5 eateries in Kuala Lumpur to check out on your next trip

Heading to Malaysia for a getaway? You won’t want to miss Kuala Lumpur.

The capital of Malaysia is at the forefront of gastronomy, offering a wide range of delicious eats from traditional cuisines to modern eateries.

Here are five spots frequented by locals in Kuala Lumpur:

1. Jibby Chow – Bangsar Village II

4, Jln Telawi 4, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Open: Daily (10am to 10pm)

Opened by the Serai Group, Jibby Chow serves up a contemporary line-up of delicious halal Hong Kong-style dim sum and Western dishes peppered with its signature Malaysian flourish. The modern interior is vintage-inspired and its neon light signage is hard to miss when looking for some chow.

Start off with blue swimmer chilli crab meat with fried mantou (RM32, or S$10) to whet your appetite. Get its signature duck rice (RM35) for a taste of classic roasted delights and order the steamed fish in superior Bentong soya sauce (market price) for sharing. Don’t forget the dim sum dishes that’re great for snacking on throughout the entire day from 10am to 5pm.

What to order: Blue swimmer chilli crab meat (RM32), duck rice (RM35), steamed fish in superior Bentong soya sauce (market price), emperor shumai (RM22), xiao long bao (RM14), crystal har gow (RM18)

2. Kah Heong Chai Vegetarian

A-1-30, Avelon Tower, Plaza Medan Putra, Medan Putra Business Centre, 52200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Open: Monday to Friday (10am to 7pm)

Kah Heong Chai Vegetarian is a longstanding restaurant that dishes out comforting vegetarian Chinese dishes you’d find at your average caifan stall. Loved for its affordability and fuss-free fare, the eatery’s sparsely decorated, save its green walls. 

Located in Avelon Tower, Kah Heong Chai prepares its dishes before service and displays them in stainless steel containers for diners to choose and point at. It also serves up various specialty a la carte mains, such as Taiwan-style fried rice (RM7) and fried laoshufen or silver needle noodles (RM7), at prices that go easy on your wallet.

What to order: Taiwan-style fried rice (RM7), fried laoshufen (RM7), mixed rice (price depends on order)

3. Addy Buang Burger Corner

Lot 909, Jalan Melor 1, Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Open: Monday to Saturday (1pm to 11.30pm), Sunday (5pm to 11.30pm)

Situated on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur is Addy Buang Burger Corner, which cooks up a storm at its home-based business with its version of the popular Ramly burger, a staple Malaysian street food.

Addy Buang offers numerous customisations for its burgers, from cheese to sauces and also a wide range of meats, such as chicken, lamb and beef to more exotic ones such as venison and rabbit. Expect to get messy chowing down on these hefty creations drizzled generously with mayonnaise, chilli and cheese sauces.

Must-tries include the burger panggang ayam/lembu special — roasted chicken/beef special burger (RM6); burger rusa double special cheese — double venison burger special with cheese (RM13.50); and, if you’re more adventurous, the burger arnab biasa — rabbit burger (RM6).

What to order: Burger panggang ayam/lembu special (RM6), burger rusa double special cheese (RM13.50), burger arnab biasa (RM6)

4. Purple Monkey

30, Jln 21/19, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Open: Daily (10.30am to 9.15pm)

Frustrated with the normal and ordinary, Purple Monkey set out to be the best no-bake cheesecake in town and boy does Purple Monkey bake some really good cheesecakes.

Sharing an outlet with its sister brand Pasta OHSEM on the outskirts of the city, its main selection of 15 cheesecake flavours and four exclusive ones include laboriously fruit-decorated cakes perfect for celebrations. 

Purple Monkey’s top flavours include Peaches to Riches (RM69-99), dark choc Toblerone (RM69-99), Lotus biscoff (RM80-105).

Feeling a bit too full? Get the Mini Monkeys (RM11.90-107.10) for a dessert-sized portion.

What to order: Peaches to Riches (RM69-99), dark choc Toblerone (RM69-99), Lotus biscoff (RM80-105), Mini Monkeys (RM11.90-107.10)

5. Madinah Restaurant & Cafe

16-L1, Jalan Putra 6, Taman Putra Sulaiman, 68000 Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia
Open: Daily (9am to 11pm)

An exotic find, Madinah Restaurant and Cafe is the sibling of kebab joint Berkat Madinah and offers dine-in options of authentic Yemeni cuisine. Expanding on its menu of Middle Eastern quick bites and snacks, this eatery is where you can find hearty portions of rice and pizza dishes. 

For a soul-warming meal, go for the chicken fahsa or chicken stew with Mulawah flatbread (RM15) and lamb fahsa or lamb stew with Mulawah flatbread (RM21.90).

But it’s the value sets that the eatery’s known for, such as the Family Set 2 Pax, which comes with two sets of rice, chicken, lamb and two free drinks (RM33). Then wash that all down with a cup of dates cappuccino (RM13), a brew that’s sweetened with the fruit.

What to order: Chicken fahsa (RM15), lamb fahsa (RM21.90), Family Set 2 Pax (RM33), dates cappuccino (RM13)