7 Malaysian Restaurants that Perfectly Showcase the Cuisine of Malaysia
Sometimes, there’s no better cuisine to try than your country’s own. As someone who finds comfort in Malay staples like nasi lemak, asam goreng, laksa, and more, I feel fortunate that tons of Malaysian restaurants can be found in every corner of Malaysia.
Whether I’m craving street food, traditional sweets, or anything in between, I can expect to find a restaurant offering them within walking distance, wherever I am in the country! With that said, you can consider me your personal foodie guide!
Read on below to learn about the best Malaysian restaurants that perfectly showcase Malaysia’s vibrant cuisine!
Dewakan Restaurant – Kuala Lumpur
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Address: Level 48, Skyviews, Naza Tower
Contact details: +60 12-789 6720
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM
Cost: $$$
Website
Menu
If you ever want to see your favourite Malaysian staples done with a fine-dining twist, then Dewakan Restaurant should be on your radar. It’s the first restaurant in Malaysia to be awarded two Michelin stars, so you can expect fresh ingredients and a mastery of flavour in action.
The restaurant doesn’t feature a single menu and instead offers a tasting menu, consisting of 12 to 16 courses. A certified community favourite is the grilled painted crayfish with cempedak sauce, which perfectly combines sweet and citrusy flavours from both ingredients.
Dining here is an experience in itself because it sits on the 48th floor, offering diners magnificent views of the KL skyline, including the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. The interior is stunning as well, featuring high ceilings, modern furniture, wooden floors, and warm lighting.
Pro tip:
Since it’s one of the most in-demand restaurants because of its stature, be sure to book your reservations online days in advance to lock in your slots!
Bijan Bar & Restaurant – Kuala Lumpur
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Address: 3, Jalan Ceylon
Contact details: +60 3-2031 3575
Operating hours: Daily from 4:30 PM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Website
Menu
Bijan Bar & Restaurant proudly showcases Malay cuisine on its menu, offering classics transformed into fine-dining-calibre dishes. For starters, they offer a wide variety of seafood dishes, such as stir-fried crab, grilled squid, and prawn curry.
Ayam goreng berempah is one of our favourites, because we feel like you can’t go wrong with Malay-style fried chicken with sambal. No matter which dish you order, however, you MUST end your meal with a Malay dessert, like the pandan pudding!
Lastly, we also recommend this place purely for its vibes. The interior features a rustic motif with its exposed concrete walls and wooden decor, but we highly recommend getting an al-fresco table for a more laid-back vibe.
Pro tip:
After eating your hearty dinner, you can explore the rest of Changkat Bukit Bintang to find cool bars and pubs, and drink the night away!
De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan – Kuala Lumpur
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Address: The Linc, 360, Jln Tun Razak
Contact details: +60 3-7890 6016
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$$
Website
Menu
De.Wan 1958 by Chef Wan, especially their location in KL, is one of the most beautiful Malay restaurants in the country. From its detailed wood carvings to its vibrant walls, elegant chandeliers, and striking tiles, this restaurant gives new meaning to “a feast for the eyes”.
It’s more than just aesthetics, either, as it’s home to an amazing selection of Malay delicacies. For starters, they serve a wide array of street foods that are made more modern and fancy, like the aneka satay, which features grilled chicken, beef, or lamb.
We also love how their mains are great for sharing, which allows diners to sample several dishes in one sitting. A prime example of this is their seabass, which can either come steamed, deep-fried, or simmered.
Pro tip:
You can easily get here by taking the subway and getting off at the Ampang Park station. From there, you only have to walk approximately six minutes to reach The Linc, which is where this restaurant is located.
Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery – Penang
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Address: 1, Bishop St.
Contact details: +60 17-434 4398
Operating hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Website
One of the most fascinating “sub-cuisines” in Malaysia is Peranakan, and a sure-fire way to try the best of it is by dining at Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery. This Michelin-starred restaurant shines the spotlight on signature dishes like pie tee, nasi ulam, and curry kapitan.
If you ask us for recommendations, however, we’ll suggest the Nyonya beef rendang in a heartbeat. The spice perfectly balances out with the coconut milk, and the beef itself is unbelievably tender!
The place itself can be considered an attraction as well, with its beautiful Peranakan tiles, vibrant murals, and intricate woodworks. We also love its large windows, which are similar to those found in Paris cafes, with the text “Auntie Gaik Lean’s” printed on them.
Pro tip:
If the old charm of Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery wasn’t enough to satisfy your inner shutterbug, you can go around the block to The Whiteaways Arcade. This building’s colonial-style architecture is just lovely.
