9 Foods in Cheras We’re Pretty Sure You Haven’t Tried Before
Whenever my friends and I get a chance to get together, one of our go-to spots in Kuala Lumpur is the charming town of Cheras. As foodies, we absolutely love this spot because of its abundance of delicious dishes and the amazing restaurants that offer them.
It may also be because of bias, as this restaurant has provided us with some memorable dining experiences throughout our young adult life, but I digress.
With that being said, allow me to take you on a virtual food crawl if you will. From spicy broths to sweet desserts, here are some of the best foods in Cheras and where to find them!
Lamb Chop at Kaki Corner
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Address: No. 20 & 22, Jalan Siput Akek, Taman Billion
Contact details: +60 12-200 3432
Operating hours: Daily from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
Kaki Corner is a famous spot in Cheras that offers the meanest lamb chops we’ve seen in Kuala Lumpur. Drenched in their delicious and savoury homemade gravy, this slab of meat will treat you to a lip-smacking dining experience.
We also wanted to add that their lamb chops are perfectly cooked. They’re tender, juicy and not too well done to the point where it feels like you’re chewing on a tyre.
The calming ambience of the restaurant is worth highlighting too, as it features an excellent homey decor. This kind of atmosphere, paired with their alluring dishes makes for a perfect combination for a memorable dining experience.
Pro tip:
We also recommend trying their other bestsellers which include the chicken maryland and ham cheese chicken. If you’re looking for something more exotic, you can also try their escargot!
Nasi Lemak at Warong Kaklong
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Address: 12, 10, Jalan Suasana 2/7, Tun Hussein Onn
Contact details: +60 16-917 6286
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $
If you’re looking for cheap but high-quality eats, it doesn’t get much better than the nasi lemak offered in Warong Kak Long. This humble hawker stall offers Malaysia’s national dish for just 50 cents—how crazy is that?
Even more impressive is that they’ve managed to maintain this enticing price point since 2008! If you’re having doubts about the quality, however, let me be the first person to tell you that you don’t have anything to worry about!
They do save costs by offering this dish at a much smaller serving size, but they don’t compromise on the flavour and quality. Each of these small packets of nasi lemak features a delicious combination of fragrant rice, spicy sambal and fried anchovies!
Pro tip:
Because of its enticing price point, you can expect to encounter crowds during your visit to this hawker stall. As much as possible, we recommend getting there as early as possible to avoid long lines.
Garlic Butter Naan and Butter Chicken at Chapathi Recipes
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Website: https://www.facebook.com/cocomi108/
Address: 5, Jalan Menara Gading 1, Taman Connaught
Contact details: +60 12-818 0252
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $
Chapathi Recipes is a great Indian joint that we love to visit frequently because of its timeless garlic butter naan and butter chicken. This combination of dishes is so iconic to the point where you can’t have one without ordering the other!
Starting with the naan, it may as well take the crown for being the best garlic butter naan in the capital! We say this because it features extraordinary notes of garlic and butter, which you’ll get the pleasure of tasting after every single bite.
Of course, the butter chicken is spectacular as well! Some people might say that it’s too dry but we think that it’s cooked just the way we like it and it pairs perfectly with their homemade gravy—we’re salivating just thinking about it!
Pro tip:
We also recommend ordering the palak paneer if you’re looking to diversify your table with different kinds of flavours. It’s a great vegetarian dish that consists of cheese, fresh spinach, onions and tons of other spices.
Wantan Mee at Cheras Shi Fu Wantan Mee
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Address: 18, Jalan Manis 4, Taman Bukit Segar
Contact details: +60 3-9131 4362
Operating hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $
Some locals claim that the best wantan mee in Kuala Lumpur is served in Shi Fu Wantan Mee, and it’s not hard to stand by the claim. For starters, they offer what they claim to be the spiciest version of this dish, which isn’t an exaggeration at all!
If your spice tolerance isn’t that great, we’d advise opting for another dish from their menu. Meanwhile, if you’re all for sweating bullets while chowing down on delicious noodles, this is the perfect dish for you!
What we love about dining here, however, is that they offer free-flowing curry pork lard, which is something you won’t normally find in restaurants. If that’s not enough savoury flavours for you, we also recommend ordering their char siew!
Pro tip:
If you’re not a big fan of spicy food, we recommend trying their barbequed pork or wontons. The latter is perfect if you love seafood, as they’re packed with fresh shrimp—yum!
Beef Rendang at Poppo Kanteen Cheras
Website: https://www.facebook.com/nasisolemak/
Address: 37, Jalan Manis 4, Taman Bukit Segar
Contact details: +60 3-9134 6923
Operating hours:
- Friday to Tuesday: 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Cost: $
Beef rendang is one of the most iconic dishes in Malay cuisine, so it’s only fair to try it at least once during your trip to the country. More specifically, we recommend getting it at Poppo Kanteen Cheras because of its rich sauce.
