Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
One of the best places to eat if you're at the Bangsar Shopping Centre mall, this laid-back cafe makes great local dishes – try the delicious kway teow…
Must-see restaurants in Malaysia
Sabah
Handily opposite the ferry terminal, Sharifah fills up with locals who come for the flaky roti prepared a dozen ways, murtabak filled with sardines,…
Kuching
This lively bar-restaurant has a range of draught and bottled beers plus wine and cocktails. Also available are decent Western, Asian and fusion dishes…
Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
You won't find Christmas presents at this no-frills cafe but freshly made chapatis, well loved by the surrounding Indian community. Paired with a side…
Kuala Lumpur
This late-night supper hotspot on the edge of Chow Kit is a bare-bones joint famous for its thicker take on bak kut teh (chilli-infused pork curry stew),…
Medan Selera Kebun Sultan Food Court
Kota Bharu
This bustling, fan-cooled Chinatown food court, which opens late in a town that closes early, offers dishes like claypot chicken rice and kway teow (rice…
George Town
Service is friendly at this cheap, cheerful South Indian restaurant, and the lunchtime banana-leaf thalis (set meals) are a bargain. Many locals come when…
Chinatown, Merdeka Square & Bukit Nanas
Tucked behind the Chinese Assembly Hall, Cha Bou uses tea as an ingredient in most of its dishes – it's part of the Purple Cane family of tea shops and…
Kota Bharu
The Four Seasons is packed nightly with locals enjoying seafood dishes like braised sea cucumber, claypot prawns and dried cuttlefish with mango salad…
Melaka
If you're passing through Alor Gajah around lunchtime, you won't fail to miss the crowd at this chicken-rice stall close to the bus station. Nadia's…
Kuala Lumpur
A pile of chairs hanging from the ceiling and an old Alpine Sunbeam car are part of the quirky decor at this upmarket cafe, one of the most successful…
George Town
One side of this seaside food centre is called 'Islam' and serves halal Malay food, and the other is called 'Cina' and serves Chinese and Malay…
Ipoh
This busy, no-frills halal place will feed you a mountain of nosh for a few ringgit. Pile your plate by pointing at whatever's freshly cooked that day …
Kota Kinabalu
This popular restaurant fairly buzzes with an army of bandanna-wrapped staff waiting on your every need. Good homemade pasta, great pizzas, Roman statues …
Teng Wun Bakery & Confectionery
Malaysia
A popular purveyor of kaya (coconut-cream jam) puffs and durian cakes since 1979, Teng Wun uses fresh pandan and durian to make cloud-like cupcakes and…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
As the name suggests, this popular family-style restaurant began life in Hong Kong. As such the menu is a mash-up of Chinese and Western cuisines – think…
Tawau
Between Jln Chen Fook and Jln Persisiran there's a clutch of stalls and low-key alfresco dining options that serve inexpensive dishes, from Malaysian…
Kuching
Under a large verandah and cooled by a fleet of helicopter fans, this cafe serves some of Kuching’s best Sarawak laksa. There are also stalls selling…
Sarawak
Designed to be macaque proof, this cafeteria serves a varied and tasty selection of fried rice, chicken, fish, cakes, fresh fruit and packaged snacks…
Sarawak
An old-time kopitiam (coffee shop) with laksa (RM7) in the morning and excellent nasi goreng (fried rice; RM5) and cheap cold beer (RM3 to RM5). Push the…
Cameron Highlands
A charming throwback to the old Tanah Rata, this Christian-run stalwart upstairs on the main strip near the bus stand serves tasty cream teas (scones,…
Zhun San Yen Vegetarian Food Centre
Kuching
A meat-free buffet lunch of Chinese-style curries, priced by weight, is served from 11am to 2pm (RM2.50 per 100g). When the buffet is over, you can order…
Sandakan
Driving to/from Sepilok and in need of a caffeine pick-up? Look no further: at this cute cafe you just input your order electronically and your double…
Sabah
Opposite the train station, this little restaurant serves fluffy char siu buns (RM2.50), mee sup (noodle soup topped with pork), Singapore-style mee…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
The closest thing you're going to get to a Jewish deli in KL, this popular cafe makes an impression with its bagel and lox and salt beef hash, as well as…
Kuantan
There always seems to be a line outside this small cake shop for the mango cheesecake, which is lovely but a rather brief reward if the queue has been…
Kota Kinabalu
The best supermarket in KK stocks loads of imported items, from Spanish chorizos and hams to French cheeses and gourmet Swiss ice cream. Also home to a…
Kuching
A fixture in the heart of Kuching’s Indian Muslim district since 1974. Halal specialities include nasi biryani (rice with chicken, beef or lamb; RM10 to…
Pulau Langkawi
The fish and chips here are passable, but honestly it's more about the location – a quiet, sandy stretch of Tanjung Rhu that encourages making an…
Kota Bharu
The welcome is friendly and food delicious at this brightly decorated place that has been in business since 1946. Sample Chinese, Malay and popular…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
This small hawker complex up the hill behind Masjid Negara is a popular lunch spot for nearby workers and locals visiting the Lake Gardens. Try the nasi…
Lahad Datu
This unassuming spot gets Hainanese chicken rice just right. The chicken, simmered in broth, is melt-in-your-mouth tender, the broth zings with ginger and…
Sarawak
Bisaya, Lun Bawang and Iban stallholders sell jungle edibles, sausage-shaped Ba Kelalan salt and a dozen kinds of upland rice. The larger weekly tamu …
Ipoh
A chic coffee shop and restaurant in the industrial-chic Kong Heng Sq development. It's a great place to retreat for a calm espresso or a globetrotting…
Kuala Lumpur
Justly famous for its seriously addictive chicken wings, this is an ideal spot for a late-night snack with a bottle of beer. A wide variety of other…
Kota Bharu
Don’t let the plain decor fool you. Westlake Eating House serves some of the tastiest Chinese fare in Eastern Malaysia. Dig into the likes of braised pork…
Pulau Langkawi
The bar and restaurant at La Pari-Pari serves Western breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers and Nonya dishes including laksa, as well as a good selection of…
Taiping
This lakeside hawker court and coffee shop has a good selection of stalls serving dishes from curry mee (yellow noodles submerged in spicy broth) to ikan…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
There are far flashier Indian restaurants in Bangsar, but who cares about the decor when you can tuck into food this good and cheap? It serves it all,…
Lake Gardens, Brickfields & Bangsar
This spacious, fine-dining restaurant and wine bar offers inventive cuisine from chef Daniel Chong using high-quality ingredients such as fois gras and…
