Eating Out

Eating out in Kuala Lumpur is a real gastronomic adventure. There is such a diverse and rich variety of food that will excite one’s taste buds insatiably- spicy Malay food, endless variety of Chinese delicacies, exotic cuisine from North and South India as well as Nyonya, Thai, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese food, and irresitible seafood. Western cuisine is easily available apart from international chain fast foods. You have a choice of dining at hotels, cozy restaurants, the hundreds of roadside stalls and food bazaars catering for different budget and preference or a quick bite at any of the fast food outlets.

Popular Malaysian gourmet specialties include satay (marinated and barbecued meat, normally chicken, beef or mutton), nasi lemak (savoury rice steamed in coconut milk), roti canai (fried flattened bread), chicken rice and fried noodles. Meal prices range from 3 RM per person at a hawker stall to more than 300 RM per person in an expensive restaurant. There is a 5% service tax and 10% service charge added to the bill.

Here are some favorites of the different ethnic cuisines:

Malay- satay (barbecued meat on skewers), nasi padang(rice served with a variety of side-dishes), mee siam (spicy noodles) and nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk, served with fish). Sambal, a fiery chilli-paste often accompanies a meal.

Chinese - yaung tau foo (a dish of vegetables, seafood and meat-stuffed items), chicken rice (a fragrant dish of rice served with slivers of tender chicken) and laksa (noodles in a curry-like soup).

Indian - nasi beriyani (yellow rice cooked with spices and served with chicken or mutton) and paratha (Indian pancake eaten with curry). Dosas, Idlis and Wadas are popular South Indian vegetarian snacks.