Restaurants in Malaysia
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A
Cafe 1511
Next to the Baba-Nonya Heritage Museum is this high-ceilinged Peranakan cafe, with original tiles along the wall, lovely carved screens, a mishmash of decorative objects from Southeast Asia and a Nonya menu. At the time of research this place was also planning a guesthouse.
reviewed
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Food Stalls
Food stalls can be found next to the river opposite the Padang Merdeka and by the Jln Hamzah bus station, and there's a modern food court (Jln Hamzah; ;lunch & dinner) inside KB Mall. The old central market (Sat-Thu) also has a block of food stalls on its ground floor.
reviewed
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B
Port View Seafood Village
This cavernous Chinese seafood specialist feels like an aquarium where you can eat the displays – we’ve never seen such an extravagant array of live fish. Even if you don’t eat here, it’s worth walking into the foyer to check out the veritable cascade of turquoise tanks.
reviewed
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Restoran Onn Kee
Onn Kee is widely recognised as serving the best ayam taugeh (bean-sprout chicken) in Perak, if not Malaysia. The chicken comes boiled, soft and fragrant, the sprouts are particularly fat and crunchy, and the combined texture and flavour is surpassingly joyous.
reviewed
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Cafeteria
The cafeteria sells cheap buffet noodle and rice meals. The adjoining shop sells a good variety of reasonably priced tinned and dried food, chocolate, biscuits, film and toiletries, although fresh bread, produce and vegetables are not always available.
reviewed
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C
Sri Ananda Bahwan
Basic Indian eatery, seemingly forever full of chatting locals, serving up tandoori chicken, roti canai (unleavened flaky flat bread) and murtabak (roti canai filled with meat or vegetables). There’s an air-con dining hall if you prefer more comfort.
reviewed
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D
Shang Palace
Seafood is the speciality at this gorgeously designed Chinese banquet restaurant. Topping the bill is 'Monk Jumps Over the Wall': sharks-fin, abalone, scallop and sea cucumber served in a monk's bowl. It's worth coming just to see the fabulous temple-style entrance.
reviewed
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Ya Wang Restaurant
Ya wang is Mandarin for ‘duck king’, which gives you a fair idea of what this little restaurant a few blocks from the Causeway border crossing specialises in. Savoury, juicy, delicious and half the price of what you’ll pay in Singapore.
reviewed
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Duyong Restaurant
Raised on stilts at the western end of the beach, this offers unbroken views around the bay. There’s a large selection of seafood, steaks, poultry and vegetables, but it’s the setting that is superlative. Try the tom yam (hot and spicy seafood soup, RM8).
reviewed
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Restoran Prosperous
Roughly opposite the KFC, Restoran Prosperous is a Chinese place that attracts a good group of locals both wealthy and otherwise. You can get a nice char siu pau (steamed bun filled with barbecue pork) and a cup of tea here in the morning for around RM3.
reviewed
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E
Four Seasons Restaurant
A little pricey by local standards, but there's an excellent range of Chinese dishes on offer, including steamed fish, buttered prawns and deep-fried chicken with mango. Just don't ask for a 'table for one' as it only serves set meals for a minimum of two diners.
reviewed
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F
Kedai Kopi Fatt Kee
The woks are always sizzlin’ at this popular Chinese place next to Ang’s Hotel. Long lines are guaranteed, but it’s always worth the wait. Their sayur manis cooked in belacan (shrimp paste) is a classic, and the salt-and-pepper prawns are great.
reviewed
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G
Living Room
Living Room completes Kuching’s trendy triumvirate of fusion eats. The menu mixes the top noshes at Junk and Bla Bla Bla and guests dine in breezy open-air salas. You will no doubt find yourself wondering where you are: is this Borneo, Bali or Barcelona?
reviewed
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H
Newton Food Court
Serving Chinese food in the main hall and Halal at the back, Newton Food Court, just west of the Mahkota Parade shopping complex, is Melaka’s newest and most attractive hawker centre. It’s under an immense thatched roof and is bordered by palms.
reviewed
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I
Medan Selera Kebun Sultan Food Court
A big, bright and bustling food court with a variety of standard Chinese dishes on offer, such as claypot chicken rice and kway teow (rice-flour noodles). Everything’s in Chinese, but there are numbered photos you can point at. Beer is also available.
reviewed
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J
Hui Sin Vegetarian Restaurant
This excellent value buffet restaurant is the place to go for a filling meat-free lunch. Take what you want from the selection of vegetables, curries and different beancurds on offer, and you’ll be charged accordingly. Wash it down with a glass of Chinese tea.
reviewed
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Betty’s Café
Cutely designed canteen offering simple local dishes such as curry laksa, prawn mee noodles and Ipoh koay teow soup. There’s also a branch in CapSquare ( [tel] 2691 7880; G49, CapSquare Centre, Capital Square, 8 Jln Munshi Abdullah; [hrs] 10am-10pm).
reviewed
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K
Eden Seafood Village
A huge barnlike place serving seafood plucked from aquariums at the entrance, Cantonese style. Oysters, crab, lobster and a veritable ocean of fish are available. There’s a free dance show every evening at 8.30pm. A lot of locals eat here for nice nights out.
reviewed
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Tanjung Aru Seafood Restaurant
It’s more about the sunset than the seafood here, but diners never complain (until they see the bill!). While locals prefer scruffy seafood markets around Sinsuran, this spot is a perennial expat fave. There’s a cultural show on the weekends starting at 7pm.
reviewed
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L
Restoran Makanan Laut Lai Fatt Ikan Bakar
Brickfields has a number of informal hawker-style restaurants serving tasty Malay Chinese dishes for around RM2 to RM15. Try Restoran Makanan Laut Lai Fatt Ikan Bakar for delicious fresh seafood and ikan panggang (grilled skate with tamarind paste).
reviewed
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M
Restoran Amituofoh
This Buddhist vegetarian restaurant – the gift of a Chinese philanthropist – provides food on the house. You should make a contribution, but otherwise there are few conditions: you must wash your own plates and cutlery, and taking food away is not permitted.
reviewed
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N
Srirekha
Probably the Golden Triangle's most authentic Indian restaurant, Srirekha pulls in huge crowds of Indian tourists (which can slow down the service). The Chettinad specialities are excellent and the house thali (Indian plate meal) is cracking value.
reviewed
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O
Shikai
Fancy lanterns dangle above jet-black furniture and swishing Lazy Susans. Lunch specials start at RM9 per dish, although weekend dim sum is the biggest draw. Vegetarians will find plenty of excellent tofu options scattered throughout the pan-Asian menu.
reviewed
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P
Kedai Kopi Fook Yuen
Cheap and quick, a snack of sweet kaya is the perfect energy booster after a morning of sightseeing. And this isn’t your standard Singaporean coconut-egg-jam, Sabahans have developed their own version of this tasty confection. Wi-fi available.
reviewed
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Victorious Cafe
Dine under the gaze of the Sibu Swan at this popular mostly Chinese kedai kopi (coffee shop). There’s a stall here that makes a smoky and wonderful plate of kway teow (rice noodles), which you can wash down with a nice iced lemon tea.
reviewed