Laksalicious – Penang
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Address: 117-117A, Jalan Hutton
Contact details: +60 4-229 9178
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Penangites always say that you can’t leave Penang without stopping by Laksalicious, which is a testament to the restaurant’s quality and iconic status. As you may have gleaned from its name, it specialises in laksa, offering it in different variations at affordable prices.
One of their bestsellers is the Nyonya assam laksa with prawn crackers, which doesn’t fall short on fresh herbs and the titular crackers. Whichever variation you choose, however, you can expect the laksa itself to be by the book, from the springy noodles to the tangy broth.
Lastly, Laksalicious is also one of the best places to grab traditional Malay desserts, which is fitting, as the sweetness can alleviate your burning taste buds. Their gula melaka cendol is one of the best ones in their selection because of its refreshing coconut milk and sweet syrup.
Pro tip:
Pair your laksa with their famous spring rolls! Alternatively, you can get a side of crispy prawn fritters to add more crunch to your noodles.
IT Roo Café – Johor Bahru
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Address: 17, Jalan Dhoby
Contact details: +60 7-222 7780
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Cost: $
Website
When a place claims to have the best chicken chop in town, you know we have to be there! After dining here more than a couple of times, I must say, IT Roo Café may be on to something with their claim!
For starters, their chicken chop is exceptionally large, easily the size of a grown man’s palm. Also, we love how satisfyingly crunchy the skin is while maintaining a tender white meat underneath.
You can also have it with egg, potato wedges, or rice, depending on your cravings. Personally, we love pairing it with sweet and sour sambal prawn for a DIY surf and turf—plus, we love adding sambal to chicken chops.
Pro tip:
Be sure to stop by Jalan Tan Hiok Nee before or after your meal to take Instaworthy photos alongside old shophouses. More specifically, capture Tan Hiok Nee, as it stands out with its striking red exterior.
Miker Signature – Ipoh
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Address: Lot F6, Bazaar Ipoh
Contact details: +60 10-373 3003
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Miker Signature is a cosy cafe/restaurant in Ipoh that offers one of the most diverse Malay menus in the country. For starters, it offers a wide array of nasi dishes that feature either pork, chicken, lamb, or vegetables.
If you want our advice, we recommend trying their crabs, especially the extra-large ones. They’re cooked in various ways, using ingredients like buttermilk, coconut milk, sambal, and turmeric gravy.
We also love their dessert selection, as it features more than your typical ice cream and cakes. For instance, they offer a banana split, where the banana is wrapped in kunafa before being deep-fried until golden brown.
Pro tip:
Ditch the soda in place of their homemade teh tarik! It makes for a more traditional and authentic dining experience, and it pairs well with most of the dishes featured on the menu.
The Nines 玖號 – Kota Kinabalu
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Address: 3A, Inanam Capital
Contact details: +60 16-921 0128
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Whenever you stop by Kota Kinabalu for a summer getaway, The Nines should be on your itinerary if you want authentic local dishes. A prime example of how they do right by the cookbooks is their Sarawak laksa, which is nailed down from the coconut broth to the prawns.
We also love their char kway teow noodles because the flavours of the tofu, bean sprouts, and noodles perfectly combine during the stir-fry process. In the same boat is their mee mamak noodle, which is tossed in a wok to develop a savoury, rich sauce.
Lastly, you can’t leave without trying their freshly baked bread and buns! The selection can be overwhelming, but if you can only get one, choose the UFO bun for its tasty filling of butter and coconut jam.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting with someone who’s more used to Western dishes, you can get them the Nines Breakfast Set. It’s like a traditional full breakfast, consisting of hash browns, eggs, toast, etc.
Umai Cafe – Putrajaya
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Address: Kompleks Sukan Air, Presint 6
Contact details: +60 13-350 8121
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Umai Cafe is a no-frills local eatery that offers authenticity both with its ambience and flavours. It features the usual cafeteria layout, where your AC is the lack of walls, and the chairs are plastic.
The best part about eating in a cafeteria like this is the dirt-cheap prices, but don’t be fooled! Their offerings are extremely by the book, like the nasi lemak, which features a perfect fried chicken, boiled eggs, sambal, and fragrant rice.
We also love coming here during rainy days because of their authentic tomyam. It’s perfectly rich and tangy—plus, it doesn’t skimp out on chicken chunks.
Pro tip:
Before or after your meal, you can stroll along the Putrajaya Lakeside to catch stunning views and burn off those added calories at the same time.