15 Street Foods Everyone Loves in KL

This post is brought to you in part by Tiger Bites.

You’ll never go hungry in Kuala Lumpur! No matter where you turn, you’ll nearly always come across a hawker stall or mamak offering a variety of savoury and sweet treats.

With so much on offer, it can be hard to know what to choose. So we’ve put together a list of 15 KL street foods that you must try – and there’s enough to keep your taste buds busy for a while.

We also want to know what you’re favourite street food is in KL. Post your opinion in the comments below and stand a chance to win a prize. More details at the end of the of the article.

Snacks

1. Satay Kajang

Suggestion: Satay Kajang Haji Samuri, 7G & 7LG, Jalan Melati Utama 4, Taman Melati

One of KL’s most popular street foods, it’s not difficult to find these tasty snacks. Chicken or beef skewers are marinated in spices and grilled over charcoal in the open air and served with a peanut sauce. Although satay is actually Indonesia’s national dish, Malaysia gave the dish it its own twist, with satay Kajang originating from an area just 30 minutes from KL.

2. Otak otak

Suggestion: Restaurant Yong Len, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail 

These soft, delicate snacks are made of ground fish meat with coconut milk and spices, wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf. Don’t be put off by the fact that ‘otak’ means ‘brains’ in Malay – the name is derived from the appearance of the dish not the ingredients so it tastes much better than it sounds!

3. Curry puff

Suggestion: Mr. Chiam’s Pisang Goreng Stall, Behind YMCA, Brickfields

Similar to a small ‘pasty’ for those that may remember them, these semi-circular pastry parcels, filled with curried potatoes, fish, or chicken, are perfect to grab when you’re on the go. This moreish snack will keep you coming back for more – it’s impossible to only eat one at a time!

Flat bread

4. Roti canai

Suggestion: SK Corner, Tengkat Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang

This Indian-influenced flat bread is a popular breakfast dish in Malaysia, but it is also available throughout the day. It is traditionally served with dal, a lentil curry, but can come with a variety of toppings including peanut butter, banana and condensed milk.

5. Cheese naan

Suggestion: Restaurant TG’s, 3, Tengkat Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang

The cheese naan served at this Mamak is indulgent food heaven; freshly made naan bread, baked in a tandoor oven, filled with melting cheese and smothered in butter. It usually comes on a metal platter with separate sections for side dishes, such as vegetable dal, curry and mint or coriander sauce.

Noodles

6. Char kuey teow

Suggestion: Aunty Gemuk CKT @ Jamal Mohamed Restaurant. No. 24, Jalan SS5A/9, Petaling Jaya

This very popular dish can come in many variations but it nearly always consists of flat noodles that have been stir-fried with prawns, cockles, beansprouts, chives and eggs. The delicious charred aroma of the noodles comes from the high heat the noodles are fried in, in a traditional Chinese wok.

7. Asam laksa

Suggestion: Asam Laksa Stall, Petaling Street Wet Market, Jalan Sultan

This combination of Chinese and Malay cuisine, often known as Nonya cooking, is culinary fusion at its best. It consists of rice noodles in a hot and sour fishy soup, ‘asam’ being the Malay word for any sour tasting ingredient, such as tamarind. Served with shredded fish and vegetables, this is one of Malaysia’s most iconic dishes and is a must-try.

Photo credit: Azizul Ameir / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

8. Hokkien mee

Suggestion: Kim Lian Kee 49, Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur Old City Centre

This dish consists of noodles, stir-fried over a charcoal fire and smothered in a dark, fragrant soy sauce. Again, there are an abundance of varieties, but if you want to try the true KL style hokkien mee – more specifically hokkien char mee, with pork, squid and cabbage – go to Kim Lian Kee’s restaurant in Chinatown, who claims to be the inventor of this dish.

9. Mee goreng

Suggestion: Nasi Kandar Pelita, No. 149, Jalan Ampang

For a cheap and cheerful bowl of delicious noodles, grab a bowl of mee goreng. This spicy fried noodle dish – ‘mee goreng’ literally just means ‘fried noodles’ – comes with garlic, onion and chicken, egg, beef, and is always popular choice. To whet your appetite, you’ll smell the frying curry spices before you see the dish!

