Check out these 14 Foods in Pudu that will make your trip extra worthwhile!
Pudu is one of those places where you can just roam its streets and you’ll find something interesting to eat. My friends and I love to go here after a night of drinking because it has some of the best cheap eats that you can find in Kuala Lumpur.
It’s not just about the post-nightlife munchies though, as this small town features just about everything you need for a food crawl in KL. Don’t believe us?
Check out these amazing Pudu foods and where you can find them!
Wantan Mee at 168 Wantan Mee
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Address: 2-2, Jalan Brunei Utara
Contact details: +60 16-256 2212
Cost: $
A nice warm bowl of wanton mee at 168 Wantan Mee is almost a must for me whenever it rains here in Kuala Lumpur. It’s the perfect comfort food for the chilly weather, with its warm and hearty broth—I can already feel the fog building up on my glasses.
What made me fall in love with 168 Wantan Mee is that their version doesn’t shy away from ingredients. For instance, their wanton mee comes overloaded with HUGE prawn dumplings and a generous serving of freshly made char siu.
Lastly, this place has been around for over 20 years so if there’s anyone who knows how to make a textbook version of this dish, it would be them.
Pro tip:
We recommend getting your order to go since the restaurant doesn’t have a lot of space and tables, and the workstation isn’t the most hygienic.
Fish Head Curry at Restaurant Sin Hiap Kee
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Address: 32, Lengkungan Brunei
Contact details: +60 12-673 9721
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Cost: $
Fish head curry is one of the best offerings of Restaurant Sin Hiap Kee and we’re complete suckers for it. If the thought of eating a fish head seems out of your comfort zone, we recommend giving this dish a try at least once.
A huge reason why this dish just works is because of the delicious curry itself. It features just the right amount of kick to the point where it doesn’t drown out the other flavour.
Speaking of spice, this restaurant gives their diners a chance to up the spiciness of their curries by adding their homemade green sambal. Lastly, their curries are so fragrant to the point where you can find your way to this restaurant by following its aroma from the streets!
Pro tip:
If you really can’t see yourself eating the fish head, you can opt to order their fried chicken and mutton curry instead! These two dishes are just as delicious and feature the same curry sauce that you’ll find in the fish head curry.
Clay Pot Chicken at Heun Kee Claypot
Website: https://www.heunkee.com/
Address: 59, Jln Yew
Contact details: +60 18-398 6678
Cost: $$
If you’re looking for clay pot chicken, there are not a lot of restaurants in Kuala Lumpur that offer the same quality as Heun Kee Claypot. They’ve been around for over 30 years and they’ve been a local favourite since then, and it’s not hard to see why!
Their clay pot chicken is authentically made, as everything is cooked in the titular clay pot itself—pretty neat! This pot is filled with rice, chicken and various other ingredients before being cooked over charcoal until the flavour of their seasoning is seeped into the ingredients.
To top the dish off, they’ll crack an egg on top to add a bit of richness to the overall dish. Aside from that, they’ll also garnish the dish with some freshly cut chives—pretty and flavourful!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on spending your dinner here, be sure to arrive as early as 6:00 PM! This way, you can avoid the long queues, which usually build up once the clock strikes 7:00 PM.
Bamboo Charcoal Toast at A Toast
Website: https://www.facebook.com/atoast.my/
Address: 291, Jln Pudu
Contact details: +60 13-277 5654
Operating hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cost: $$
A Toast is a great spot I’ve discovered recently because of their unique-looking sandwiches, which coincidentally, are their bestsellers! The sandwich in question was their bamboo charcoal toast, which I think is the perfect quick bite you can have during breakfast/brunch.
Its unique coloured bread isn’t its only highlight though, as this sandwich can be affixed with different ingredients that are sure to satisfy both your hunger and tastebuds. Personally, my favourite is their chicken sandwich, which comes with comes with tomato slices and eggs.
These sandwiches are perfect to pair with their delicious milk coffee drink. If you’re a non-caffeine type of person though, you can order one of their refreshing juices!
Pro tip:
If you’re looking for something heavier that will help you kickstart your day, we recommend ordering the big breakfast meal. It comes with eggs, toast, sausage, ham and more.
Ice Cendol at Sulaiman’s Famous Cendol and Rojak
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Address: Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Operating hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Cost: $
Sometimes, the best foods in the city are served in the most humble hawker stalls, making them easy to miss—case in point, the ice cendol of Sulaiman’s Famous Cendol and Rojak. This delicious dessert can cool you down and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time!
