KL food hunt: 6 Chow Kit cafes & restaurants to indulge yourself at
Are you tired of visiting the same ‘hoods in Kuala Lumpur for food? If you’re like us, we recommend checking out Chow Kit for some cool cafes and chilli pan mee.
KL’s Jalan Alor and Chinatown are two convenient spots with plenty of options, but can be very crowded. Klang and Petaling Jaya are hawker-food havens, but can be rather out of the way.
Chow Kit, with its slew of trendy cafes, is a great alternative — and it’s just a short 15-minute drive from Chinatown, too.
If you’re looking for a spot in Singapore that truly embodies the same buzzy and vibrant energy, nothing quite comes close, but we’d describe the former red light district as a more rustic Joo Chiat or Tiong Bahru!
Curious to find out what’s in the area? Here are some of the best Chow Kit cafes and restaurants we think are worth adding to your next KL itinerary!
1. Kin Kin Restaurant
Why visit? Kin Kin Restaurant is probably one of the most legendary spots for chilli pan mee and is as worthy of your calories as Chow Kit’s trendier cafes or restaurants — in fact, you should probably come here, before going on your cafe-hopping journey!
There’s actually another chilli pan mee stall right opposite it, named Super Kitchen Chilli Pan Mee, which has a highly raved Singapore branch at Telok Ayer.
If you ask KL natives which one they prefer, though, most of them will still strongly recommend Kin Kin — doesn’t it make you curious how it stacks up?
Crowd favourites: What does everyone come for? The dry pan mee (RM12, or S$3.66), obviously. You won’t get enough of the super slurpable and bouncy noodles, especially when you mix them thoroughly with its dark sauce and potent chilli.
Its signature noodles are packed with so much flavour, plus the searing heat will undoubtedly please masochistic spice lovers.
2. House of Wheat
Why visit? This is probably one of the most aesthetic cafes in not just Chow Kit, but KL, at the moment. House of Wheat’s Chow Kit outlet is perfect for OOTDs, with a striking curved wall that gives the space a distinct cave-inspired vibe.
If you’re looking for a chill and gorgeous brunch spot in KL, the cafe is also known for its hearty brunch fare and artisan bakes!
Crowd favourites: According to the staff, the best-sellers at this Chow Kit cafe are its seafood pasta (RM31) and chicken hummus (RM25). We opted for the former, which features a rich squid ink spaghetti with an assortment of grilled prawns and squid.
If you find yourself there between 8.30am to 11.30am on a weekday, there’s an AM deal which gives you a pastry, and coffee or tea for RM15. We recommend getting the nutty and fragrant pain suisse dukkah (layered French pastry with nuts and seeds, RM15 a la carte), which is a favourite here!
3. Tapestry
Why visit? Tapestry might just be our personal favourite cafe in Chow Kit. The ambience and decor are just on point, and the food is fun and creative, and on par with similar cafes in Singapore.
Besides its gorgeous tall ceilings and photogenic Bali-esque decor, you can also find a smorgasbord of items that range from your typical sandwiches, to pasta-esque laksa goreng here.
Crowd favourites: While we are pretty happy just feasting on the vibes, if there’s one dish we’ll come back for, it’s the Tapestry laksa goreng (RM40). The cafe’s atas version of laksa uses spaghetti for the noodles and everything is smothered in the satisfyingly rich and umami sauce.
Those who wish they were in Seoul, but could only make it to KL, can also grab the Egg Drop (RM22), a Korean-inspired egg sandwich with creamy scrambled eggs and a fluffy, buttery bun.
You can even pile on it with beetroot-cured salmon (RM16) or unique Sarsi-glazed beef bacon (RM16).
4. Joloko
Why visit? Need a bit of spice and fun on your KL trip? Located very close to a few of the Chow Kit cafes on our list is Joloko, a unique Afro-Carribean restaurant with the grooviest vibes and the most unique dishes.
Considering how hard it is to find African or Caribbean dishes even in Singapore, this might be the place to check out for more adventurous eaters, especially those looking for something new and exciting — even if it’s on the pricier side.
It also has a nice al fresco dining area, if you’re into that kind of thing!
Crowd favourites: When we talk about Caribbean cuisine, one of the first things that come to mind is obviously the Jamaican staple, Jamaican jerk chicken (RM80). Joloko serves its rendition with a heap of tangy mango relish!
There’s also the guava-glazed prawn tostadas (RM50) or unique and spice-laden Creole-marinated stingray (RM90) if you’re feeling up for seafood.
5. The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar
Why visit? This restaurant might be located in a hotel lobby, but The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar is a solid restaurant for anyone that wants to have a slightly elevated take on local flavours.
It doesn’t just focus on one thing — instead, its offerings showcase a broad spectrum of Malayasia’s different regional and cultural cuisines. You can even order a unique Johor laksa, along with an assortment of creative cocktails!
Crowd favourites: Although we’re in KL, the chef at this restaurant is a Johorian and dishes out a comforting plate of Johor laksa (RM30), served with spaghetti covered in piquant fish-based coconut gravy that also sports a nice touch of spice nuance.
For something more familiar, there’s also the aromatic and vibrantly tangy ikan (fish) assam pedas (RM30). Both are also available as part of the A Taste of Chow Kit (RM220 for two diners) tasting menu that comprises six dishes — a good-value option for bigger groups!
6. 103 Coffee
Why visit? This is one of the OGs of the KL cafe scene — 103 Coffee was founded in 2014 and its staff, including its co-founder, has won latte art competitions both nationally and internationally!
103 Coffee’s Chow Kit cafe is a nice minimalist space that spans two storeys and serves up, not just coffee and the usual brunch favourites, but also unique Japanese-inspired toasts, rice bowls and soba!
Crowd favourites: Besides the gorgeously poured house lattes (RM15.90) and flat whites (RM14.90), 103 Coffee also offers unique coffee mocktails, such as the floral Molly (RM18.90) comprising cold brew, osmanthus, white peach and jasmine tea.
Food wise, the Japanese-inspired choices such as the miso salmon chazuke (RM40.90) and grilled prawn soba (RM 32.90) are also dishes you can’t really find at other Chow Kit cafes.
The cafe also has a very popular limited-time pistachio tiramisu (RM22.55), which was already sold out at the time of our visit!
Where to stay in Chow Kit
Besides all the great restaurants and cafes around Chow Kit, the neighbourhood is also a very convenient base for explorations — especially if you want to avoid the crowds in areas such as Bukit Bintang and Chinatown.
In fact, it’s one of our go-to neighbourhoods to stay when in KL.
This time, we stayed at The Chow Kit, an Ormond Hotel property and a charmingly rustic building located very close to some of the mentioned restaurants and cafes, as well as Chow Kit Market.
It’s just a 15-minute drive to Chinatown’s Petaling Street and you’ll find a great amount of makan (eating) options in the area.
On top of that, the rates are very affordable: Rooms at The Chow Kit start from RM312 and the highest-grade Towkay suite is priced at RM485.
Unlike many boutique hotels at this price, the rooms are also so elegantly furnished, with a charming vintage vibe to the rooms.
Just look at that swanky wooden headboard and the plush couches!
This might just become our regular hotels when we visit KL — especially if we’re planning to hop around the cafes in Chow Kit!
This writer’s stay at The Chow Kit and the meal at The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar was hosted.
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on all the cool new menus that dropped last month and where to go for some unique royal cuisine-inspired North Indian food!
Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
Read more stories from this writer.
