Our In-The-Know Culinary Travel Guide to the Best Things to Eat in Malaysia’s Capital City—Plus Recipes for Making Many Malaysian Classics You’ll Find in the City at Home
Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines. With influences from Malay, Chinese, Indian, and other ethnic groups, the food scene in Kuala Lumpur is diverse and vibrant. From street food to fine dining, there is something for every palate in this bustling city. In this culinary travel guide, we will take you on a journey through the best things to eat in Kuala Lumpur and even share some recipes for you to recreate these Malaysian classics at home.
1. Nasi Lemak
No trip to Kuala Lumpur is complete without trying the national dish of Malaysia, Nasi Lemak. This fragrant rice dish is cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves, giving it a unique and delicious flavor. It is usually served with sambal (spicy chili paste), fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, cucumber slices, and a hard-boiled egg. You can find Nasi Lemak at almost every street corner in Kuala Lumpur, but for the best experience, head to Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa in Kampung Baru. This iconic restaurant has been serving up Nasi Lemak for over 30 years and is a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
Recipe for Nasi Lemak:
Ingredients:
– 2 cups of long-grain rice
– 1 cup of coconut milk
– 1 pandan leaf (optional)
– 1 tsp salt
– 1 tsp sugar
– 1 cup of water
– Sambal (spicy chili paste)
– Fried anchovies
– Roasted peanuts
– Cucumber slices
– Hard-boiled eggs
Instructions:
1. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear.
2. In a pot, add the rice, coconut milk, pandan leaf, salt, sugar, and water. Stir well.
3. Cook the rice on medium heat until the coconut milk is absorbed and the rice is fluffy.
4. Serve the rice with sambal, fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, cucumber slices, and a hard-boiled egg.
2. Char Kway Teow
Char Kway Teow is a popular stir-fried noodle dish that originated from the Chinese community in Malaysia. It is made with flat rice noodles, soy sauce, chili, prawns, cockles, bean sprouts, and Chinese chives. The dish is cooked over high heat in a wok, giving it a smoky and flavorful taste. For the best Char Kway Teow in Kuala Lumpur, head to Restoran Seng Lee in Petaling Jaya. This humble stall has been serving up this delicious dish for over 40 years and is a favorite among locals.
Recipe for Char Kway Teow:
Ingredients:
– 500g flat rice noodles
– 2 tbsp soy sauce
– 2 tbsp dark soy sauce
– 2 tbsp chili paste
– 2 cloves of garlic, minced
– 200g prawns, shelled and deveined
– 100g cockles (optional)
– 1 cup of bean sprouts
– 1 cup of Chinese chives, cut into 2-inch pieces
– 2 eggs
– 2 tbsp oil
Instructions:
1. Soak the rice noodles in hot water for 10 minutes, then drain and set aside.
2. In a wok, heat the oil over high heat.
3. Add the garlic and stir-fry until fragrant.
4. Add the prawns and cook until they turn pink.
5. Push the prawns to one side of the wok and crack the eggs into the other side. Scramble the eggs until they are almost cooked.
6. Add the rice noodles, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and chili paste. Stir-fry until the noodles are well coated with the sauce.
7. Add the cockles (if using), bean sprouts, and Chinese chives. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes.
8. Serve hot.
3. Roti Canai
Roti Canai is a popular breakfast dish in Malaysia. It is a flaky and crispy flatbread that is usually served with a side of curry for dipping. The dough is stretched and flipped in the
