Here are 9 Nasi Kandar spots in KL that are ACTUALLY good!
When it comes to Indian-Malaysian food, tons of locals (us included) will agree that the best dish to get is nasi kandar.
Often plated as a messy pile of rice, curries, gravies, chicken and more, this dish is the ultimate Indian comfort food that’s nice to have every now and then.
Fortunately, KL is home to tons of nasi kandar spots, and we’ve been to virtually each one of them! To be honest, om hit or miss, but to help you experience the ultimate nasi kandar, we’ve listed down all the hits below!
Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar at Cheras
Media credit: kayunasikandar
Address: 1 & 3, Jalan Dwitasik 1, Bandar Sri Permaisuri
Contact details: +60 3-9173 2777
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Since nasi kandar originated in Penang, it’s nice to see restaurants that are trying to replicate its authentic version like Original Penang Kayu Nasi Kandar. Whether they’re successful in doing so is left to the opinion of Penangites, but there’s no argument that their nasi kandar is fantastic.
From the thickness of the curries to the crunchiness of their chicken, we can say that they’ve nailed this recipe down to a tee. If you’re not into chicken, don’t worry because you can also opt for squid or fish to go alongside your plate of rice drenched in curry.
This spot is also clean. We’re not digging at humble stalls and eateries, but this is worth mentioning for those who aren’t used to those kinds of environments.
Pro tip:
If their location in Cheras is out of your way, don’t worry because you can also try their nasi kandar in their Kota Damansara and Jalan Telawi branches. If you really want to enjoy the original experience, you can take a trip to Penang and visit their original branch there!
Restoran Kudu Abdul
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Address: 335, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Contact details: +60 3-2697 7082
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Restoran Kudu Abdul is family-run and has been around since the 60s, making it one of the oldest spots to get nasi kandar in KL. It’s so successful that as soon as it opens its doors, you can already expect a line building up, so you better get there early!
It’s well worth the wait though, as the dishes here are delicious and cheap—two things that describe Malaysia’s food scene. One of our favourite things about this place, however, is the variety of meat they use for their nasi kandar.
Their bestseller is undoubtedly the fried chicken but if you’re more of a seafood fanatic, you can also get fried fish, sambal, squid or shrimp!
Pro tip:
A single serving of their nasi kandar can easily be for two people so make sure to order different things if you’re coming with your friends to taste as many flavours as you can!
Nasi Kandar Bestari
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Address: A3-G1-01, Ground Floor, Block A3
Contact details: +60 3-6206 5398
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: $
Menu
Originally from Penang, Nasi Kandar Bestari promises to offer an authentic version of this beloved Indian dish. I’ve got to say that they did well on this promise, as their nasi kandar attracts a long line come lunchtime.
Their version of this dish isn’t anything spectacular, as it sticks by the book—and we’re not complaining! For starters, their nasi kandar ayam is perfectly executed, from the sweetness of the curry to the crunchiness of their chicken.
They also serve nasi kandar daging which substitutes the fried chicken with a huge piece of beef—perfect for meat lovers!
Pro tip:
If white rice isn’t really your thing, you can opt for their nasi biryani dishes. They’re essentially the same with nasi kandar, but they substitute the white rice with the famous Indian biryani rice.
Nasi Kandar Pelita
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Address: 113, Jln Ampang
Contact details: +60 3-2162 5532
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: $
Website
Menu
Nasi Kandar Pelita is like the McDonald’s of Indian food in Malaysia, in the sense that numerous branches can be found across the country. With that being said, we’re still impressed how the quality of their nasi kandar doesn’t taste like a mass-produced product!
Their nasi kandar is vibrant and often plated messily on top of steaming white rice, which is just how we like it. Meanwhile, the fried chicken perfectly absorbs the curries and gravies of this dish, making its tender meat as flavourful as possible.
Aside from the nasi kandar itself, patrons love dining here because of the variety of sides they offer, from ayam kurma to fried quail, daging kicap and more. Plus, the curries they serve here are spectacular, featuring a thick consistency and a mildly tangy taste.
Pro tip:
While you’re here, be sure to stop by The Petronas Towers, which is located just across the street.
Saddam Nasi Kandar
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Address: 58, Jalan Segambut Pusat, Taman Segambut
Contact details: +60 11-1615 0812
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Website
Menu
If you’re on a tight budget, then Saddam Nasi Kandar should be your go-to nasi kandar spot! Its affordability is only the tip of the iceberg though, as droves of patrons usually queue up outside its doors right before they open.
