cuisine

From street-food to fine dining, traditional Italian to Asian-Fusion, being well-versed in global cuisine is the first step to culinary mastery.

Aliyaa: A Sri Lankan Culinary Gem in the Heart of Plaza Damansara
Amid cute bars and eateries in Plaza Damansara stands Aliyaa, famous for authentic Sri Lankan dishes. In a neighborhood known for its trendy cafes and bustling dining scene, Aliyaa has carved out a unique niche for itself, offering diners a taste of Sri Lankan cuisine that is both authentic and accessible. The restaurant is located at 48 Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, 50490, Malaysia, and falls in the $$ price range, making it an affordable and rewarding dining experience for those seeking to explore the bold, spicy flavors of Sri Lankan cooking.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Gulainya: A Taste of Peranakan Heritage in Plaza Damansara
Plaza Damansara offers no end of dining options, but this Peranakan joint stands out with the owner's family recipes that have been polished and updated. In a neighborhood brimming with trendy cafes and bustling eateries, Gulainya has carved out a special place for itself, offering diners an authentic taste of Peranakan cuisine, a culinary tradition that is as rich and complex as the history of the Baba-Nyonya community itself. The restaurant is located at 44-G, Plaza Damansara, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, 50490, Malaysia, and falls in the $$ price range, making it an accessible and rewarding dining experience for those seeking to eat like a local.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Akar: A Culinary Journey Through Memory and Modern Malaysian Cuisine
Informed by stints in Japan and France and paying homage to his culinary roots, Chef Low refashions European recipes with Japanese, French, and Malaysian influences. His set menu takes diners on a culinary journey inspired by his personal history and memories. This is not merely a meal; it is a narrative, a tasting menu that tells the story of a chef's life and the flavors that have shaped his culinary identity. Each dish is a chapter, a memory translated into food, and the result is an experience that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Sri Ganapathi Mess: A South Indian Banana Leaf Feast in Putra Jaya
One of the meals most fun to eat in Malaysia is South Indian food. Malaysia is a place with unending amounts of local food, but the cuisine of Kuala Lumpur is actually full of authentic Indian food, as well as Chinese, and Chinese-Malay foas well. The diversity of Malaysia's culinary landscape is one of its greatest strengths, and the Indian food found here is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the country's Indian community. The Indian diaspora in Malaysia has a long and storied history, with many tracing their roots back to the Tamil region of South India. Over the centuries, they have brought with them their culinary traditions, which have been lovingly preserved and adapted to the local context, creating a unique fusion that is distinctly Malaysian.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Itik Salai Masthar: A Smoked Duck Curry Worth Traveling to Malaysia For
Technically, this restaurant is not in Kuala Lumpur. But if I were in your shoes, and you knew that I was within one hour's drive of an entire landscape of smoking ducks and catfish steaks on this level, I would want you to make sure that I knew about it. Itik Salai Masthar serves a smoked duck coconut milk curry that is so delicious, I literally contemplate traveling to Malaysia just to eat this food. The dedication to their craft and the depth of flavor they achieve is something that simply cannot be found elsewhere. This is the kind of food that makes you plan your next trip before you have even finished your first bite.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Sek Yuen Restoran: A 70-Year Legacy of Chinese-Malay Culinary Excellence
Sek Yuen Restoran serves some of the best Chinese-Malay food I have ever had in Kuala Lumpur, but I am not the only one; I am sure. Sek Yuen has been faithfully serving great food for generations for 70 years, to be precise. The longevity of this restaurant is a testament to the quality and consistency of its food. In a city where restaurants come and go with alarming frequency, Sek Yuen has stood the test of time, earning a loyal following that spans multiple generations.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Restoran Bak Kut Teh Yik See Ho: A Herbal Pork Rib Soup Worth Traveling For
