Eat Like a Local in Kuala Lumpur - A 6-Year Expat's Guide (Part 1)
Hey there, foodies! After 6 awesome years as an expat in KL, I've scouted out some seriously delicious spots. They might not all be budget-friendly, but trust me, they're worth every Ringgit! If you've got some time, give these a look!
📍 Bukit Bintang - Touristy but Tasty!
Yeah, Bukit Bintang's a tourist hotspot, but there are still some real gems hidden among the crowds. Here are my top picks:
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Village Roast Duck
👉 Find it on the 7th floor of Pavillion Mall.
💰 RM 60-80 per person.
Must-Try: Peking Duck Pancakes and Seafood Congee – seriously addictive!
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Soy Bean Factory
👉 Right next to the Bukit Bintang Monorail station.
💰 RM 10-15 per person.
Must-Try: Pandan Taufufa with ALL the toppings!
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Lot 10 - Tabushi Ramen
👉 Head to the LG1 Food Court in Lot 10.
💰 RM 25-30 per bowl.
Must-Try: Tonkatsu Ramen – slurp worthy!
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Sukiya - Halal Buffet (No Pork)
👉 6th floor of Pavillion Mall.
💰 RM 45-50 per person for 2 hours.
Soup Recommendations: Sukiya and Tomato – flavor explosions!
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Bonus: Nanyang Cafee
👉 7th floor of Pavillion Mall.
💰 RM 30 per person.
Must-Try: Fried Pork with Rice/Noodle, XO Noodle Soup, Polo Butter Bun, Milk Tea – classic Malaysian comfort food!
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Vertigo by Banyantree
👉 Rooftop bar with INSANE views of the KL skyline. Book online (especially for weekends!) or just walk in. Dress code applies (no shorts for guys!).
💰 RM 10-30
📍 KLCC - Convenient but Cautious!
Another super popular tourist area, KLCC has its conveniences, but great eats can be tricky to find. Here's the lowdown:
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Serai KLCC - Malay Cuisine
👉 2nd floor of KLCC Mall.
💰 RM 30-40 per person.
Must-Try: Char Kway Teo and Nasi Lemak – Malaysian staples done right!
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K Fry Korean Urban
👉 Ground floor of KLCC Mall.
💰 RM 50-60 per person.
Must-Try: Cheese Fried Chicken (mild), Rice Ball, Army Stew Soup, and ALL the Bingsu – Korean comfort food heaven!
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Oriental Kopi - Seriously Good!
👉 1st floor of KLCC Mall.
💰 RM 30-40 per person.
Must-Try: Nasi Lemak, Thong Sui Sea Coconut, Polo Butter Bun, Egg Tart, and Hainanese Chicken Rice – a flavor fiesta!
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Shabuyo
👉 Lalaport Mall (take the train to Hangtuah station!).
Japanese buffet that's good but not cheap - but many choices. Call Tomato soup.
💰 RM 70-80 per person.
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Kenny Hill Bakery - Ampang
👉 Take the LRT to Ampang station, then Grab for 5 mins. Amazing pastries! - Recommend Peach Tart.
Drinks are normal but pastries are great.
💰 RM 20-30 per person.
📍 KL Sentral - Where I Work, Where I Eat!
I'm here every day, so you know these places are legit good. Get ready for some serious eats!
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4 Fingers Fried Chicken - SO Good!
👉 From KL Sentral, head through the gates and up the escalator to NU Sentral Mall.
💰 RM 20-30 per person.
Must-Try: Mixed Sauce Fried Chicken – forget KFC, this is the real deal!
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Dodo Korean Food
👉 NU Sentral Mall, 4th Floor.
💰 RM 20 per person.
Must-Try: Mixed Fried Chicken Meal + Fried Fish/Squid/Beef (your choice!) – choose two savory dishes!
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Taiwanese Homie Recipe
👉 NU Sentral Mall, LG floor.
💰 RM 15-20 per person.
Must-Try: Chilli Pan Mee Original/Mushroom Pan Mee + Fish Tofu – spicy noodle heaven!
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Zus Cafe
👉 NU Sentral Mall.
💰 RM 10-15 per person.
Must-Try: All the Matcha Lattes – matcha madness!
📍 Chinatown - Historic and Delicious!
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Hi Tea Malaysia
👉 Located in Chinatown.
💰 20-30 RM/người
Traditional tea shop with great views.
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Nike Niko Matcha
👉 Located in Chinatown.
💰 20-30 RM/người
Choose the thickness of your Matcha. There are several levels to choose from.
