Be immersed in Peranakan culture in these 7 Nyonya food spots in KL!
Hailed as the melting pot of several cuisines, Kuala Lumpur is one of those places where I consider myself lucky that I’ve tried its wide array of dishes. Whether it be sushi bars (sushi kuala lumpur/klang valley), Mexican canteens or anything in between, this bustling city has them all!
I’ve got to say though, nothing quite compares to the rich and sometimes complex flavours of Nyonya cuisine! I still remember the first bite I took out of my asam pedas and life hasn’t been the same ever since.
Long story short, I was instantly hooked and I want you to experience that exact same feeling! So without further ado, join me as I share my top picks for the best Nyonya food in Kuala Lumpur!
Limapulo: Baba Can Cook
— Media credit: babacancook
Address: 50, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit
Contact details: +60 3-2698 3268
Operating hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
- Thursday to Saturday: 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Baba Can Cook is one of the hottest Nyonya spots in Kuala Lumpur and quite frankly, it’s among our favourite dining spots, in general! For starters, it’s just oozing with so much charm and character, with its old-timey interior and welcoming ambience.
Of course, it’s also worth checking out because of its amazing selection of Nyonya classics alone, which by the way follow traditional recipes! Some of their bestsellers include spicy Inchi Kabin, pie tee, pongteh chicken, roti jala and more.
One dish you have to try before you leave, however, is the Nyonya laksa! Everything from the noodles to the chicken and broth is nailed down to a tee, courtesy of the recipe of the titular 78-year-old “baba”.
Pro tip:
If you want to immerse yourself in Malaysia’s street food scene, we also recommend ordering Limapulo’s chicken satay!
Big Baba
— Media credit: bigbabanyonya
Address: 34, Jalan 2/109e
Contact details: +60 3-7987 7755
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
From one “baba” to another, Big Baba is another nostalgic restaurant that features an amazing array of classic Nyonya food. Their offerings are guaranteed to be authentic because the owners came from Melaka, which is a place where Peranakan culture is rampant.
One of these dishes is their otak otak, which is one of the most iconic staples of Peranakan cuisine. We wanted to highlight this dish because, unlike other Nyonya spots, their version features huge chunks of fish.
Aside from that, you should also check out their ayam buah keluak, which is masterfully crafted. Featuring just the right amount of tanginess from the tamarind, this dish perfectly encapsulates the cuisine of the Peranakan people.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on stopping by during the weekend, make sure to call them beforehand to make a reservation! During these two days, the restaurant is guaranteed to experience a full house, so it would be best to secure your seat.
Little Heritage House
— Media credit: littleheritagehouse
Address: 23, Jalan 17/56, Seksyen 17
Contact details: +60 3-7932 1810
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
Little Heritage House has a strong case of being the most beautiful Nyonya restaurant in the country. Rather than looking like your typical modern restaurant, this place looks like an old Peranakan house, filled with antique decorations and furniture.
This atmosphere helps in fully immersing you into the dishes that you’ll get to enjoy straight from their kitchen. Speaking of, they offer all of the Nyonya classics such as chicken rendang, grilled brinjal, acar rampai and assam tumis.
We also want to highlight their tamarind prawns, as it’s a favourite of ours when it comes to this cuisine! Their version of this dish is spectacular, from the tenderness of the white prawn meat to the distinct tanginess of the tamarind sauce, everything is perfect!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on commuting, we highly recommend taking the bus so that you can drop off at the Tiara Damansara bus stop, which is only a couple of minutes away from the restaurant.
RasaNya Steamboat
— Media credit: rasanyasteamboat
Address: Level 8, Lot 8.105.00, Pavilion Elite
Contact details: +60 10-773 0223
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday to Sunday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$$
RasaNya Steamboat offers a unique dining experience that revolves around cuisines such as Nyonya, Malay, Chinese and even Western! As you may have gleaned from its name, this place offers steamboat-style dining, which means that you can cook your meals yourself.
Here, you and your friends can create your own magnificent dishes by grilling high-quality meat and cooking hotpot! Speaking of hotpots, they offer a plethora of soup bases, some of which are spicy while others are more tame to cater to different tastes.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Nyonya restaurant without some classic dishes from this Peranakan cuisine, right? So, make sure to order dishes such as ayam buah keluak and ayam pong teh to go along with your Wagyu beef and side dishes.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for someplace to spend a memorable night in Kuala Lumpur, consider coming to Red Box Pavilion! It’s one of the best karaoke spots in KL and it will let you experience an amazing nightlife filled with songs, laughter and drinks.
Baba Ho Liao Restaurant
— Media credit: babaholiaottdi
Address: 129, Jln Aminuddin Baki
Contact details: +60 3-7731 6122
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Baba Ho Liao is a hidden Nyonya gem in Kuala Lumpur that more people should know about because of how authentic their Peranakan dishes are. It’s not hard to see how they’re able to attain this authenticity though, as the owners are from Melaka!
This is also why their menu is inspired by Malaccan-style Nyonya cuisine and you can see this with dishes like mutton curry, beef rendang and ayam pong teh. They also serve some amazing otak otak, which is by far my favourite version of a fish cake.
Lastly, the overall friendly and welcoming ambience of the restaurant makes it a great place to wind down and eat some new food that you aren’t familiar with. Plus, it features air-conditioning, so you won’t have to worry about breaking a sweat while eating their spicy food!
Pro tip:
After eating at Baba Ho Liao Restaurant, be sure to stop by 1 Utama Shopping Centre! Here, you’ll find NextGen Theme Park, one of the largest adult indoor theme parks in the country, so might as well burn all the calories you’ve just added to your body!
Nyonya Tingkat
— Media credit: nyonyatingkat
Address: Lot L5.12, Nu Sentral Shopping Centre
Contact details: +60 3-2276 1327
Operating hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
Out of all the restaurants on this list, Nyonya Tingkat features one of the most diversified menus, and we’re here for it! For starters, they offer a myriad of light meals like otak otak and Hainanese spring rolls that are sure to get you in the mood for all-things Nyonya!
As for their mains, you can help yourself with either their chicken or lamb-based dishes. If you opt for the former, we highly recommend getting the chicken rendang but if you choose the latter, the best item to order is the mutton gravy Nyonya.
In true Nyonya fashion, the restaurant will also let you end your meal on a sweet note by offering amazing local desserts! You can’t go wrong with any of them, but we personally love their ice kacang.
Pro tip:
You can also check out their branches at The Sphere, Bangsar Utama and the AEON Shopping Mall if Nu Sentral Shopping Centre is out of your way.
Little Yum Yum
— Media credit: prabuchaloraju
Address: F-50-G, Jalan Teknologi 3/9
Contact details: +60 16-200 8964
Operating hours: Thursday to Tuesday: 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Little Yum Yum may be an unassuming restaurant at first, but you’ll be surprised to discover its amazing offerings! Their menu features an impressive fusion of cuisines such as Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and of course, Nyonya!
This diversity is such a welcome change! After all, it’s not always you can sip on some Vietnamese pho and munch on nyonya gulai tumis afterwards, right?
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something that can satisfy your seafood cravings, ordering the Thai basil butter prawn will be one of the best decisions you’ll make.
Pro tip:
Stop by the nearby Chocolate Museum before or after your meal at Little Yum Yum! It’s only a couple of minutes away from the restaurant and it houses amazing displays that showcase different kinds of chocolates.