Rice

10. Chicken rice

Suggestion: Kedai Makanan Dan Minuman Wong Kee, 30 Jalan Nyonya, Pudu

This is as simple as it sounds – it’s just chicken and rice! But what it lacks in name it makes up for in flavour.  Juicy, tender roasted chicken with plain or flavoured rice, served with sliced vegetables and a sweet soy and chilli sauce, this is classic street food: simple but utterly delicious.

11. Nasi lemak

Suggestion: Gerai No. 6 Kompleks Makan Tanglin, Jalan Cendrasari, Desa Sri Hartamas

This creamy coconut rice contrasts perfectly with crunchy peanuts, fried salty anchovies and tangy sambal. One of Malaysia’s national dishes, it is a must-have for anyone wanting to sample the county’s cuisine. It started as a breakfast dish but is so popular and versatile, you can now find it any time of the day, often served with curry.

12. Nasi kandar

Suggestion: Restaurant TG’s, 3, Tengkat Tong Shin, Bukit Bintang

Originally from Penang, nasi kandar is the perfect choice for those of you having difficulty in choosing –the dish consists of almost everything! Based on steamed or aromatic rice, it’s served with a variety of curries and side dishes, including chicken, beef, lamb, prawns or fried squid.

Dessert

13. Rojak

Suggestion: Stall opposite Pasar Jalan Genting Klang, Jalan Prima Setapak 1

Rojak is Malay for ‘mixture’, and this dish certainly is that! This sweet, sour and spicy mixture of fruit and vegetables, usually cucumber, beansprouts, pineapple and mango, is combined with a dressing of shrimp paste, sugar, chilli and lime, and topped with chopped peanuts. This quirky blend of flavours embodies the eclectic mix of the Malaysian culture.

14. Cendol

Suggestion: Sulaiman’s Famous Cendol Dan Rojak, in front of Restoran M.S.S. Maju, Jalan Pasar Baharu

This refreshing dessert is perfect for a hot day – which is nearly every day in Malaysia! The cool and creamy dish consists of shaved ice, coconut milk, green jelly rice flour noodles and sometimes red beans and corn. Again a Penang signature dish, it’s seen all over coastal towns in Southeast Asia, because they had ready access to huge blocks of imported ice.

15. Seri muka

Suggestion: Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (an evening stall along the alley beside 7/11)

This popular sweet of two contrasting textures consists of squares of steamed glutinous rice topped with a custard made of pandan juice, which provides and aromatic flavour and the typical bright green colouring. Seri muka has been declared as one of the Malaysian heritage food and drinks, and its name means ‘pretty face’!

Speaking of all this delicious street, you should check the street food festival happening this November.

Celebrate KL’s street food at the Tiger Bites Street Food Festival

To celebrate all that is great about KL’s street food and the reception to the Tiger Bites Challenge, a food festival with the finest street flavours will be hosted on 7 November on the rooftop of Avenue K shopping mall.

Here are the details:

• What: Tiger Bites Street Food Festival
• Description: All-you-can-eat street food accompanied by ice cold Tiger Beer
• When: 6pm onwards, 7 November
• Where: Rooftop, Avenue K, Jalan Ampang

Win exclusive passes by telling us your favorite street food in KL

Eat Drink is giving away 20 pairs of passes to the festival as a lucky draw prize. To enter, (1) tell us your favorite street food in the comments below or (2) drop us a quick email at [email protected] with the same message, your name (same as on Facebook), and preferred email address.

The deadline for this lucky draw prize is 4 November, 2015, 12:00pm.

P.S. Double your chances of winning…

To double your chance of winning a pair of exclusive passes to the Tiger Bites Street Food Festival, just participate in the Tiger Bites Challenge via their microsite. All you have to do is sign-up and drop pins outlining a street food trail. The prizes to be won include 11 sets of GoPros, phone lenses, selfie tripods, Tiger Beer vouchers and an all-expenses paid trip to Taiwan for two.

The deadline for the Tiger Bites Challenge on the microsite is 1 November, 2015, 11:59pm.

Good luck!