Dining Record in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Date: 2020-04-11

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We stayed 3 nights in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here is our food diary from the trip.

At the Airport Food Court

First Stop: Chicken Rice!

Hainanese Chicken Rice

A set of stir-fried chicken with chilli on top of rice, plus soup, stir-fried vegetables, and a fried egg — all for 14.90 ringgit (approximately 370 yen). Cheap! we thought, but this being an airport restaurant, it's actually on the pricey side.

Malaysian McDonald's

We didn't actually try it, but here is the local Malaysian McDonald's menu. A chicken burger with sambal — the spicy Malaysian chilli sauce.

Malaysia's Famous Soup: Bak Kut Teh!

Bak kut teh is a soup made by slowly simmering pork ribs with dried shiitake mushrooms and Chinese herbal medicine.

We had it at "Ah Yip Herbal Soup" inside a mall near the Bukit Bintang monorail station in the bustling shopping district.

Bak kut teh set meal: 19.80 ringgit (approximately 490 yen / £3.60)

This version was packed with ingredients including enoki mushrooms and deep-fried tofu.

Bak kut teh was originally conceived as a breakfast dish. Being light on the stomach, it feels like the perfect way to energise yourself for the day ahead.

Herbal Tea Eggs

1.50 ringgit each (approximately 37 yen / 27 pence)

Everything was delicious — we want to eat it all again!

Lunch on Another Day: Chicken Rice Again!

At Hometown Hainan Coffee, inside the mall in front of our hotel (price unknown for this one).

Prawn laksa.

Malaysia's Signature Drink: White Coffee (Hainanese Coffee)

In the Malaysian style, the final stage of roasting the coffee beans involves adding margarine and sugar. The result is a fragrant, caramel-scented coffee that tastes wonderful even iced. The red drink next to it is watermelon juice. Watermelon has a cooling effect on the body, making it a perfect match for a hot climate.

Hainanese iced coffee and watermelon juice

Famous Malaysian Coffee Brand: "Old Town Coffee"

Of course there are cafés all over the place, but if you head to a local supermarket you will find a huge range of 3-in-1 coffees. These are instant coffees in powder form that combine coffee, sugar, and creamer all in one sachet.

The taste is reminiscent of the old coffee with creamer powder we used to drink. Each bag contains 15 sachets, making it a great souvenir to hand out to friends and family. There are many varieties, so read the packaging carefully before buying.

Jalan Alor — Famous Street Food Destination

On our final evening, we visited Jalan Alor (Alor Street), Kuala Lumpur's famous street food destination.

Since it was our first time in Kuala Lumpur, we did some research online beforehand and headed to W.A.W. Restaurant (Huang Ya Hua), known for its "fake Mickey" sign, at the far end of Alor Street.

As it was just before 7pm, the restaurant was not yet crowded and we could dine at our leisure. We had beer, iced tea, and the restaurant's famous grilled chicken wings — wings marinated in a sweet and spicy sauce and grilled over an open flame until nicely charred.

The excess fat drips away, leaving the outside crispy and absolutely bursting with flavour. No wonder it's the star of the menu.

A satay set of 10 sticks — 4 chicken, 3 pork, and 3 beef. Dip generously in the sweet peanut sauce.

Chinese-style garlic stir-fried lettuce.

Fried rice with a slightly salty version made with tiny dried fish.

An omelette with spinach. Made in a wok over fierce heat, it comes out fluffy inside and crispy on the outside.

Total for everything including drinks: 85 ringgit (approximately 2,110 yen / £16). A handwritten 10% service charge was added to the bill.

After a Wonderfully Satisfying Meal...

We finished the evening with a coconut ice cream from the ice cream shop at the exit of Alor Street. Mango and durian flavours were also available — next time we'll give those a try.

Choose three flavours for 12 ringgit (approximately 300 yen / £2.25).

Finally — Malaysia's National Dish: Nasi Lemak

Rice cooked in coconut milk, topped with cucumber, boiled egg, peanuts, fried anchovies, and sambal sauce. It is usually accompanied by a side dish of some kind.

Sambal sauce is apparently an essential component of Malaysian and Malay cuisine. Every family has its own recipe, ranging from very spicy to quite sweet. It is used both as a dipping sauce and as a cooking condiment. Rice cooked in coconut milk has no overpowering coconut smell and transforms what might otherwise be dry Asian rice into something deliciously moist and flavourful.

Bonus

At Kuala Lumpur International Airport near the check-in counters, we spotted Din Tai Fung — the Michelin-starred Taiwanese xiao long bao restaurant.

We were not particularly hungry, but could not resist trying a little.

We ordered just two types: the original (chicken) and a Malaysian-inspired sambal chicken version.

Xiao long bao: 18.87 ringgit each (approximately 470 yen / £3.50)

As an Islamic country, the menu contained no pork.

The moment you pop one in your mouth, a rush of delicious broth fills it completely — pure happiness.

People who travel widely across Asia often say that Malaysian food is the best. From high-end restaurants to street-side stalls, Malaysia is full of delicious things to eat. We would absolutely love to go back.