Your Guide To Kuala Lumpar

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read this.

Where better to visit for those that adore food than a city that is not only chocked full of culture, both historical and contemporary, but has culinary influence from three different countries like China, India, and Malaysia? Of course, we are talking about that fantastic city of Kuala Lumpur, which also happens to be a gluttons’ paradise, so keep reading to find out about all the best places to eat, as well as some of the vital traveler information you will need for a successful trip.

View this post on Instagram

В Куала-Лумпуре тебя на***вают все, кто только может: – хозяйка дома – помощник хозяйки дома – таксисты – официант в индийской едальне – продавец воздушных змеев – электричка – и, наконец, кондиционер! #kualalumpur #malaysia #petronastowers

A post shared by Ulyana Yeryksonava (@ulyana_yeryksonava) on Jan 22, 2019 at 1:13pm PST

Travel to and from

Before you can fill your belly with all of the gorgeous food that Kuala Lumpur has to offer you first need to get there safely. Luckily, Kuala Lumpur has a large international airport that serves the city.

The bad news is that is that it can be pretty tricky to get a direct flight from the USA, with many stopping at least once if not two or three times. This, of course, means the flights are long as well. Although, don’t let this put you off as Kuala Lumpur is definitely a destination that is well worth the effort of getting there.

Where to stay

The next puzzle you have to face when traveling to Kuala Lumpur is where about you will actually stay during your visit. Now it can be particularly problematic for gastronomes because they have to choose between staying in top hotels where the in-house food is top notch, or in other types of accommodation that provide them with easy access to all the cuisines on offer.

Of course, by finding a furnished apartment for rent in Kuala Lumpur, either in the city center or one of the surrounding suburbs, you can save more money that can be put towards paying for more tasty morsels during your visit. In fact, many visitors prefer this option because it means they are not tied to hotel meal times, and they also have the opportunity to purchase food from one of the many street markets and bring this back to cook with.

However, it is worth stating that some of the larger and more well-known hotels, can be a fantastic choice for folks that are looking to combine luxury with the gastro-tourism in Kuala Lumpur.

Areas to visit connected with food

Now you have a bed for the night sorted, it’s time to explore the city. Of course, as a food lover, you’ll want to know which areas to visit, but also what delights can be sample in each location.

Little India

First of all, we have Little India, also known as Brickfields which is located in central Kuala Lumpur. This is a place in which you will find delicious Indian street food such as Dosa and banana leaf, as well as some more formal restaurants over by the train station as well.

The essential site to see here are the Sri Kandaswamy Kovil Hindu temple but don’t forget to check out the Maha Vihara temple as well. A place where you will find a giant Buddha statue positioned to be sitting under the bodhi tree. This being a representation of the site that was said to be where Siddhartha Gautama became enlightened.

China Town

Of course, in a city that is full of different cultures incidence the next place on your schedule should be Chinatown.

View this post on Instagram

End of a fantastic second day in Kuala Lumpur. I haven’t found anything colourful to bring home for the house yet…but there is plenty of time… Don’t forget to tag your pictures to #crashbangcolour and follow all the hosts for a chance to be featured as the weekly co host on all the below accounts: @nehadesor @theflamingoandthefox @thecolourtribe @love_that_room @lizzyhigham_interiorstyling and @thecalmandthechaos (weekly winner). #chinatown #kualalumpur #opentopbus #chinatownkualalumpur #colour #colourmysummer #asia #malaysia #colourful #holiday #shopping #bargain #sightseeing #city #color #summer #colourmyhome #colourful

A post shared by Becky’s Colourful Home 🏠 (@candy_made_me_do_it) on Aug 17, 2018 at 8:37am PDT

Actually located just to the north of Brickfields, China town has distinctly different flavor both visually, and regarding the food being offered. The critical thing here to look out for is all of the market stall and street food vendors who sell delights such as curries and simple noodle dishes.

However, if you prefer to sit down and enjoy a meal, then there are plenty of other options as well. Try Merchant’s Lane Cafe if you are looking for an informal yet hip setting with some of the best tasting and best presented traditional Malay food in town. Alternatively, there is Restoran Pik Wah, which has some of the best char siu pork and lotus flower salad around!

Batu Caves

One location that is well worth visit when in Kuala Lumpur is the fabulous Batu Caves.  In fact, this is one of the most iconic cities in the whole of Malaysia and is made up of a cave complex that contains ornate Hindu shrines as well as a colossal gold figure that guards the 272 steps up to the caves themselves.  

Of course for the foodie, the best thing about Batu isn’t the views, the culture, or even the monkeys that inhabit the site and readily ask for edible treats from the visitors, but the simple yet delicious vegetarian restaurants that surround the bottom of the stairs. Something that makes them a perfect place to recharge and refuel once you have done your exploring.

Petronas Towers

If Batu caves are the historical must-see sight in Kuala Lumpur then the Petronas towers are the contemporary spot that you can’t miss. These twin towers located in the city center dominate the skyline, and have a sky bridge with fabulous views of the entire city on floor 42.

They also happen to have a restaurant that slowly rotates, meaning you can dine on delicious modern fair while also getting a 360 view of this magnificent city. Something that I have on good authority that is particularly worth doing at night, as they offer a candlelight option where you can see all the sparkling city lights as you dine.

Telok Ayer Market

Lastly for the foodie, a place that cannot be missed in the Telok Ayer Market. Here you will discover all sorts of indigenous ingredients such as the famous stink bean and probably the most extensive range of tropical fruit you have ever seen.

Of course, A visit to Telok Ayer Market really comes into its own for those that have rented an appointment because it means they can no only sample the ingredients raw and soak up the atmosphere of the market, but buy things and take them back to their accommodation as well. This means that means they have the opportunity to try cooking up some traditional Malay dishes themselves, something that is the perfect way to really experience all of the gluttonous delights Kuala Lumpur has to offer.