It’s not hard to see why though, as for less than RM5, you can already get a hearty serving of their nasi kandar ayam goreng. Their ayam goreng (fried chicken) is incredibly meaty and features a super crunchy exterior—we’re salivating just thinking about it!
They also give their customers the option to choose between white or biryani rice. Personally, we’d go for the latter, but it doesn’t really matter flavour-wise, as the rice will be completely drenched with curries and gravies.
Pro tip:
If nasi kandar proves to be a bit too meaty for your liking, you can balance it out by ordering some of their fresh veggies! A side of boiled okra and some fried cauliflower should do the trick.
Ibramsha Nasi Kandar
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Address: 68, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
Contact details: +60 12-361 2000
Operating hours: Saturday to Thursday: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $
Menu
Ibramsha Nasi Kandar is beloved by locals because of its low prices and unique flavours. We say unique because instead of the usual spicy flavour curries are known for, they incorporate a homemade sweet soy sauce that completely changes the flavour.
Of course, you can always add some more sambal to make the concoction spicier, but trust us, you have to try this version at least once! That’s the only thing they changed about this recipe, as you’ll still be treated to a large piece of chicken and a pile of fragrant rice—yum!
Aside from nasi kandar, they also serve a plethora of local favourites such as fish head curry and karin ikan bawal (pomfret fish curry).
Pro tip:
If you don’t have a rental car or don’t want to pay overpriced taxi fares, you can ride a bus going to this restaurant instead! Just drop off at the Coliseum bus stop, cross the street and you’ll find Ibramsha Nasi Kandar!
Nasi Kandar LC Kampung Baru
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Address: 170, Jalan Raja Abdullah
Contact details: +60 17-409 6129
Operating hours: Open 24 hours
Cost: $
Website
Menu
If you want to taste the most authentic nasi kandar in Kuala Lumpur, then Nasi Kandar LC should be on your radar! LC stands for Line Clear, which is the same famous nasi kandar spot in Penang, so you can expect the same authentic recipe to be used here.
This time, however, you’ll get to dine in a fully-fledged restaurant as opposed to an alleyway stall, which is a huge upgrade! Aside from that, everything is pretty much the same, from the generosity of the nasi kandar to the thickness of the curry, crunchiness of the chicken and more.
Furthermore, what we love about their nasi kandar is that they’re not afraid to go crazy on the ingredients. This is because aside from featuring a large chicken/fish, each plate will be overloaded with fresh vegetables!
Pro tip:
To balance out the meaty and savoury flavours of your nasi kandar, we highly recommend ordering their fresh watermelon or orange juice! Both of them are refreshing but if you want something sweeter, we advise you go for their rose syrup beverage.
Salman Nasi Kandar
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Address: Lot 6741E, Jalan Bistari
Contact details: +60 16-224 7346
Cost: $
Operating hours:
- Saturday to Monday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
If you love curry as much as me, Salman Nasi Kandar will be right up your alley because they literally drench their rice with their homemade sauces. It’s not overwhelming though, as their curry sauce is rich in flavour and features an almost sweet taste.
It gets better when you order their fried chicken, which you can see being fried to the perfect crisp level in front of your very own eyes. Plus, you can choose to customise your dish’s flavour by adding green chillies, boiled/salted egg and boiled okra.
You can also swap out the fried chicken with fish or beef. Either way, you can expect large portions at cheap prices in this restaurant.
Pro tip:
You may encounter a long queue as soon as you arrive in front of their stall, but don’t let that overwhelm you! The people behind this humble spot are great at managing orders and it won’t take long before your orders are served.
Mohd.Yaseem Nasi Kandar Restaurant
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Address: Jln TAR, 351, Chow Kit
Contact details: +60 3-2694 8927
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM
Cost: $$
Website
Menu
When it comes to bringing the flavours of Penang to KL, Mohd.Yaseem Nasi Kandar Restaurant is among the best. For starters, the curries they offer here are thick, rich and mildly sweet but of course, you can always make things spicier by adding a spoonful of sambal.
Furthermore, their fried chicken is super satisfying to eat because of its crunchy skin, which by the way is best dipped into the curry. This piece of tender chicken, combined with the fragrant rice that’s been drenched in gravy is an immaculate combination—pure chef’s kiss!
You can also choose to get squid along with your nasi kandar for a different yet familiar flavour combination.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning to spend your lunch here, be sure to arrive as early as possible because this restaurant is rarely seen without a crown lining up outside. Furthermore, arriving early will let you enjoy freshly cooked ingredients!