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Soong Kee Beef Noodle
👉 Located in Chinatown.
💰 15-20 RM/người
Must-Try: Dry Beef Ball Noodle
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Hong Kee Claypot Chicken Rice
👉 Located in Chinatown.
💰 15-50 RM/người
Must-Try: Clay Pot Chicken Rice with soup
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Mee Tarik Restorant
👉 Located in Chinatown.
💰 15-20 RM/người
Must-Try: Dumplings, halal Chinese style beef noodles
📍 Outside KL - The Local's Secret Stash!
These are my top picks OUTSIDE of the city center. More authentic, more local, and often cheaper! Because, let's be honest, the best food is always a little "hidden." Search these places and decide if it's worth the trip!
📍 Kuchai Lama - Food Paradise!
A true local food haven. Endless delicious options! Closest train station: Kuchai (yellow line). Then take a Grab, or ride from Ampang Park (yellow line) and walk/Grab for 5 mins.
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Bossku Mookata
👉 Amazing Thai Mookata buffet!
💰 RM 40-50 per person.
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Thái Yeh
👉 Thai cuisine with a Chinese twist!
💰 RM 30-40 per person.
Must-Try: Crab Fried Rice, Roast Pork Noodles, Mooping, Salted Egg Yolk Toast – unique and delicious!
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Jin Xuan Hong Kong
👉 Best dim sum EVER! Multiple locations, but one in Kuchai!
💰 RM 40-50 per person.
Must-Try: Fried Shrimp Paste, Chicken Feet, Porridge, and ALL the Dim Sum – a dim sum dream!
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Thái Tae
👉 Another fantastic Thai spot!
💰 RM 40-50 per person.
📍 SS15 - The Cool Kid's Hangout!
Pretty far from KL, but SO worth it if you're a foodie adventurer. A haven for young people and students!
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Little Baly Cafe
👉 Live music at night, chill outdoor vibes. The food's okay, but the atmosphere is great!
💰 RM 15-20 per person.
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Master Lee Hot Pot
👉 AMAZING hot pot! Everything from the ambiance to the ingredients is top-notch. Tomato broth is a MUST!
💰 RM 60-100 per person.
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Moo-ka-ta
👉 As the name suggests, Thai BBQ and hot pot, but NOT a buffet. Try the sweet and sour Tom Yum soup!
💰 RM 50-80 per person.
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Bingsu Q
👉 Bingsu heaven! Try the Thai Tea Cheese flavor – you won't regret it!
💰 RM 20-30 per person.
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Gold Chilli
👉 Famous for their salted egg butter chicken! Super affordable and delicious, but a little rich. One portion is enough!
📍 SS2 - A Little Closer to KL
Closer than SS15, but still outside the city center. About 30 mins from KL Sentral. Take the train to Taman Paramount and then Grab to your destination.
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Sushi Shin
👉 Delicious and affordable sushi! Great grilled beef, sushi, and Japanese sets.
💰 30 - 40 RM
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Afteryou
👉 Famous for their Bingsu, not too sweet, not too much. Can be shared by 2 people. It is so famous that many times you have to queue up before you can eat.
💰 20-30 RM
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Broom Artisan Bakery
👉 Beautiful and cute cafe specializing in French pastries.
💰 20-30 RM
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Nasi Lemak Bumbung
👉 If you want to eat one of the most famous Nasi Lemak restaurants in KL, which is both delicious and cheap, then eat here. You'll always remember after eating because the rice is cooked just right and the sauce isn't salty.
💰 10 - 20 RM
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Flour, Fire & Stone
👉 Cafe combined with European food. Affordable and the food is oke. The space is beautiful and chill.
💰 30-40
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Durianman SS2
👉 Address to eat Durian Buffet, Durian of all kinds such as Musangking, D22, etc. Musangking is especially bitter, D22 and Susu durian are sweeter and less bitter.
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Dking Durian
👉 SS2 is the kingdom of durian so there are many places that sell it, but this place sells Cendol Durian - Malay coconut milk cake eaten with durian. This is super sweet, but you should also order 1 bowl for two people to eat because this is a specialty.
💰 20 - 30 RM
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TNR by Sean
👉 You must eat good Char Siu here. Order Char Siu Wantan Noodles. Crispy skin, the fat melts in your mouth.
💰 10-20 RM
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Toast & Roast
👉 Also belongs to the SS2 area but a little further from the center of SS2. Also sells Char Siu noodles. The quality of the Char Siu is the same as TRN by Sean but I think it's a little tastier.
💰 10 - 20 RM
Stay tuned for Part 2!
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