It’s mostly made up of shaved ice, but what elevates it to the beloved Malay sweet we know and love is palm sugar and coconut milk. Furthermore, it’s also topped with various colourful and sweet ingredients like grass jelly, beans, etc.
Plus, since this is served at a hawker stall, you can expect them to be dirt cheap!
Pro tip:
As previously mentioned, this stall can easily be missed. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, we recommend pinning MSS Maju on your map app of choice, which is a restaurant that shares the same spot as Sulaiman’s Famous Ice Cendol.
Nasi Lemak at Nasi Lemak Ann
Media credit: bestfoodmalaysia
Website: https://www.facebook.com/AnnNasiLemak68/
Address: ICC PUDU
Operating hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Cost: $
If you’re looking for a dish that will introduce you to Malaysia’s rich cuisine, you have to try the nasi lemak! It’s a vibrant dish that centres around fragrant rice that is then surrounded by various ingredients like cucumbers, eggs, sambal, anchovies and chicken.
More specifically, we recommend ordering it from Nasi Lemak Ann if you find yourself in Pudu. They open their doors as early as 6:00 AM, so be sure to stop by if you’re looking to start your day with a nice plate of overloaded nasi lemak.
It’s also worth noting that they offer their nasi lemak at dirt-cheap prices—an authentic dish through and through. Lastly, you can also spice up your nasi lemak by adding some of their sides like the chicken sambal, which is one of their best-sellers!
Pro tip:
If you want something else to pair with your nasi lemak, you can also order their non-traditional dishes like curry pork skin! This unique dish is the perfect appetizer/side to go with your mutton and fried chicken.
Roast Pork at Restoran Wong Mei Kee
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Address: 30, Jalan Nyonya
Contact details:+60 3-2145 2512
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re a meat lover like me, chances are, it doesn’t take more than a plate of roasted pork to make your day. It’s a great dish to pair with some vegetables and rice or you can even eat it on its own with a side of a good sauce.
Now, if reading this got your stomachs rumbling, then you should head to Restoran Wong Mei Kee the next time you’re in Pudu! They offer a plate of these bad boys for just below RM20—how good of a deal is that?
We love just about everything about their roasted pork, from the crispiness of the skin down to the flavour-filled meat itself. Just thinking about the crackling sound that you’ll hear when biting on these chunks of meat makes us salivate!
Pro tip:
Notice how their operating hours are just three hours? That’s not a typo! This restaurant is in-demand 24/7 so if you want to score your delicious plate of roasted pork, be there before the doors open!
Chicken Porridge at Kun Kee Chicken & Fish Porridge
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Address: Jalan Seladang, Pudu
Operating hours:
- Weekdays: 2:30 PM to 9:00 PM
- Weekends: 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $
Whenever I feel under the weather, one of my go-to dishes to eat is chicken porridge. This is why I had to include Kun Kee Chicken & Fish Porridge, as they offer one of the best versions of this dish in Pudu.
Although I wasn’t sick at the time I tried this dish during our trip, the satisfaction of eating it remained the same. It does a great job of warming your soul while treating your tastebuds to exquisite flavours at the same time.
It’s also worth noting that this humble hawker stall has been around has been around for more than 30 years, making it one of the most qualified people to serve this food.
Pro tip:
If you want to try something different, we recommend adding a century egg and some pork innards to your porridge! These two ingredients may not seem appetizing at first, but trust us, they both offer one-of-a-kind flavours!
Beef Noodles at Yung Kee Beef Noodles
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Website: https://www.facebook.com/AnnNasiLemak68/
Address: 9, Jalan Kancil
Contact details: +60 3-9224 7899
Operating hours:
- Monday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Tuesday to Saturday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Cost: $
A bowl of beef noodles will set you right on a rainy day. Regardless of the weather, however, we recommend checking out Yung Kee Beef Noodles for their version of this beloved classic.
The place itself doesn’t feature anything glamorous, but it makes up for it with its delicious beef noodles. For starters, the noodles are handmade, which is an instant A+ in our books, as it beats any kind of premade noodle out there.
Furthermore, we love how they don’t shy away from including tons of meat in the noodles themselves, as they include beef chunks, tripe, and even meatballs! When submerged into the ultra-umami broth of the noodles, these meat chunks taste immaculate!
Pro tip:
If it’s hot out but you still want to treat yourself to a nice bowl of beef noodles, we recommend ordering the dry version. As you may have gleaned from its name, it features the same ingredients as a regular beef noodle soup except for the broth.
