The food in Kuala Lumpur is incredible. Forget sightseeing, tours, and tourist attractions for a moment, just plan your meals. You’ll want to eat more than three times a day, so space your destinations a bit apart to give yourself time to walk and burn off the previous meal before diving into the next.
Don’t skip breakfast, it’s one of the most interesting meals of the day here. In Kuala Lumpur, you can eat almost anything for breakfast: noodles? Sure. Dumplings? Of course. But there are a few classics you shouldn’t miss:
- Soft-boiled eggs, cracked into a bowl with a dash of pepper and soy sauce.
- Toast with butter and kaya, a coconut-pandan jam whose texture and flavour vary depending on where you go.
- Beverages: tea or coffee, both traditionally sweetened with condensed milk.
If you’re with family or friends, bring them along. It’s a lot to order on your own, though no one will judge if you do.
In Chinatown, there are a few spots serving this fantastic breakfast, which you can enjoy at any time of the day or even in the evening. One, Ho Kow Hainam Kopitiam, is an Instagram favourite, often with a line of young people and tripods stretching down the block. Another, the one we chose, Kafei Dian, has no line but is full of locals. Ordering is easy: use the app, then pay at the counter when you leave. Be sure to pick up their homemade kaya jam before you go, one of the best we had on this trip.
The hot chocolate is actually a hot, or cold Milo, which is to be expected in Malaysia. Sure, Milo is a beloved chocolate drink here (though it’s actually Australian, not Malaysian, try telling the locals that…). But Malaysians do have access to far better chocolate, if you know where to look. Two words: Chocolate Concierge. But then again, when in KL…
Kaffei Dian, 16, Jalan Panggong, City Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Open 7:30am to 10pm daily. @kafeidian_petalingstreet