Bak Kut Teh Yik See Ho is serving an incredible and traditional version of one of Malaysia's favorite foods, 'Bak kut teh,' or Malay-Chinese "Meat Bone Tea." Made with pork ribs and packed full of Chinese medicinal herbs, it is said that no two meat bone tea recipes are the same. Chinese traditionally use foods like this to warm themselves in the cool times of weather, or to rebuild one's immunity after a time of sickness. This is a very healthful dish, but wow, it is incredibly delicious as well. The name itself, "Bak Kut Teh," translates to "meat bone tea," and it perfectly captures the essence of this dish: a rich, flavorful broth simmered for hours with pork bones and a complex blend of Chinese herbs.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Mansion Tea Stall: The Roti Canai Special That Defines Breakfast in Kuala Lumpur
Roti Canai is one of the ultimate ways that Kuala Lumpur's early-morning workforce guarantees their breakfast to be both quick and convenient, while assuring maximum deliciousness. This is one food that you cannot visit Kuala Lumpur without trying, and one of the best versions I have ever had is the one they are serving at Mansion Tea Stall—be sure to try the Roti Canai 'Special.' The stall is located directly next to a large canal, and its entrance is a familiar landmark for those in the know. It is also known as Al Amnah Tea Stall on Google Maps, but to the locals, it will always be Mansion Tea Stall.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Nasi Lemak Tanglin: Malaysia's National Dish at Its Finest
'Nasi Lemak' is Malaysia's national food, and the name literally means 'fat rice.' This food though has so much variety throughout Malaysia, however, that there couldn't possibly be a more understating name for such delicious food. To make this dish, the chef uses coconut milk to soften the rice, and then adds pandan leaf as well it is this combination that gives nasi lemak both its soft texture and that gentle fragrance. Usually served in a banana leaf to-go wrapper, some common ingredients that top this coconut rice include something salty, something crunchy, and a sour and spicy sambal to tie it all together. Most restaurants use a combination of salted fish, fried peanuts, and a few crunchy cucumbers to target these traditional textures and flavors, and everywhere you go on your entire Malaysian trip, you will be ever so slowly falling head over heels for Malaysia's use of spicy sambal.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Tugu View Cafe: A Monumental Feast of Malaysian Curry and Fish Head
At the Tugu View Cafe, the curry broth alone is so good that we had to write an entire article about it. Using only large heads from red snapper (Ikan Merah), their famous recipe is a Malay-style curry that has earned a devoted following among locals and visitors alike. The mother pot of curry is filled with huge chunks of spongy brown tofu and lady fingers, which absorb the rich, aromatic broth and add incredible texture to the dish. Before serving, they shred huge amounts of fresh sour mango and spicy ginger to use as a garnish, adding a bright, tangy contrast to the deep, savory flavors of the curry.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Annuar's Fish Head Curry: A Kuala Lumpur Icon Worth the Queue
Fish head is an iconic Southeast Asian food, but it is probably loved nowhere more than right here in the Malaysian peninsula. Meals of fish head are popular in this area for many reasons, first of all because it is delicious, but I personally love the way in which an eater can experience such diversity of Malaysian cuisine just in this one single food. The origins of this beloved dish are a fascinating reflection of Malaysia's multicultural heritage. As the local legend goes, a Malay-born Indian chef was cooking up some curry for his Chinese guests, and after dropping a fish head into the curry instead of chicken or beef, he created a new dish one that all of Malaysia now enjoys, no matter their food heritage.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast
Grilled Fish at Ikan Bakar Bellamy: A Kuala Lumpur Seafood Feast
Ikan Bakar Bellamy is a section of food carts and restaurants home to some of the best grilled and barbecued seafood you could ever want to include in your do-it-yourself ultimate Kuala Lumpur restaurant and food tour. The words Ikan Bakar simply mean 'grilled fish' in the Bahasa Malay language, but no matter how simple the name, this is a food that I cannot possibly visit KL without having at least once. In Malaysia, where nearly every dish of food comes with a dipping sauce, a spicy paste, a dumping sauce, or a colorful mash of sambal, 'grilled fish' here includes so much more than just the name entails.
By Mark Lim about a month ago in Feast