This sauce is super aromatic, giving the classic dish tons of notes that make it all the more flavourful. Aside from the sauce, however, the beef itself is worth highlighting, as it’s perfectly cooked to the point that it’s so tender that you can easily shred it with your fork.
If you want our advice, we recommend ordering their beef rendang with their delicious nasi lemak. This way, you can hit two birds with one stone and try two of Malaysia’s best dishes while enjoying a perfect combination.
Pro tip:
You can also end your meal on a sweet note by ordering ice kacang as your dessert! It’s one of our favourite traditional Malay sweets because it’s refreshing and sweet at the same time—perfect for the summer season.
Steamed Assam Fish Head at Big Tree Lin Kee
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Website: https://www.facebook.com/BigTreeSteamedFish/
Address: 87, Jalan Waras 3, Taman Connaught
Contact details: +60 16-280 2390
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $$
A steamed fish head isn’t that enticing to hear, especially if it’s your first time hearing about it. But, when done right, it’s one of the best local delicacies you can try in Malaysia—just be sure to keep an open mind!
One of the best restaurants to offer this delicacy is Big Tree Lin Kee, which got its name because it’s nestled under a gigantic tree. Their version of this dish is perfectly executed, from the texture of the fish heads down to the delicious and tangy homemade Assam sauce.
The dish is also garnished with various chillis, sliced ginger and other ingredients that make the dish all the more aromatic and flavourful.
Pro tip:
If the thought or sight of a fish head makes you squeamish, don’t worry! They also offer a myriad of other seafood dishes, one of which is their best-selling clam soup.
Crabs at Crab Generation
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Website: https://www.facebook.com/BigTreeSteamedFish/
Address: 32-G, Jalan Dataran Cheras 2
Contact details: +60 12-699 1098
Operating hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Cost: $$
For those times when you crave fresh crabs with their big meaty claws, we highly recommend checking out Crab Generation over at Cheras. They serve this delicacy in different ways, so you can expect to be treated to a burst of colourful flavours while you’re here.
Personally, we think that the best way it’s prepared is when it’s drenched in sweet and sour sauce. This is because the tangy homemade marinate perfectly complements the sweet white meat of the crab—truly a match made in heaven.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, you can try their Oreo cheese crab and brown sugar pearl crab, which are exactly what they sound like. Not our cup of tea personally, but hey, to each their own I guess!
Pro tip:
If you want to pair your crab with something savoury, we recommend ordering the buttered crab with fried rice! The sweet meat of the crab paired with the richness of the butter goes perfectly well with the garlicky fragrant rice.
Char Siew at Restoran Char Siew Yoong
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Website: https://www.facebook.com/charsiewyoong/
Address: 23, Jalan Pudu Ulu, Taman Pertama
Contact details: +60 12-213 7163
Operating hours: Daily from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: $-$$
Sometimes, all you need to satisfy your tastebuds is a slab of roasted meat—case in point, char siew. Not just any char siew, however, but Restoran Char Siew Yoong’s amazing and authentic barbequed pork.
This restaurant is named after this dish for a reason, and you’ll immediately see why once your tastebuds come in contact with these delicious chunks of smokey pork. Everything is nailed to a tee about this dish, from the tender texture to the right amount of char.
Lastly, what elevates this dish even further is the delicious homemade sauce that they lather onto the barbequed pork—pure perfection. If you love meat, this is a must-try in Cheras.
Pro tip:
As much as possible, we recommend ordering your char siew to go since the restaurant features limited seats and is almost always packed, especially during peak hours.
Nasi Kukus Ayam Kampung at Pok Nik Nasi Kukus Ayam Kampung Cawangan Cheras Baru
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Website: https://www.facebook.com/p/Poknik-Nasi-Kukus-Ayam-Kampung-Cawangan-7-Cheras-Utama-100063768071956/
Address: 3b, Jalan Bukit Permai Utama 1, Taman Industri Bukit Permai
Contact details: +60 12-259 8140
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Cost: $
Nasi Kukus Ayam Kampung at Pok Nik should be on your radar if you want to be immersed in Malaysia’s rich cuisine. More specifically, we recommend the one served at Pok Nik because it’s one of the few Malay restaurants in a town riddled with Chinese eateries.
The dish consists of fluffy and fragrant rice, fried village chicken and a bunch of vegetables to balance out the savoury flavours of the dish. Speaking of savoury flavours, they’ll usually come courtesy of a generous ladle of homemade gravy and sambal.
Nasi kukus ayam kampung is also one of those dishes that’s perfect to eat at any time of the day. This restaurant makes sure of this by being open from sunrise to the evening.
Pro tip:
If you’ve already tried nasi kukus ayam kampung and want something new, we also recommend ordering their nasi kerabu, nasi dagang and of course, the national dish itself, nasi lemak.