comfort, and good Wi-Fi, we thought it was totally worth it.

7. Kunafa Crisp

Opening Hours: 9am-3am
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

I realized I didn’t have any dessert spots on this list yet, so let’s fix that. I’m obsessed with kunafa ever since I first tried it in Amman, Jordan. If you’ve never had it, kunafa is this gooey, stringy cheese dessert soaked in sugar syrup and yes, sweet cheese and I always get it with a scoop of pistachio ice cream on top. I know it sounds questionable, but trust me, it’s insanely good.

Kuala Lumpur has a decent Arab community, which means you can find good kebabs and good kunafa. We went to Kunafa Crisp, which is conveniently close to Jalan Alor Food Street so it’s the perfect dessert stop after dinner there. It wasn’t quite Jordan-level, but still really tasty and totally worth it if you’ve got a sweet tooth.

8. Asam Laksa // Best Street Food Kuala Lumpur

Opening Hours: 12pm-7:30pm
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Laksa is hands down one of my favorite Malaysian dishes. I know it’s also popular in Indonesia and Singapore, everyone kind of claims it but the best I’ve had so far was in Malaysia, especially in Penang. That said, I had some really good laksa in Kuala Lumpur too.

If you’ve never had it, laksa is a spicy noodle soup, usually made with a rich coconut milk broth, rice noodles, prawns, and all sorts of herbs and spices. It’s flavorful, a little spicy, and totally addictive. Definitely my go-to local dish when I’m in this part of the world.

In KL, we went to a little stall on Petaling Street called Asam Laksa, and it’s proper street food, cooked right there on the side of the road. We sat on tiny plastic stools at a wobbly table and slurped down bowls of steaming laksa. It was the full street food experience and the flavors were spot on. If you’re after something local, cheap, and delicious, this is a great place to try it.

FAQs About The Best Food Kuala Lumpur

What is the best street food in Kuala Lumpur?

In my opinion, the best street food in Kuala Lumpur is either the laksa stall on Petaling Street or anything from Jalan Alor Food Street. Yes, Jalan Alor is more touristy, but it’s still a fun place to try lots of different things in one go.

What are some unique places to eat in KL?

Honestly, I’m probably not the best person to ask for super local hidden gems but I did try stingray at Jalan Alor, and it was surprisingly good. I’d order it again for sure.

Where should I go for dinner in Kuala Lumpur?

If you’re after atmosphere, head to Jalan Alor. If you’re craving something specific like ramen, pizza, sushi, or dumplings, KL has tons of solid options that won’t break the bank. 

What is some hidden gem food in KL?

Again, I won’t pretend to be a KL food expert, but one thing that really surprised me was the coffee culture here. There are so many good cafés with proper flat whites and great brunch menus here.

Final Thoughts on Where to Eat in Kuala Lumpur

One of the reasons I love Kuala Lumpur is because it gives you that proper big city vibe while still being affordable. I can get a skyline view from the 30th floor of a hotel or apartment without paying a fortune. And the food, well, I can eat dumplings one day, sushi the next, and still grab a plate of local laksa at a street stall the day after.

I’m not saying KL has the best food scene in the world, and I’m definitely not the go-to for fancy Michelin-star restaurants or secret local spots. But what I can say is that every time I’m backpacking through Southeast Asia or doing a longer trip, KL is my safe haven. It’s where I take a break from local street food and hostels, treat myself to good coffee and Western food, maybe even see a dentist (true story), and just enjoy a bit of convenience before heading out to explore again.

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