Our 6 Favourite Foods in Kepong (+ Where You Can Find Them!)
As someone who frequently visits Kepong for food crawls, I’ve always been frustrated to see my favourite dishes and restaurants left out of the spotlight. That’s why I’ve decided to make it my sole duty to share them with travellers as frequently as I can.
I may sound like a broken record to my close friends, but that didn’t stop me from making this list! Here, I’ll go over some of my favourite Kepong foods and where I like to try them to give you the ultimate local experience.
I’ve also included some pro tips that you can hopefully find useful. So without further ado, let’s get the ball rolling!
Har Mee at Penang Corner
Address: Kepong Baru, 52100 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $
If you’re craving authentic Penang food, but can’t leave Kuala Lumpur, the best thing you can do is check out Penang Corner! You’ll be amazed at the selection of dishes they have here, but the one we recommend the most is har mee, which is essentially a prawn noodle soup.
I love eating this on a nice rainy day, as it does a great job of warming the soul, especially with its chilli-based broth. These bowls of soup also feature an abundance of ingredients like prawns, fishcakes, pork slices and hard-boiled eggs, so expect a full tummy after eating it!
Plus, it doesn’t shy away from giving that extra spice kick that will instantly turn your face red. Keep in mind that if it doesn’t make you sweat while eating, they’re doing it wrong!
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for a unique dish that will further immerse you in the culture of the country, we recommend ordering their chee cheong fun. Their version of this widely beloved dish perfectly executed from the silky smoothness of the noodles to the spiciness of the chili paste.
Bubur Cha Cha at Coconut Tree Corner
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cocomi108/
Address: 2, Jalan Development, Taman Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur
Contact details: +60 12-307 7030
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $
Coconut Tree Corner is the place to be for those times when you crave something sweet. This spot specializes in various Cantonese desserts, with one of their bestseller being one of my favourite traditional Malay sweets, bubur cha cha.
It’s the perfect example of simplicity at its finest, as it’s nothing but yam and sweet potatoes cooked in creamy coconut milk. However, the combination of these simple ingredients’ flavours and textures will blow you away!
You can either have it served warm or cold. Personally, we prefer the latter, as it’s the perfect cooling dessert during one of those hot days in the capital.
Pro tip:
If you’re not big into bubur cha cha like us, don’t worry! They also offer other desserts like peanut paste, leng chee kang and sweet potato ginger soup.
Kaya Butter Croissant at Thong Kee Cafe Kepong
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cocomi108/
Address: 1-G & 1-1, Jalan Ambong Kiri 2, Kepong Baru
Contact details: +60 12-307 7030
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $
Thong Kee Cafe is sort of a hidden gem in Kepong that’s recently gained a lot of traction because of its kaya butter croissant and for several good reasons. For starters, the croissant itself is perfectly toasted, creating this perfect blend of crunchiness and flakiness—yum!
This amazing texture makes the pastry a perfect vessel for the butter and the homemade kaya. If you don’t know, kaya is a coconut jam, which is a sweet and delicious spread that you can virtually use on any kind of pastry.
If you are going to try this pastry while you’re here, we highly recommend pairing it with their famous cham peng. It’s a unique blend of coffee and tea that’s often sweetened by evaporated milk.
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something more savoury, we recommend getting the pastry puff. It’s a type of pie that’s filled with delicious curry sauce, chicken and potatoes.
Kampung Chicken and Rice at Ah Yap Chicken Restaurant
Address: 1175, Jalan Kanan, Desa Jaya Kepong
Contact details: +60 12-323 1364
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM
Cost: $
If you’re looking for something that will fill your tummy without breaking the bank, then some good old kampung chicken and rice should be right up your alley! More specifically, we recommend the one served in Ah Yap Chicken Restaurant because of its irresistible inclusions.
For starters, the fragrant rice that their chicken is paired with is perfectly fluffy. Also, we love going here because of the green chilli you can add to your chicken and rice to get that kick that will leave you sweating bullets.
As for the chicken itself, we’re glad to say that it doesn’t taste bland at all! It doesn’t completely rely on the flavour of the rice and the dipping sauce, as it also features a subtle ginger taste.
Pro tip:
If you find chicken and rice a bit bland for your taste, we recommend ordering other sides like bean sprouts, meatballs and boiled eggs.
Sarawak Laksa at Mouth Mee
Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mouth-Mee-嘴爱面-61552412194401/
Address: 2A, Jalan Rimbunan Raya, Laman Rimbunan, Kepong
Contact details: +60 11-2562 0055
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $
For those rainy days in Kuala Lumpur, we highly recommend you try a nice warm bowl of Sarawak laksa at Mouth Mee. This specialty of theirs is a levelled-up version, if you will, of a traditional laksa, filled to the brim with toppings like prawns, vermicelli and more.
The broth of the soup is also worth noting, as it features that signature tangy taste. We would’ve loved to have more, but the restaurant owner said that they intentionally didn’t fill up the bowl with broth to highlight the toppings and the noodles.
You can, however, dial the spice levels to 11 by adding more spicy sambal. Nonetheless, when you order this specialty, you’ll still be treated to a delicious and hearty meal.
Pro tip:
If you’re not into spice and seafood, you can also opt for their kolo mee, which is a noodle-based soup that’s just as good! The only difference is that it’s less intense in terms of spices and the prawns are replaced with pork slices.
Cheese Pork Burger at Choon Fatt Hainan Tea Kopitiam
Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064268876544
Address: 41, Lorong Bangau 2, Kepong Baru
Contact details: +60 12-388 2657
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $$
Choon Fatt Hainan Tea Kopitiam is one of the best spots to get Western food with a Malay twist—case in point, the cheese pork burger. This delicious sandwich features an amazing combination of flavours brought by the pork loin, cheese and sunny-side-up egg.
If you’re a meat lover, you have to try this dish because the pork loin is immaculate, featuring a juicy and tender texture. When this piece of meat comes in contact with the runny yolk and the creamy cheese, you’ll be surprised at how fast you can devour a sandwich.
Pro tip:
Be sure to visit early in the morning if you want to avoid crowds and long queues! The place isn’t that big and locals love to visit it for its cheap grub so expect it to be packed as soon as it opens its doors.