Coconut Chicken Chinese Herbal Soup at Keong Kee Herbal Soup
Media credit: cytorious
Address: Changkat Thambi Dollah, Imb
Contact details:+60 16-227 8688
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re one of those travellers who want to try something exotic at every destination they go to, then Keong Hee Herbal Soup should be right up your alley! They serve a wide variety of unique soups but I think a lot of people will agree that their best one is the coconut chicken soup.
The first thing that will impress you about this dish is its preparation, as it’s served inside a hollowed-out coconut husk. Don’t be fooled though as it doesn’t hold the refreshing juice you’re expecting, as inside is the sweet and savoury soup.
The chicken itself is worth highlighting, as it’s tender enough to be easily shredded using your utensils. Plus, they’re perfectly cooked to the point where they hold the unique flavour of the broth.
Pro tip:
Notice how their operating hours are just three hours? That’s not a typo! This restaurant is in-demand 24/7 so if you want to score your delicious plate of roasted pork, be there before the doors open!
Roti Bakar at Ah Weng Hainanese Toast
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Address: G85, ICC Pudu
Operating hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 5:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Cost: $
Roti Bakar is another great local dish that we highly recommend for either breakfast or afternoon tea. Regardless of when you eat it, it’s a great light snack that manages to pull off being simple and delicious at the same time—quite an impressive feat!
I know what you’re saying, what’s so special about toasted bread? Well, the special thing about this beloved snack is the fresh butter and kaya, also known as coconut jam.
When lathered onto roti bakar, these spreads seep deep into the bread, seasoning it with a rich and sweet flavour—yum!
Pro tip:
Make sure to pair your roti bakar with a glass of their Hainanese tea! It’s the perfect combination akin to a cup of coffee and a pastry.
Black Sesame Paste at Restoran Ruby
Address: 30, Jalan Nyonya
Contact details: +60 3-2141 3250
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $
If you’re looking for something that can satisfy your sweet tooth, then black sesame paste should be on your radar.
It’s a traditional Malay dessert that looks and tastes exactly what it sounds like: a sweet soup that’s flavoured with sesame seeds and sugar. Rice and water are also mixed in to achieve that thick texture that it’s known for.
Restoran Ruby is one of the few restaurants that offer them in Pudu. What we love about their black sesame paste is that it isn’t overly sweet and the texture is just right.
Pro tip:
If you don’t find a sesame soup appealing, you can also order other desserts from this restaurant such as the peanut paste and steamed egg custard.
Prawn Mee at San Peng Prawn Mee
Media credit: kl.foodie and kldirectory
Address: Off, 46, Jln Loke Yew
Contact details:+60 12-290 7050
Operating hours: Wednesday to Monday: 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Cost: $
You can never go wrong with a nice warm bowl of prawn mee if you’re looking for something that packs a kick. This noodle soup is widely beloved in Malaysia, and you’ll easily see why once you get a whiff of its strong aroma.
We love getting this dish from San Peng Prawn Mee because of the generous serving, but honestly, we haven’t been to a restaurant that doesn’t give it justice. Anyway, we also love how this restaurant garnishes their prawn mee with some shredded chicken!
All in all, the dish is super spicy, but that’s just how we like it! Meanwhile, if you want to take it up a notch, you can order their prawn mee special, which adds more prawns into the mix!
Pro tip:
The most convenient way you can get to this place is by LRT, as it’s located right beside Pudu LRT.
Hokkien Mee at Tong Lian Kee
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Address: Jalan Sarawak, Pudu, 55200 Kuala Lumpur
Contact details:+60 3-2145 2512
Operating hours: Monday to Saturday: 6:30 PM to 12:00 AM
Cost: $$
Once the sun sets, one of the best spots you can go to for some cheap eats is Tong Lian Kee, where you can chow down on some delicious Hokkien mee. Although this dish is widely available in Malaysia, there’s just something different about their version here.
For starters, the place itself feels authentic, as it’s a no-frills restaurant that doesn’t feature glamorous designs. Plus, you’ll get to see the Hokkien mee being prepared right before your eyes by one of the expert Chinese chefs of the establishment.
We also love that it’s impossible to expect what texture and flavour you’re gonna get with every bite. This is because the chef likes to put generous amounts of pork livers, cabbages, prawns and pork lard.
Pro tip:
We also recommend trying their yin yong, which is another noodle dish that’s been fried and topped with slices of pork, fish, squid and other delicious ingredients.